Chapter 6 Meeting Natalie Officially

I wake up alone.

She left.

But of course she did.

Why the hell would she stick around after waking up naked in some stranger’s bed? She was probably completely mortified. Honestly, I should’ve put her clothes back on before she passed out, but the thought of touching all that little lacy—

Nope.

Absolutely fucking not.

You already woke up with morning wood. Don’t make it worse.

I groan and drag a hand down my face before looking toward the nightstand.

The water is gone.

So are the Advil.

Good.

At least she didn’t die from alcohol poisoning.

A soft knock sounds at my bedroom door.

“Master Chad?” Monica calls carefully from the other side.

I physically cringe at the name.

Jesus Fucking Christ.

I yank the blankets higher over my waist before answering. “Come in.”

The door opens just enough for Monica to peek inside.

“Breakfast will be ready in one hour.”

“Thank you,” I say. “And please call me CJ.”

I offer her a small smile, but Monica only nods quickly before slipping back out of the room like she’s afraid of lingering too long.

The second the door shuts, I throw the blankets off and sit on the edge of the bed.

The room still smells faintly like Natalie.

Expensive shampoo. Something flowery with a hint of vanilla. Something soft and addictive that’s permanently burned into my brain now.

Fuck.

I head for the shower because I desperately need warm water and a personality reset before pretending to be part of a happy family downstairs.

The second the hot water hits my skin, memories from last night slam into me one after another.

Natalie curled against my chest.

Her sleepy little sounds.

Her lips on mine.

The way she looked wrapped in my sheets like she belonged there.

I brace my hands against the shower wall and close my eyes hard.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

These feelings are completely foreign.

I’m too old to suddenly feel like some hormonal idiot with a crush.

And yet somehow this tiny blonde librarian has managed to short-circuit my entire brain in less than twenty-four hours.

Pathetic.

By the time I finally get dressed, I’m already irritated with myself.

I pull on black sweats and a dark sweatshirt to match, not giving a single fuck what my father thinks about it. I am not dressing business casual for breakfast.

Not happening.

I’m spending the entire day hiding in my room working on my game anyway.

As I head downstairs toward the dining room, one thought keeps circling through my head.

When is she getting here? And what is she going to look like this morning?

Jesus Fucking Christ.

I am whipped already. This is embarrassing.

The dining room is exactly as obnoxious as always. Massive crystal chandelier. Polished marble table. Enough silverware at each seat to survive a small war.

I drop into my chair loudly on purpose.

My father immediately makes a face.

Olivia just smiles brightly. “Good morning, Chad!”

The urge to throw myself through the nearest window hits instantly.

But my father is already glaring at me with that familiar disappointed expression, so I force myself to play nice.

“Good morning, Olivia,” I answer smoothly.

Then I glance toward my father. “Dad. Hope you slept well.”

Now he looks confused as hell.

Good.

I low-key enjoy throwing him off balance. Because I may be twenty-two but sometimes I still have to act like a child.

Monica places a plate of food in front of me while I fight back a grin.

Then Henry, the butler, suddenly appears in the doorway.

“Master Blackwood,” he announces formally. “Natalie has arrived.”

I nearly choke on my coffee.

Also, seriously, what the fuck is with everyone saying Master around here? What century are we living in?

Both my father and Olivia stand immediately.

I stay seated.

Mostly because I suddenly forgot how to function like a normal human being.

I hear luggage wheels dragging across the hardwood floor before Natalie finally steps into the dining room.

And holy shit.

Last night she looked soft and adorable wrapped in oversized clothes and glasses.

This morning?

She looks devastating.

Perfectly fitted jeans hug her curves while designer stilettos click sharply against the floor. A cream-colored cashmere blouse hangs slightly off one shoulder exposing smooth skin that immediately drags my attention there like a fucking magnet.

Her blonde hair falls in loose waves around her face, and those green eyes—

Fuck me, I am in trouble. She looks exactly like the polished rich girl I assumed she was before last night.

Except now I know better. That image is fake. Because underneath all of this, she’s awkward and shy and secretly hates attention. She’d rather hide in a library than stand in a room full of people staring at her. And somehow that only makes her hotter.

“Natalie, sweetheart!” Olivia rushes forward immediately, pulling her into a dramatic hug.

My father follows right behind her smiling proudly.

I stay where I am, watching silently while Natalie awkwardly accepts the attention.

Then my father’s voice cuts through the room sharply.

“Chad,” he says coldly. “Manners. Come meet your stepsister.”

The word stepsister does something deeply fucked-up to my brain that I absolutely do not have time to unpack right now.

I slowly push my chair back.

It scrapes across the carpet as I stand.

Natalie finally looks at me fully.

And freezes.

Her eyes widen so much she almost looks unreal. Like an anime character with heavily exaggerated eyes.

Shock flashes across her face first.

Then panic.

Then embarrassment so intense her cheeks immediately turn pink.

Oh, she recognizes me.

Interesting.

I take my time walking toward her, each step deliberate.

Her gaze tracks every movement like she’s trying to decide whether to run away or pass out.

Honestly, both are valid options.

By the time I stop in front of her, the tension between us is so thick I swear everyone else in the room should notice it too.

Natalie slowly licks her lips nervously.

And my body instantly betrays me. My dick twitches. Fucking traitor. Get it together.

Up close she smells faintly like citrus shampoo and vanilla again, and suddenly all I can think about is her climbing on top of me last night half naked and kissing me like she wanted to ruin my life.

I force myself to stay calm.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Natalie,” I say smoothly, holding her stare.

Recognition flickers harder in her eyes.

She knows exactly who I am now.

I smile slowly before leaning down just enough to make her breath catch.

“Please,” I murmur. “Call me CJ.”

Then I wink at her.

Natalie looks one second away from either fainting or murdering me.

Honestly?

I can’t wait to see which one happens first.