The Love Child

Hawk fell deeply in lust for Jade, his stepsister. Unfortunately, she was looking up to him as her big brother... @rlmendozabooks

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

“Hawk, you must come home. It’s Jade’s eighteenth birthday and you must be the first dance, in place for his late father.” Alicia, his mother, sounded agitated. Her voice was trembling. He could imagine her twirling the phone’s cord round and round as she spoke. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

“I’ll come home but not on Jade’s birthday. Next month. I’m due for vacation next month.” And that was a maybe. He didn’t come home ever since he went away. Even when his mother’s husband died. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

He couldn’t come home...

Hawk sat more comfortably as he looked at the sky outside his window. He did not see the clouds. He was looking in his mind. He saw Jade for the first time. Sixteen, at that time. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

He could feel the familiar stirring of his body so he straightened on his chair. His other hand rearranged the items on the table. The papers on one side. The pens on the other side. Then move around the things once again. He was not seeing them. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

“Ma, I can’t leave my work. There are problems… Surely, her first dance is not that important—”

“It is important to Jade. She just lost his father. She’s been dreaming about this party for ages and now that—” #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

It was his turn to interrupt. He closed his eyes. “Call her uncle.”

“Her Uncle Jorge is paralyzed. Heart attack. It runs in the family, h-heart attack.” #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

His mother replied with a sniffle. “I don’t know who to call now. It’s just for one night. Can’t you do it?”

Damn! Hawk felt like a bastard that he was, hearing his mother weep silently. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

“I don’t ask for your help often, son. Just this once… Oh, how I missed Jon!” Jonathan had been her husband for almost two years before he was gone without fuss. Just a chest pain and a groan.

The two women in Jon’s life was still missing the older and kindly man. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

“Okay,” he sighed brusquely. “I can get a red-eye flight back and forth.”

“Oh, really? Thank you, Hawk. Thank you, son.” Alicia sounded so relieved he felt a cad for refusing in the first place. “The party’s at seven in the evening. Try to arrive at six.” #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

“Where?”

“At the house. Your old room will be ready when you arrive,” Alicia said it as an afterthought. “Bye!”

Hawk pressed the ‘off’ button. He opened his eyes with a snap. He was suddenly bombarded with images. But the memories wouldn’t stop… #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

Long flowing hair that fell down to her hips. Black as midnight. She was looking down but when she glanced up, she seemed snared. She remained staring.

At him.

Chocolate eyes. Hot, swirling chocolate eyes. A man could drown in them gladly. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

She seemed mesmerized as she stared unblinkingly at him.

Hawk couldn’t hold her gaze a bit longer. He could feel himself getting a hard-on. His whole body was on fire. Goosebumps crawled all over his skin. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

‘Dammit, this girl is going to be my stepsister!’ His mind argued silently but fiercely to his wayward body. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

He willed himself to look at Jonathan Henriquez, his stepfather-to-be. The man was stocky and shorter than his slender mother. Hawk took after his unknown father, tall and heavily muscled. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

“Jonathan, good to see you,” he greeted the older man. He refused to call the man ‘dad’ or ‘uncle’ because they were not related by blood. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

And he was thankful. Because he didn’t want to add incest to his sins. He was lusting after the daughter, for chrissake!

“Same here, Hawk. I’d like you to meet my unica hija, Jade. Jade, here’s Hawk Luna.” #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

He just nodded his head towards the girl.

But the girl had other ideas. She ran towards him and embraced him tightly.

“I never had a brother. I’m glad you’re older than me!” #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

Hawk felt her soft body like a shock that jarred his system. He was paralyzed for a second.

His hands, large and callused, held her slim arms and pushed her away. He felt scalded. He took a few steps backwards.

“Uh, sorry… Did I hurt you?” Jade asked innocently. #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

Jonathan butt in to rescue Hawk. Or Jade.

“Hawk’s been to a slight accident. He’s not up to your signature embraces! Ho ho!” Jonathan pretended to misunderstand Hawk’s slight wince. “Hijo, please bear with her. She is just sixteen. Ho ho!” #TheLoveChild

[The Love Child @TheLoveChild01]

Hawk didn’t see anything funny. His firm mouth remained unsmiling. His eyes were expressionless but inside he was seething.

Jade looked at him warily. Her smile was tentative but still sweet. Her lips were dewy. And oh-so kissable… #TheLoveChild