Cruel Temptation: An Age Gap Romance (Cruel Beauty Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  Cruel Temptation

  Cruel Beauty Trilogy Book 1

  C Standing

  Published: 2021

  Language: English

  © Copyright 2021 C Standing

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or

  by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from the author.

  While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of the references, referrals, and links (collectively “Links”) presented in this book, C Standing is not responsible or liable for broken Links or missing or fallacious information at the Links. Any Links in this book to a specific product, process, website, or service do not constitute or imply an endorsement by C Standing of same, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions contained at any Links do not necessarily express or reflect those of C Standing.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Name, characters, business, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover design: Olivia Pro Designs

  Editor: Zainab at Heart Full of Reads

  Formatting: Bookish Author Services

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. River

  2. River

  3. River

  4. River

  5. Rick

  6. River

  7. River

  8. Rick

  9. River

  10. River

  11. River

  12. Rick

  13. Rick

  14. Rick

  15. River

  16. Rick

  17. River

  18. Rick

  19. River

  20. River

  21. River

  22. Rick

  23. Rick

  24. River

  25. River

  26. Rick

  27. River

  28. Rick

  29. River

  30. Rick

  31. River

  32. Rick

  33. River

  34. River

  35. River

  Epilogue

  Epilogue

  The End

  Thanks for reading!

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Dedication

  To my beautiful mum,

  Words cannot begin to describe how much I miss you.

  You’re in my thoughts every single day.

  Thank you for being strong enough to fight,

  even when you were scared and felt alone.

  You are the bravest and most incredible woman I’ve ever known,

  and I am lucky enough to call you my mum.

  Thank you for giving me some life-changing memories.

  Thank you for loving me unconditionally, even when I was a pain.

  Thank you for giving me someone to look up to.

  Thank you for being my hero.

  Thank you for making me the person I am today.

  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

  This book is for you.

  I love you always xx

  “I want a Luke Collins,” I announce, throwing a popcorn kernel into my mouth before turning to one of my best friends. “Why can’t there be any Luke Collinses around here?” I ask with a pitiful pout, looking back at the film playing on the TV. “I want a Luke Collins.”

  Lydia licks the chocolate ice cream from her spoon. “Personally, I prefer Liam Hemsworth, but I guess I can see the appeal.”

  With our eyes glued to the screen, we watch transfixed as Luke—aka Scott Eastwood—cautiously walks toward the shower, his heated gaze locked on Sophie as she undresses for him. The tender yet possessive way he touches her as his large hands splay across her back gives me goosebumps. The profound hunger in his gaze is scorching as he takes her in, like he can’t believe someone as beautiful as her would fall for a lowly cowboy like him. The intense way he devours her mouth and body like he can’t get enough as they make love, as though he’s embedding her very essence into his skin.

  It’s all so tragically perfect, and it makes me want to puke.

  I’ve never been jealous of a fictional character, but right now, I’d give my entire first edition book collection to have a guy look at me the way Luke's looking at her.

  Why can’t I find someone who looks at me like I’ve hung the moon and stars? Someone who will love me passionately and unconditionally. Someone who will worship my body in ways I can’t even fathom, and bring me pleasure beyond my dirtiest fantasies. I want a man who isn’t afraid to move heaven and earth just to be with me.

  Maybe one day...

  “Okay, girls.” Mom descends the stairs, putting in her earrings. “There’s money on the side for pizza, and I’ve stocked the cupboards with every kind of slumber party snack you can think of. We’re only going to Monet's, so we won’t be out too long.”

  Every year, my dad takes Mom to Monet's wine bar in Visalia to celebrate their wedding anniversary. It isn’t the fanciest place around, but she loves the food and its romantic ambience, and he loves her. I’m pretty sure if she asked for a front row seat on the moon, he’d make it happen.

  I know deep down he’d rather wine and dine her in a more upscale and high-end restaurant, but we live in the middle of nowhere with not a lot to choose from. So Monet’s is as good as it gets.

  “Sweetheart,” Dad calls from the kitchen. “Our reservation is for eight. If we don’t get going now, we won’t make it.”

  “Coming. Coming.” Mom flitters around us, placing Joey’s baby monitor on the coffee table. “I’ve just gotten Josephine off to sleep, so try and keep the noise to a minimum.”

  As if on cue, the loudest person in our threesome bounds through the door, not even bothering to knock—not that she needed to anyway. We’ve been friends for so long, my parents just accept her blatant disregard of the rules.

  Her arms are full to the brim with ingredients to make daiquiris. “Let’s do this, sluts. The HBIC is here.” She dumps the items onto the kitchen counter. “Damn, Mrs. M, you look hot.”

