Page 34 of Unhinged Love

When her chin trembles, it’s obvious she’s still hurting. Who wouldn’t? “You need a ride?” It seems like the right thing to do.

I should know better by now. “What, and take you away from your new girlfriend? I wouldn’t dream of it.” She rolls her eyes and scoffs before walking away, her hips swinging with every quick step she takes. I wish I didn’t want to stare. I really do.

Fuck it. She wants to act that way when all I’m trying to do is be nice for once? Let her. It’s not my fault she can’t fit in anywhere she goes. Jocelyn’s wide smile greets me when I return to my seat, and I know I should try hard to match her energy.

But my heart’s not in it. Not even close. She’s gorgeous, she’s got a killer body, but she does nothing for me. She’s not a challenge. She’s not even that interesting.

And if anything, the fact that Dad keeps looking our way wearing an approving smile makes her that much more unappealing. Since when do I do anything just because Dad wants me to? He should know better by now.

“You know, I think my stepsister is feeling kind of sick tonight. I should go home and check on her,” I tell Jocelyn once people start saying their goodbyes after the dessert andcoffee are gone. “It’s a big day tomorrow. I think my dad would appreciate it if I kept an eye on her.”

Instead of looking disappointed, she looks kind of pissed. “Well, aren’t you the kind stepbrother?” she asks with a snort. “Here I was, thinking you wanted to have fun tonight. Thanks for the mixed signals.”

I could continue with my excuse, remind her it’s not my fault, but what’s the use? It’s all completely insincere, anyway. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I reply, since I figure she’ll probably be at the wedding with her dad.

“Don’t expect a hello,” she mutters before standing and slinging her purse over her shoulder. So much for that. No big loss.

Everybody’s too busy air-kissing and joking about the big day tomorrow to notice me slipping out. Did she make it home all right? Is she upset? How can she not be? How can Irene be so cruel? Not that I would put much past her—it’s not like my opinion of her has fallen too far, since I didn’t have a high opinion of her in the first place.

But still. She’s a mother. Can’t she at least pretend to like her own daughter? The question bounces around in my head throughout the drive home, leaving me feeling unsettled and unsure of myself by the time I roll up the driveway. I’m the only one who gets to torment Elliana, dammit.

She’s exactly where I knew she would be. There’s a light burning in her room when I reach the upstairs hallway. I listen for a little while, but don’t hear anything coming from inside before I try the doorknob. No big surprise, she has made a habit of locking it lately. “It’s me,” I call out, knocking on the door. “I just wanted to check on you.”

“What, are you already finished with your girl? Or is she in your room, waiting?” Fuck, she is bitter. Her voice is thick with emotion—she’s probably been crying all alone.

“No, because I decided to come home and check on you,” I snap. “Now open the door, because I’m tired of talking to it.”

“Why should I?” Her voice gets a little louder, telling me she’s coming my way. “What, you just can’t resist the opportunity to make me feel like shit? Can I get one fucking night?”

Damn. When she decides to find her voice, she doesn’t stop using it. “Maybe I wanted to see if you were all right. Is that unbelievable?”

She barks out a laugh before opening the door, dressed in the same sort of tank top and shorts she wore the night of the party. “Are you honestly asking me that question? Because yeah, it’s plenty unbelievable. And I’ve already been through more than enough tonight, thank you very much.”

She is so wounded. There is so much anger brewing in her. It touches something in me, lights it up, and makes it come to life.

She cranes her neck to look over my shoulder and tips her head to the side. “Wow. You really are alone. What, did Miss Senator’s Daughter decide you weren’t good enough?” she asks, folding her arms and smiling for the first time all night.

“Don’t start that shit just because you’re jealous,” I fire back.

“Jealous?” Her laughter rings out but it’s too loud, almost forced. She’s trying too hard.

“Give me a fucking break,” I snarl when her laughter uncorks the anger I’ve tried to bottle up. “What, I don’t have eyes? I couldn’t see you watching us?”

“If you’re paying attention to me,” she retorts, “you couldn’t have been paying very close attention to her. No wonder she told you to get lost.”

“She didn’t.”

“She should have.”

“Stop lying to yourself. It’s pathetic,” I snap, backing her into the room, kicking the door closed behind me. “We both know you like it when I touch you.”

“You mean when you force me to do things? When you blackmail me?” She shuffles backward when I move toward her, the hunter stalking my prey.

“I’m not forcing you to like it, am I?” I murmur, watching her face change, watching pure bitterness touch her eyes, narrowing them, making her cheeks flush. Every ragged breath she takes makes her tits rise and fall so temptingly.

When the backs of her legs hit the bed, she has nowhere else to go, and I take advantage of that by lunging at her, surprising her into falling backward until she’s propped up by her elbows.

“You come every single time.” Leaning down, my hands on either side of her body, I whisper, “Tonight, I’ll make you come as many times as I want to. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

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