Tristan

"Do you want more wine?" Olivia asked me kindly as I chewed on a small piece of the roast turkey she'd served me alongside brown-sugar potatoes. What an odd combination, the taste however was palatable, nothing like I ever savored. Now I knew where Sienna got her culinary skills from. 

I looked up from my half-consumed plate and smiled politely at the woman who birthed this spitfire and single-handedly raised her. They looked so much alike, the only discrepancy being the three decades standing between them. They were the spitting image of one another; bearing the same henna eyes, the same silk raven hair, same bright smile that had its way of sneaking past a man's defenses and capturing his heart. "Yes, please."

As she rose to fill my glass with red wine, I acknowledged. "You have such a lovely home, Mrs Bardot." I might have lied a little there. I wasn't used to such small places, and the moment I stepped in, my claustrophobia almost kicked in. The size of the entire living room competed with the size of my bedroom. It was...minute and distastefully furnished, but I suppose the homely feeling it extruded made it a little bit acceptable.

She waved me off, dropping the bottle. "Olivia," she insisted, "Call me Olivia."

"Thank you for the tasty meal, Olivia. Such a beautiful name for a beautiful woman." As much as I could be brutal when I wanted to be, which was 90 percent of the time, I could also be charming too, and right now I was using all my graces to force my way into Mrs Olivia's heart, just like Sienna had forced her way into mine.

She simpered. "Thank you, Tristan."

Sienna grunted in disapproval beside me at our verbal exchange. She'd been sitting there, desperately trying to ignore my presence by focusing on stuffing her face with meat. I was glad she was at least eating. She had lost a noticeable amount of weight that I did not appreciate and her skin looked too dry.

I placed my hand tentatively on her knee and caressed it. I still couldn't believe I had gotten on my knees for a woman. Never in my life did I think a day like this would come. Day by day I kept breaking my rules for her and becoming a version of myself I couldn't comprehend.

When my hand on her knee itched up a little, the spoon on the way to her mouth stopped and she finally turned to regard me with a warning glint in her eyes. My gaze dropped to her lips. The urge to kiss her was back and growing stronger but I abstained knowing that once I indulged, my emotions would take over and I might just take her right here on this table.

"So tell me, Tristan, how did you come to know my daughter?" Olivia asked, stealing back both our attention.

"I was Injured." I started slowly, turning my gaze back to my wife. "She was the nurse on duty, she stitched my wounds, healed me, and took something in return, my heart." It was an utter lie, but it would have to do since I couldn't exactly explain to her mother how I had purchased her daughter to be my fake wife in an attempt to save my inheritance.

The anger in Sienna's eyes dissipated. She blinked a couple of times, pale cheeks flushing scarlet. I pushed my hand higher and greedily squeezed her thigh. Christ. My cock surged up. She had the softest skin ever. I wanted to touch her so badly and worship her skin with so many kisses. She didn't pull away. She looked too exhausted to fight me. I took it as an invitation and allowed my fingers to travel up her thigh, riding up and sneaking underneath her jumper. Her whole body stiffened and her lips parted to expel a harsh breath as she snapped her thighs shut with my hand lodged between them. I almost laughed.

"That is so lovely." Olivia beamed in oblivious delight. "My daughter makes such a good nurse, doesn't she?" Her smile was ever-sweet. "Such a hard worker. She makes us proud every day."

She was right, being with Sienna made me realize that I might have been too harsh with my judgment when it came to women. I'd always thought there was no difference between them and a great white shark because all they did was dig into your pocket and suck you dry until there was nothing left. But Sienna was different. She was selfless, genuine and gladly carried the cross for the wellbeing of the people she loved.

When she first moved into my home, I'd expected her to go on endless shopping sprees and trips, and demand more money from me every time like my mother demanded from my father but she never did. It was very odd but satisfactory nonetheless.

Sienna smiled at her mother's candor but the hint of sadness that played on her features didn't get past me. No one knew she had been laid off from work. I made it a mental note in my head to call Evergreen and figure out a way to get her license back.

"She is a beautiful bright woman." I acknowledged, taking my hand off her thigh. "And the moment I set eyes on her, I just knew she was the one after my own heart." I stole her hand, brought it to my lips, and kissed it. She shivered. Thank you, Wikipedia.

