Page 9 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

I was walking home from work when I spotted Della sneaking around the street like a thief. She didn’t see me, as she seemed engrossed with something else. Glancing around to make sure no one else noticed her, I decided to follow her. Gods, she seemed focused on something, but I couldn’t see what it was. I moved quicker so I could see who she was stalking. A frown tilted my lips when I realized it was Holden she was watching. Why was she following him? Was that why she became strange after he showed up? She wanted Holden and not me. A pang of jealousy spiked in my chest before I thought about it rationally.

She probably thought it was me. Holden and I were fairly similar, but I thought she would be able to tell the difference. I walked up to her slowly so she wouldn't hear me and watched her for a moment before her body stiffened. I smiled because I knew she sensed me behind her. She turned quickly, and her pretty, star-colored eyes widened, and her pouty mouth fell open. Inappropriate thoughts flashed in my mind, showing me how pretty she would look when she came. My jaw clenched as I exhaled through my nose, hoping to tame those images.

Fuck.

I looked away from her so that I could control the vision of her being a pleading mess below me. Shit. Fuck. There was a heat creeping up my neck as visions of Della begging me to make her cum started taking over my mind. Fucking hell. My hands fisted at my sides as I tried to not have a physical reaction to the vision.

“Haden,” she breathed, and it did not help my desire coiling within me. Slowly, I opened my eyes and stared at her. I could not help admiring how damn pretty she was with flushed cheeks and wide, innocent eyes—but I knew better. Della was nowhere near innocent. The woman could bring me to my knees with the filthy things that fell from that perfect mouth of hers. She may be a goddess, but there was nothing holy about what she did andsaid to me in my visions. That mouth and body were made for sin.

"Haden?" She tried again, and I snapped out of my intense thoughts.

“So, you do know it’s me.” I raised my brow at her.

“What do you mean?”

I looked behind her to where Holden was talking to a street vendor. She didn't even turn to see who I was looking at. Her bronze skin flushed red, and I had to look away from her again.

“I was spying,” she said.

“Why on Holden?” My tone was clearly not amused.

Ardella looked up at me with wide eyes as I crossed my arms over my chest.

“I thought it was you at first, but then I realized it was Holden. Then I started wondering if you two were similar to one another.”

“And what did you find out?”

“You two are nothing alike,” she huffed. “Aren’t twins supposed to be similar to one another? You two don’t look the same, and your personalities are different.”

“You don’t know me,” I challenged, and something about that made defiance flare in her eyes.

“I know enough.” Her snarky attitude made me smile. Oh, I liked her sassiness. “Quit looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, whatever that look means.” She swallowed hard.

I didn’t stop because she liked it. Her pupils dilated as she watched me. I don't think she realized she took a step toward me.

“Are you grumpy today?” I asked.

She frowned slightly as she thought of her response.

“Yes.”

“So, Della, are you going to share with me how Holden and I are different and why you care?”

She scoffed like it was a stupid idea. I couldn’t help but smile. Della crossed her arms over her chest and stared at me with stubbornness.

“I’m waiting.” My tone was demanding.

Her defiance melted away as she watched me. Did she prefer the way Holden looked? We were similar but definitely different. Is that why she was refusing to answer me? She didn't want to hurt my feelings. Too bad for her that Holden would never leave Sara, and I would never allow it. She was mine.

“You are taller than him. Your chin is at the perfect height to rest on the top of my head if I am not wearing heels. His eyes are a lighter blue, but yours are a captivating, stormy color. Holden has talked to every street vendor and their mother, so I’m assuming it's safe to say he enjoys others’ company. You strike me as the type that doesn’t mind being alone. Especially after you said you never dated before.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but she cut me off.

“I’m not finished.” Her eyes narrowed on me, and I shut the hell up. “Holden is more outgoing, but he also seems more timid. You are confident, but it is not a typical confidence. You are comfortable with who you are, and you like things a certain way. But with me, you seem to beveryconfident. It makes me wonder if you are like that with all women. Holden is more timid with Sara—gentle in a way where you are…rough, or maybe rugged is the right word.”

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