“How heroic of you,” he said. “I don’t stand a chance then. If she owes someone a fuck, it’s you.”
I grabbed his arm roughly. “Don’t talk about her like that.”
“Hey, you’re acting all alpha.” He pulled away. “She’s a virgin. I’ve never had one of those.” He grimaced. “Tight.”
“You go near her…” I pointed a finger into his face.
He held up his palms. “I like them a bit older and more experienced myself. But she’s got nice tits.”
“I mean it. No games, Ethan.”
He jumped back. “Hey. Cool it. I’m playing with you. I can get my own girls.” He adjusted his shirt.
“Anyway, it’s not all about tits, you know.” I took a deep breath. This wasn’t an easy argument because I’d jerked off more often than normal with Theadora’s buttons undone and her tits bouncing up and down in my face. A fantasy that just kept following me into the dark of night and into the shower.
“You better ask her out then. I’ve noticed some of the male staff checking her out.”
I puffed out frustration. So had I. How could anyone not look at Theadora like that?
Just as I was about to move off, I heard my father and mother in the front sitting room that adjoined the main entrance.
I looked at my brother, and he lowered his brow. We walked towards the door when my mother said loudly, “You can’t do this to the family. I will sue the pants off you.”
Our father laughed. “Do your best. While I’m alive that land remains with the farmers.”
“I can cite emotional abuse. That you were always gay and only married me for show.”
“And you were screwing my business partner behind my back. You’ve been with Will for how long exactly?”
“We’re going to develop.”
“Over my dead body, you are.” He stormed out and nearly bumped into us.
He ran his hands through his hair and gave an apologetic smile. “I guess you both heard that?”
Just as I nodded, Amy, one of the maids known for wagging her tongue, stepped out from the shadows and, seeing us there, smiled meekly before slipping away.
I turned to my father. “This is turning into a bloody soap opera.”
He smiled sadly. “Come for a walk both of you. I want to explain.”
We stepped outside onto the lush grounds.
“Let’s head this way.” He pointed at the green meadows that reached over to the sea. “I’ve always loved this aspect of Merivale.”
“Me too,” I said.
He stopped walking. “I’m sorry you had to learn about me this way.”
“It has come as a bit of a shock,” Ethan responded.
My father turned to me, and I added, “Look, each to their own. But I did wonder if we had another father.”
“You’re my children. I loved your mother.” He’d aged a lot. Those deep blue eyes, the same as mine and Savanah’s, confirming we were his offspring, looked tired, suggesting he was living life to its fullest.
He pointed at the fields with grazing livestock. “When I was a boy, I loved roaming around the land, and all the animals. I was particularly fond of the horses. I loved watching the trainers breaking them in. Powerful stallions up on their hind legs.” He smiled. “Saw one of them knock out a rider once. Not a pretty sight.” He paused. “Your grandfather made me work on the farms when I was a teenager, during my summer holidays. He believed that hard work made the person. And although I would have preferred to knock around with my friends, I enjoyed it.”
His eyes filled with tears, and Ethan looked at me and grimaced.