  As brash as she is, Mali’s not wrong. I have zero qualms telling you that my mom is one sexy vixen with a banging body.

  Prowling like a hungry wolf toward his wife, Dad takes Mom’s hand and spins her until she’s curled into his side. “Damn right.”

  Oh Jesus.

  I think I just threw up in my mouth.

  His eyes wander down her body, taking in her beautiful curves accentuated by the simple but classy sleeveless LBD. She’s paired her dress with a gorgeous pair of beige peep-toe stilettos.

  Mom blushes a cringe-worthy shade of red. “Sweetheart, not in front of the girls.” Her nude lips curl up into a coy smile, and I want to gauge my eyes out.

  I get they are sickeningly in love, but I don’t need it rubbed in my face.

  Dad swats her ass, making me want to crawl into the nearest hole and die. “Baby, I’m pretty sure they’ve seen and done worse,” he tries to reassure her.

  “Even so.” She pats his chest. “That can wait until later.”

  Ugh. Kill me now.
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  Beside me, Lydia nudges my elbows and mouths, “Your dad is so hot!”

  Groaning, I sink further into the couch, hoping by some divine intervention it opens up and swallows me whole.

  Grabbing her clutch from the kitchen table, Mom opens it and put her phone inside. “Now, girls, I have no problem with you having fun, but I’d prefer it if you didn’t drink.” She spears an accusatory glance to Mali.

  “Virgin daiquiris only, Mrs. M, Scout’s honour,” Mali promises.

  A bubble of laughter rises up my throat.

  Scout’s honour, my ass.

  If she was a Scout, then I was a fairy princess.

  “Just make sure they stay virgins. And remember there’s a two-year-old sleeping upstairs, so no boys.” She gives us all a stern look.

  “Seriously, Mom?” I gripe, a little insulted she thinks I’m incapable of looking after my baby sister for a few hours.

  “Honey,” Dad reprimands her softly. “River knows what she’s doing. This isn’t the first time we’ve left her alone.”

  He throws me a wink and his unwavering faith in me makes me smile.

  Mom holds up her hands in surrender. “I know, I know,” she frets. “It’s just the Mom in me, that’s all. You know how much I worry.”

  Dad laces their fingers together. “I know, honey.” He presses a kiss to her forehead. “It’s one of the many reasons why I love you.”

  “Charmer,” Mom mutters with a smirk. “Call us if you need anything, okay?” She leans over the couch to kiss the top of my head. “Don’t stay up too late, and stay out of your father’s liquor cabinet.”

  The second the door closes, Mali rubs her hands together eagerly. “So, where’s the rum?”

  “Nate Eden can suck a decaying dick,” Lydia huffs as she scrolls through her IG.

  Mali rolls her eyes and releases a raspy chuckle. “What did the dickfuck do now?” she asks while painting the final layer of brown polish on my nails.

  In the several hours my parents have been out, countless strawberry daiquiris have been consumed and we’ve eaten our way through most the junk food Mom bought earlier.

  The movie’s long since finished, Joey’s still sound asleep, and now Kelly Clarkson's belting out her screw you tunes at a respectable volume in the background.

  “He said he’d take me to senior prom, but he’s at a party looking pretty fucking cosy with Shelly Mason.” Lydia turns her phone and shows us a picture of Nate and Shelly in an extremely compromising position.

  I scoff in disgust. “What an asshole.”

  A maniacal laugh comes from our best friend. Mali places the nail brush back in the bottle. “Baby doll, don’t get mad, get even.” She pauses, and Lydia and I look at each other, confused. “Honestly, have I taught you bitches anything over the years?” Crossing her legs, she steeples her fingers. “The best way to get over one guy is to get under another. What did River do when she caught that douche nozzle, Cade, fucking some slut behind the bleachers?”

  “She screwed his brother,” Lydia answers matter-of-factly, like fucking someone’s brother is just an everyday occurrence in our school.

  Hell, maybe it is.

  “Exactly.”

  I roll my eyes. “Thanks for bringing me into this,” I grumble.

  Not the proudest moment of my life, but shit, I’d given the guy my virginity and then the asshole goes and ghosts me like I’m nothing for weeks? Not happening. By the third week of his radio silence, I’d decided enough was enough. This asshole wasn’t treating me like some meaningless lay. When I finally went to confront him, I found him behind the bleachers, balls deep in some bitch from the cheer squad.

  Cliché or what?

  “No thanks needed, bestie.” She beams, flashing her pearly whites and damn near blinding me. “If you ask me, that asshole got off lightly. You should’ve sent that shit viral.”

  I’m not a vengeful person, but hurt me or any of my friends and I’ll come at you harder than the goddamn freight train.

  And Cade?

  He fucked me over. Big time.