"This is wonderful," Olivia beamed. "I've always dreamt of a day like this." A phone rang somewhere in the house. "Ooh, that's mine, excuse me, kids." She got up swiftly and walked into the kitchen and as soon as she disappeared behind that white door, Sienna withdrew her hand away from mine harshly and shot me a hostile glare. "Stop it."

I asked obtusely. "Stop what?"

She was visibly gritting her teeth at me, it was hot. "Stop doing what you are doing."

I placed my hand once more on her thighs, pushing down the urge that willed me to part those legs and make her forget anything and everyone but me. "This?"

She blanched and swatted my hand away instantly. I laughed softly. I could do this all day. "Yes, that! And stop feeding my mother lies."

I leaned back in my seat. "Aside from lying about how we met, I have said nothing but the truth." She was everything I wanted, everything I thought about, why wouldn't she just see it?

"I already agreed to your stupid request, you don't need to continue with this. Stop trying to get under my mother's skin. Stop it, don't make her fall for your charms, it's okay for you hurt me but don't get my mother's hopes up for a possible future and then let her down. She is where I draw my line."

Not this again. I sat up properly and frowned at her. "Sienna, how many times do I have to tell you that I mean my words? I want a life with you, you literally have my heart"—and cock—"wrapped around your finger."

With the way she looked at me, it was obvious she didn't believe me. "Stop being delusional."

Now that was another slap to my face. First, she had blatantly insulted me now this? On normal terms, I would have taken her on my knee and made sure she screamed for doing that. But I was not that man anymore. I was trying to be better, for her, if only she would just see it.

Mildly irritated, I deadpanned. "Yes I'm delusional and I might know nothing about the romantic love you ladies swoon over but I am not giving up. You can doubt me all you want and try to push me away but I will come back here every single day and sit right next to you on this dining table until you grow tired of fighting me and your heart has no choice but to accept me again."

Her mouth twitched and the sides of her eyes began to water as she stared deeply at me. Shit. Did I say something wrong? I panicked and reached out to touch her face.

"What are you two whispering about?" Olivia diverted, reappearing with a china of Pumpkin Trifle.

I pulled back. Great timing.

Sienna sat up straight and sniffled. "Nothing."

"Well then." She placed the trifle on the table and smiled. "Dessert anyone?"

***

Over dessert, I ate my Pumpkin Trifle and listened graciously as Olivia regaled me with funny childhood memories of Sienna.

"One time, she rubbed my hair removal gel all over her hair thinking it was shampoo, and went bald for the next four weeks. I still have the photos saved in my album. Want to see?"

"Mum!" The spitfire beside me blanched, her cheeks glowing red. "You promised never to show anyone that!"

Olivia waved her off and laughed. I laughed. Sienna glowered at both of us, we laughed again.

It was odd. I'd never enjoyed a third-party company so much before. I was so used to eating my meals alone at home or at restaurants with little to no noise. Even with my family, it was always so quiet. But it was different with the Bardots. I could get used to this.

"Tell me about your parents, Tristan," Olivia asked along the line, stilling her laugh. "I would like to hear about them."

My body tensed.

My parents?

I took a sip of my wine and contemplated how to answer.

I was born into a disturbed home of two sociopathic millionaires. My mother had some screws loose in the head and was quite frankly a bitch—a tramp too if you decided to calculate the number of men and women that went in and out of our mansion.

Aside from being stark mad, she was also a nymphomaniac who craved sex like a breath of air and would get it anywhere she could find it. Any gender sat right with her, even her seven years old son did too.

My father who I thought would be a decent adult was equally a mad man.

Now that I thought about it, they were perfect for each other; both sick in the head, never caring about their kids, and always taking advantage of their status to hide their evil actions.

My mother died when I was about fifteen. She was shot in the lake house by a burglar who walked into one of her brutal scenes with me. He might have been a thief and a murderer in the eyes of the law but he was my savior.

Madeline bled to death before the paramedics could show up and it was partly because I refused to call it in until I was certain she was not getting out of the hospital alive. It was better than killing her myself, which I planned to do eventually.

My father died recently. I didn't care, he was a son of a bitch anyway. They were both products of bitches and deserved to be together in hell. Perhaps one day we would all have a reunion there and air out our grievances while the devil judged.

