Page 116 of Please Hate Me

“On. Your. Knees.” His dangerous tone masked an edge of excitement.

“You can’t make me do anything I don’t—”

My sentence was cut short by Lucian’s palm pressing on the top of my head. It wasn’t hard enough to be uncomfortable, let alone hurt, but it was enough pressure to make me comply with his demands. The chill of the floorboards under my knees provided a thrilling contrast to the heat budding in my core.

My heart raced as I looked up at him. His gentle fingers teased my scalp as he knelt, bending himself over to press his nose to mine.

“Apologize. Now.” His tone was rough, his smirk cool.

My heart fluttered as I squirmed under the weight of the moment.

“Or what?”

His fingertips feathered down my jaw, tracing invisible patterns on my skin before collaring my neck with his hand. He squeezed the sides carefully, restricting blood flow while avoiding the center of my throat. Lucian had choked me more than enough times to know how to do it without impeding my breathing. My pulse was buzzing, and I wondered what it felt like for him.

“Six years apart, and you’ve forgotten all the manners I taught you,” he mused.

I fought desperately to hold his gaze. Lucian’s hot breath grazed my lips, setting off a burning need for him to kiss me. My legs shook despite my kneeling position, and as he tightened his grip, the whisper of an apology hung on my tongue. I tightened my jaw, determined to savor the tension between us for as long as I could.

“This is your last chance, fucktoy. Apologize to me before I have to fuck you like a filthy whore to remind you whoownsyou.”

The door softly creaked open, allowing the cat to dash out as Lucian’s threat hung between us. A knot of fear joined the heat of arousal as I wondered if we’d been caught red-handed by Sebastian. Sure, he’d given me permission to do this, but walking in on your sibling withanyonewas probably an awkward experience.

But it wasn’t Sebastian at all. Instead, a curvaceous feminine figure lingered in the doorway. Lucian sucked in a hard breath through his teeth as he noticed Sophia’s presence.

“How long have you been listening?”

“Long enough.” She stepped in, sealing the door behind her. “By the way—whoowns Mason? I’mdyingto know.”

A subtle flush spread across Lucian’s cheeks like a sunrise creeping over the horizon, coloring the sky and anything ittouched in a rosy, ethereal glow. He slowly released my throat, sheepishly casting his gaze on the floor. Sophia cupped Lucian’s chin and knelt beside us, brushing her nose against his with a smile.

“Ah-ah-ah.” She mirrored his tone from earlier, albeit sweeter. Had she really been watching us the whole time?

“Use your words,” Sophia prompted.

Lucian’s breathing deepened, and the flush intensified.

This whole situation was all too familiar. In our past life, Lucian would try to be the Dom he wanted to be, but Sophia would always overhear. She would then remind both of us whoreallywore the pants in this relationship—which was funny because she much preferred skirts.

“Come on, baby boy, tell me whomyHoneybee belongs to,” she purred as she tightened her grip on Lucian, pushing his cheeks together with a sticky sweet smile.

Lucian swallowed hard, his gaze flickering to me for just a moment before settling on Sophia.

“Mason’s always been mine.” His words came out muffled, but there was conviction in his tone.

Sophia’s lips pursed into a mock pout. She stroked his hair as if she was comforting a tantruming child.

“Try again. I know what a smart boy you can be.”

Lucian huffed, his gaze hardening as he squirmed.

“Don’t talk to me like that.”

“You’re going to end up with a writing assignment if you don’t stop.” Sophia tsked before letting go of Lucian. “Something likeI will not talk back.I haven’t quite decided yet.”

Sophia’s sapphire gaze fell to me, and her smile reappeared, causing slight creases to form in the corners of her eyes.

“Now, let’s get you off those pretty little knees, Honeybee.”

---