  My need for a little payback was so potent, I could taste it. So, one night at a party I’d been dancing with my girls when I’d seen Dante, Cade’s estranged brother staring at me from across the room.

  Something told me he’d be more than happy to partake in a little revenge, especially given the fact he’d caught his girlfriend going to town on his brother’s cock a few months earlier.

  Maybe it’s time to get even.

  The dark and brooding look in his eyes called to me, making me feel sexy and dangerous. Something I never felt with Cade.

  I gave in to the burning curiosity surging through me and went over to talk to him. Never one for small talk, I got straight to the point.

  “See something you like?”

  Dante smirks and takes a long pull of his beer. “Haven’t decided yet.”

  I roll my eyes. “Listen, I don’t have the time or patience for games. Your asshole brother fucked me over and I’m in the mood for a little revenge. You game?”

  His lips curl up into a twisted grin. “Why don’t we discuss this upstairs?”

  Now we’re talking.

  Taking my hand, Dante leads me up the curved staircase. Once we’re in his room, I take out my phone, angle it against his nightstand so the entire bed is in view, and press record.

  “I’m feeling particularly vengeful,” I explain when I see Dante's quirked brow.

  He shrugs and removes his leather jacket. “Whatever.” He nods at me, motioning toward my clothes. “Strip.”

  Okay then.

  Having only had one sexual partner, I’m not at all experienced when it comes to sex, but he doesn’t need to know that. So, I bluff and bullshit my way through this until he’s on the bed and I’m riding his cock like a porn star.

  Unlike his brother, Dante isn’t shy when it comes to attention to detail. He rubs my slick clit, pinches my nipples, and gropes my tits. Switching positions, he bends me over the bed and pounds into me from behind, spanking my ass and calling me names that would normally have me blushing like a sinner in church. But right now, I’m lapping them up like a kitten does milk.

  Slamming into me, Dante wraps my hair around his fist, driving into me with rough and forceful thrusts, and it’s not long until I’m falling over the edge.

  Groaning, he pulls out of me and collapses onto the bed. “Fuck, that was good.” Pulling out a smoke, he lights it and winks at me. “You smoke?”

  Retrieving my panties and skirt, I shake my head as I quickly dress. “I’m good.”

  Grabbing my phone, I pull up Cade’s number, type in a quick text and attach the video. Pressing send, I turn my phone to Dante and show him our handy work. “Think that’ll do it?”

  He bursts out laughing as he reads the text. “Your brother does it better.” He laughs again. “Damn, girl, you’re fucking fierce. Remind me not to fuck with you.”

  “You already did.” I wink and slip on my heels. “Best lay I’ve had.”

  He doesn’t need to know I’ve only screwed his worthless piece of shit brother.

  Lying in bed with his cigarette dangling from his mouth, he smirks. “Ditto, sweetheart.”

  Heading out the door, I walk back to my girls. Enroute, I come across Cade and his latest fling. The disgusted sneer on his face tells me everything I need to know.

  He saw.

  Smiling, I wink and blow him a kiss.

  Take that, asshole.

  “So, you’re saying I should sleep with his brother?” Lydia hedges.

  Mali shrugs. “Doesn’t have to be his brother. You could go after one of his friends. Camden always had a thing for you, maybe let him have a turn on the Lydia Express.”

  Her eyes narrow in offense, and I bite my lip fighting back my amusement. “The Lydia Express?”

  “All aboard!” Mali laughs, pumping her arm.

  Not able to hold it in any longer, a loud burst of laughter erupts from me
and I double over. “Oh my God.”

  Muttering something under her breath, Lydia throws a handful of popcorn at us. “I hate you two.”

  “Quit your whining, baby doll.” Mali plonks down beside her on the couch. “You can either sit here and wallow, or you can be the bad bitch I know you are and get even. Don’t let that prick walk all over you.”

  Just as I’m about to say something, the doorbell rings and we all turn to look at each other.

  “Are your parents back early?” Lydia asks.

  Tutting, Mali elbows her in the ribs. “It’s their house, dumbass. Why would they ring the bell?”

  “You didn’t invite anyone else over, did you?” I question Mali, because I know what she’s like.

  She holds her hands up innocently. “Whoever’s behind that door has nothing to do with me.”

  Perplexed, I stand to answer the door and find two police officers standing on the porch.

  What the hell?

  We weren’t that loud, were we?

  Leaning against the door, I ask cautiously, “Can I help you?”

  The taller officer steps forward and removes his hat. For some reason, my heart kicks painfully in my chest and my hands start to shake.

  Something’s happened. Police officers don’t make house calls at this time of night for no reason. Something’s happened to my parents.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you at this late hour, Miss, but do you know Tessa and Robert McKinley?”