The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 64 - sixty four

Chapter Sixty-Four

Malachi’s POV

I had been working all day. Going from one meeting to another. Conference calls with investors. Contract negotiations. Reports that needed reviewing. The kind of work that usually consumed my attention completely.

But not today. Today, every task felt like an obstacle keeping me from where I wanted to be.

Alicia wasn’t at the office that day. Her desk sat empty. Her chair pushed in neatly. Like she’d never been there at all.

Every hour without her felt like torture. It was insane how I’d become so obsessed with this woman. How she’d gotten under my skin so completely that I couldn’t focus on anything else.

I wondered if she was thinking of me too. If she felt this same pull. This same need.

By early afternoon, I couldn’t take it anymore. I picked up my phone and dialed her number, praying she’d pick up.

She did.

"Hello?"

Her voice made something in my chest loosen. I didn’t know what to say. Hadn’t actually planned beyond hearing her voice.

"Where did you keep the Morrison file?" I asked, grasping for any excuse.

"It’s in the third drawer of the study desk. Left side."

"Got it. Thanks."

I should have hung up. Should have ended the call there. But I didn’t. I kept the line open, listening to the sounds on her end.

Then something unexpected happened.

I heard a voice in the background. Cassie’s voice.

"Alicia! Come on, come teach me how to whine already!"

My eyes widened. Whine? As in move her hips? My mind immediately conjured images of Alicia doing exactly that.

She could do that?

I thought she’d hang up. Thought the call would end. But she didn’t cut it. Instead, I heard her footsteps. Heard music starting to play. A heavy beat.

Then Cassie’s voice again. "Yes! Like that! You’re so good at this!"

My grip on the phone tightened. I could only use my imagination to picture the scene. Alicia moving her hips to the music. That slim waist I’d had my hands on. Those curves I’d memorized with my touch.

"Roll your hips first," I heard Alicia say. Her voice slightly breathless. "Then add the shoulder movement."

Jesus Christ.

"Keep your core tight," she continued. "Let the music guide you."

My cock already hard. Just from listening. Just from imagining.

"Eye contact is important too," Alicia said. "And hand placement. You can trail your hands down your body. Like this."

My cock pulsed in my pants. So darn hard already.

I heard Cassie laughing. Hyping her up. The music kept playing.

Then I heard Alicia say something about getting her phone for better music. Heard footsteps approaching.

I quickly ended the call. Sat there in my office chair, breathing hard. Already turned on just from that.

Fuck it.

I grabbed my keys and told my assistant to cancel the rest of my meetings. Didn’t explain why. Didn’t care what anyone thought.

I drove home faster than I should have. My mind replaying everything I’d heard. Everything I’d imagined.

When I got to the mansion, I went straight to my room. I took off my clothes and headed for the shower. Within seconds, cold water rained on my hot skin.

I closed my eyes. Trying to imagine anything again. But then, I couldn’t help it. Alicia was driving me crazy.

I imagine my hands on her hips while she moved. I imagined her hips rocking against my hard cock.

"Fuck!"

Alicia would pay for this. For driving me this crazy. For making me lose control.

After a few minutes, my hardness was back to normal. I left the shower and dried off with a towel, put some clothes on and laid back to watch the ceiling.

I had no idea my little bird could do something like that. She would regret making me that hard over the phone.

Eventually, I went downstairs for lunch. I was late. The dining room was already occupied.

Isabella, Sasha, and Layla. Just the three of them. No one else.

I could feel the tension before I even sat down. It felt like I’d been placed in a war ground.

When I took my seat, Sasha immediately smiled at me. That fake, too-sweet smile she used when she wanted something.

"Uncle Malachi, let me dish your food for you."

She reached for my plate before I could respond. Started piling food on it like I was some hungry monster. Her hands were slightly shaky.

"Why are you poking into my business?" I asked, pulling my plate away from her with a raised brow.

"I’m doing it out of good will. You’re my uncle. Let me take care of you."

Right. Because Sasha did anything out of good will.

"What do you want?"

"Actually," she continued, setting the serving spoon down. "I was hoping you could help me with something."

Here it comes.

"I’m trying to get into modeling. I just need a recommendation letter from you. Maybe you could talk to some of your contacts?"

Before I could respond, Layla laughed. A sharp, mocking sound.

"You? A model? Sasha, please. You’re too weak for that industry. You’d be swept under the carpet in a week."

Sasha’s smile disappeared. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Modeling requires strength. Discipline. You have neither."

Isabella set down her fork. "Layla, that’s enough. Sasha should work on her own to achieve what she wants. She doesn’t need your negativity."

At least Isabella was being reasonable. Unlike her husband Mario, she could be peaceful when she wanted to be.

But Sasha wasn’t letting it go. "Maybe you should focus on the wrinkles on your face before talking about the requirements of a model."

The room went silent.

Layla’s face went pale, then red. I knew my mother was always keen on appearance. Always worried about aging. That comment would have hit hard.

I massaged my temples, bracing myself for the outburst I knew was coming.

"You little brat," Layla said, her voice shaking. "You should mind your words. Or you’ll end up banished like your brother Tyson."

Isabella’s fork clattered against her plate. The mention of Tyson’s name always made her react. Made her sad and angry all at once.

It seemed to be an odd topic everyone was avoiding.

"How dare you," Isabella said quietly. Dangerously.

Layla continued. "You should focus on receiving love from your monster husband Mario instead."

Isabella opened her mouth to respond, but Sasha cut her off.

"And you," Sasha said, looking directly at Layla, "should focus on Alicia’s barrenness. Two and a half years married to Travis and still no child. Maybe that’s the real problem in this family."

My vision went red. Before I knew what I was doing, I’d slammed my fists on the table hard enough to make the plates rattle.

They all kept shut. Staring at me with widened eyes.

"Don’t you ever," I said, my voice low and deadly, "repeat what you just said."

Isabella looked scared. Good. She should be.

I knew my mother had started this whole thing. But Alicia had suddenly been dragged into it. And that I couldn’t tolerate.

Movement caught my eye. I looked up and saw Alicia standing in the doorway with Sophie behind her.

How long had she been there? Long enough to hear about the barrenness comment, judging by her expression.

She gave a small smile— Forced, fake. Then turned and walked away.

Sophie, who’d been behind her, looked confused but followed.

I wondered if Alicia was sad or angry. Whether the words had hurt her. Whether she believed them.

"Uncle Malachi," Sasha tried again, reaching for my arm. "About that modeling recommendation—"

"Work for it yourself," I cut her off. "If you want something, earn it."

Then I stood up and left. Heading in the direction Alicia had taken. I needed to make sure she was okay. Needed to see her face. Talk to her.

But before I could get far, Layla caught up with me in the hallway.

"Malachi, wait. I can’t believe Isabella and Sasha’s audacity. Speaking to me like that. In my own house."

I kept walking. She followed.

"Do you really think I have wrinkles?" she asked. "Be honest. Do you see them?"

"Mother, I have work to do."

"Just tell me. One honest answer. That’s all I’m asking."

I stopped and looked at her. Really looked. She was aging, yes. But gracefully. The wrinkles were barely noticeable.

"You look fine," I said.

She didn’t look convinced. Pulled out her phone immediately.

"I’m booking a spa appointment. And maybe I’ll talk to Dr. Rez about Botox. Just a little. Nothing dramatic."

I tuned her out and kept walking. But Alicia was already gone. Probably in her room. Or with Sophie.

I’d have to wait to check on her. To make sure she was okay.

But one thing was certain. Sasha would pay for that comment. For dragging Alicia into her petty fight.

No one talked about my little bird that way. No one.