My tears had finally stopped, my breathing slowed, but despite the false sense of calm, it felt more like the eye of a storm, like if I moved too much, everything would fall apart.
So, I didn’t move. I didn’t speak.
I focused on his hands and the way they felt as he grazed his thumbs across my skin in slow, possessive paths that sent shivers down my spine.
I bit down on my lip as I listened to the sounds coming in through my window. It was still open, the night still dark and silent. The world out there had no idea what sort of twisted scene just occurred in my room, what we’d done.
Except…
I groaned and buried myself in his shoulder, smooshing my nose into his body.
“What is it?” His voice was raspy, still low but softer than before.
I almost didn’t answer him, but the words, “I just hope he didn’t hear us,” spilled out before I could stop myself.
His thumbs stopped tracing for half a second then resumed. “Who?”
I turned my face just enough to mutter, “My stepbrother.”
It almost seemed like he was holding his breath for a beat, and then finally, his chest moved as he said, “Ah.”
I huffed. “I swear to fucking God, if he did, I’ll never hear the end of it. He’s always looking for new ways to ruin my life like it's his job.”
Michael was silent.
“He’s an asshole,” I continued, feeling the words rush out of me now that I’d opened the can of worms. “It’s like he knows which buttons to press and when to make me explode. It’s annoying.He’sannoying.”
One of his hands moved to my thigh, gripping it firmly, his thumb finding a soothing spot to graze, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“And he’s so smug about everything. He thinks he’s so fucking cool and untouchable, like we all exist for his amusement. And he always finds a way to make it seem like you’re the crazy person when you call him out for his bullshit.”
“Sounds like he gets under your skin.”
I scoffed. “He’s fucking embedded in it by now, like a splinter I can’t pull out. He thinks he’s hot shit, always poking fun at me, getting me all flustered. I can't even think about him without getting pissed off!”
His chest shook as he chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” I asked suspiciously.
“Nothing.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Just imagining you all flustered, your cute little cheeks all pink, standing tall and defiant as he kicks the hornet’s nest.”
“Well, he lives to piss me off, so it happens every time he’s around,” I muttered. “It’s like it's his life’s purpose. He has to be the most unbearable person to exist. He’s always watching for more opportunities.” I paused. “Maybe I should just smother him in his sleep.”
Another chuckle. “Harsh.”
“Not harsh enough,” I replied, but my voice softened with sleepiness. “I wish I didn’t care so much, but it's so hard to ignore him. He just… he gets to me.”
I gasped as the masked man’s hand shifted further up my thigh, toward my ass, holding me tightly, like he didn’t want to let me go.
“Don’t let him bother you. You have me to lean on, to hold on to.” He kissed my forehead. “I’ve got you.” Another kiss. “I own you now, kitten.” He kissed me again. “You’re safe with me.”
“I know,” I whispered, feeling my eyelids droop. “You’re the only one who’s ever made me feel… seen. Wanted. Like I’m not too much. It’s like you already know what I need before I do.”
“You’re never too much. Not for me. You’re mine.”
He said it like a vow, but my eyes were closing, and I didn’t have time to decide whether he was a red flag after everything he’d done and said to me. Maybe I was afraid of the answer.
Iwoke up especially early, hoping to catch sight of my beautiful creature in the wild, wanting to check on her without admitting why.
