Page 73 of Endgame

“Why am I even bothering?” Running a hand through his hair, Rourke shook his head and laughed humorlessly. “I should let you go back down there and get your ass handed to you.”

“Suits me,” I shot back.

“Sit the fuck down, Six.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re bleeding, dammit!” he roared. “And I need to clean you up.”

“I don’t need you to do shit for me,” I shot back, my hands immediately moving to my face. Damn that bitch. Iwasbleeding. “I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah,” he sneered sarcastically. He turned and walked over to my door before releasing an annoyed growl. “Sure looked that way downstairs.”

“Hey, maybe one of your friends can help take care of me,” I called out mockingly. Wait – why was I doing this? Why was Itauntinghim? “Maybe Reebo or Mason?”

“Like hell!” Rourke snarled. Seconds later, I was airborne again and being carried from my bedroom to his.

Rourke walked over and tossed me down on his bed before walking back to his door.

“Why did you bring me in here?” I demanded, sprawled out on my back.

“Because I’ve got a lock with a fucking key in here, and your room doesn’t,” he growled. I watched him lock his bedroom door and slide the key into his jeans pocket. “And apparently, I’m on suicide watch with your crazy ass.”

He was right. I had a lock on my door, but it was one of those locks built into the door handle – easily accessible. Smart Fucker.

He disappeared into his bathroom then, returning a few moments later with a wet wash cloth. “Come here,” he ordered, sinking down on the edge of the bed.

“Don’t do me any favors,” I was quick to shoot back, scrambling away from him.

“Get your ass over here now, Six,” he growled, eyes locked on mine. “Or I’ll fucking put you over here.”

Sulking, I gave in and scooted over. I’d had enough rough and tumble for the night. I was prideful, but even I knew I was no match for this guy.

With my heart hammering against my ribcage, I crawled over Rourke’s ruffled bedsheets, and knelt beside him. He had one foot resting on the floor, the other tucked up on the bed. The white shirt he had on was dotted with blood.

My blood,I realized.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” he asked me.

Yes, but not in places I wanted him to touch me. Or maybe I did want him to touch me in those places and that was the problem…

“I’ll live,” I whispered, remaining completely still as he gently probed my face with his surprisingly gentle fingers. His breath fanned my face and I could smell the alcohol on it. He was drunk. He had to be. Hell, I was getting buzzed alone off the fumes of what he’d consumed tonight.

“Fucking Britt,” Rourke muttered under his breath. He was holding my chin with one hand and using the other to wipe my face and he had a deep frown on his face. “This one’s bad.” He pressed his thumb against my bottom lip. “Dammit.”

“I’m... ine…ourke,” I tried to say, but it was difficult with his thumb pressing down on my lip.

“No,” he growled. “You’re not.” He leaned closer then, hands cupping my cheeks, inspecting what I assumed was a claw mark and his breath washed over my neck. The sensation caused a tremor to roll through me.

Nervous anxiety, I put it down to, but my body knew the truth.

It was lust.

Every nerve inside of me was on high alert as my stepbrother touched me in ways that were perfectly innocent, but to me, the girl who’d been futilely denying my feelings since arriving here, it was entirely too much.

I wanted him. He was cruel and mean and slept around. He was the worst person for me to feel an attraction towards, but it didn’t change the fact that I did. IwantedRourke. Badly. I shouldn’t have stopped him last night. Iwouldn’tstop him tonight. If he only wanted me…

Knowing I needed to say something – do something – to snap myself out of this lust driven trance, I asked, “Why aren’t you going down there and fixing things with yourgirlfriend?” When he didn’t respond, I added, “She sounded pretty pissed at you.” Understatement of the century. “Sounded like she was two seconds away from dumping your ass.”

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