"Tristan," Olivia called, snapping me out of my musing, and I realized I was gripping my silver fork a little too tight. Just the remembrance of them made my stomach sour and my blood boil with anger.

"Are you alright?" She asked me, her eyes brimming with concern.

I immediately relaxed and let go of my hold on the fork. "I'm sorry, I—"

"Mum." Sienna forestalled, sharing a knowing look with her mother.

Olivia's lips turned down in the realization of what her look had meant. She turned to me. "I understand that talking about my family might be hard." She smiled warmly. "It's alright, you don't have to, just enjoy your dessert, okay?"

I breathed out silently. That was relieving to hear.

"Thank you," I said and turned my head to stare at Sienna. She was looking at me with sympathy in her eyes. I intermingled my fingers with hers, searching for some kind of anchor to calm the storm the thoughts of my mother pushed. She didn't pull away. Her fingers tightened around mine in silent comfort.

***

By the end of dessert, any tension that loomed over us disappeared and we were back to conversing about absurd things.

"It has been a lovely Thanksgiving with you, Olivia," I announced getting up. "Thank you for the meal."

She smiled. "I should be thanking you." She turned to the spitfire still sitting unbothered. "Sienna, why don't you see him out?"

She released a sour noise deep in her throat and got up reluctantly. Her eyes found mine, and with a sigh, she spoke. "Let's go."

It was cold outside. I took a deep breath. "Goodbye." She told me tersely and proceeded to turn away from me yet again but I spun her around just in time. She collided with my chest. "A little goodbye kiss for the road." Just as I inched my mouth closer to hers, she slapped the side of my head to turn my face away and glared at me with eyes that bordered between anger and amusement. "Kiss me without my permission again and I will kick you in the balls."

She wouldn't. I called her bluff and leaned in again but the sharp pain that incapacitated my whole pelvis, dick, and stomach all at once made me jerk back and hiss in pain. Fuck. She really did knee me in the balls. It wasn't done with full force but it was still in the category of terrible.

"Ouch, fuck!" I hissed, cupping my balls, and I didn't expect it but she all of a sudden laughed out loud, clearly entertained by my discomfort.

It was a hearty full belly laugh, the first I'd seen her do in days.

One point for me. I did make her laugh even if it was at the expense of my balls. 

"Does this look funny to you?"

I just got kicked in the nuts and it hurt like a freaking bitch but I felt myself smiling. Her laugh was the cutest thing. She tried to stifle it but it came out in small snorts. I couldn't help but laugh back. 

The door opened at that moment and Olivia stepped out, holding a paper bag.

She glanced between us with a hint of curiosity. "Sienna, honey," she called, turning to her. "Please give us a minute, I would like to have a word with Tristan alone."

Her laughing seized and in her eyes, I could see tension and reluctance. She didn't want to leave but when Olivia stared hard at her, she turned and walked into the house through the open door.

"Shut the door." Olivia obliged and her brows furrowed just slightly as she stole a furtive glance at me before shutting the door slowly.

Silence.

Olivia stared at me in silence and the prolonged tension between us became so unbearable I had to clear my throat.

"My daughter told me you hurt her once." She finally spoke, her voice clipped.

Well fuck.

I replied quickly. "I know I did, it was a foolish thing to do and I will spend the rest of my life apologizing if I have to."

She eyed me strangely. I have never met a woman who made me feel this tense before. "You know, her father was just like you, he was a charmer but also a heart breaker, don't break my daughter's heart again, and if you must send her back to me don't send her back to me with tears in her eyes. I love that girl with my life and I might be old but I won't go easy on anyone who hurts her."

I see the feistiness ran in their family. I almost smiled. "I will never hurt her again." I declared, to her and myself.

"I will believe you this once." She stretched out her hand, offering me a paper bag. "I packed some food for you." Her eyes softened. She smiled. "You must be unfamiliar with our country so you don't know where to find good food. Eat up okay? If you need more, always come by, I'll be happy to cook for you."

A foreign sensation shredded through my chest as I accepted the bag. "Thank you, Olivia," I said softly. "I'll do well to enjoy this."

Her smile widened. "Have a nice drive." She told me, standing and watching as I started towards my BMW parked in the driveway.

I got in and started the car. She waved at me. I waved back and looked up at the window to find Sienna watching me through it. I waved at her. She pulled the curtains closed immediately and disappeared.

I laughed and drove off.