Page 115 of His White Moonlight
“Is it going to get worse once he knows I know?”I asked once we were in her car.
“I don’t think so.It might get easier once you acknowledge what you are to him.”
“Might,” I said.“That’s not a guarantee.”
“Very little in life is a guarantee.”
I still hadn’t decided what to do by the time Grandma dropped me off at home with a kiss on my cheek.
Bennett opened the door for me as I approached and inhaled deeply.I knew he was trying to gauge my mood.Did he already know why I’d wanted to meet with Grandma?I thought of what I’d overheard Grandma say to Mom last night, and thought he probably did.If so, there was no use trying to pretend I was still ignorant.Both of us would be able to move forward better once everything was in the open.
“We need to talk,” I said as he shut the door behind me.
“Okay.”
When I faced him, I saw his mask slip into place even as his pupils expanded.
“I don’t want to be your potential mate, and I don’t want to have sex with you just to officially reject you.”
He shoved his hands into his dress pants pockets so hard I heard seams rip.When he looked down at the floor, nothing about it said guilt or submission.It screamed barely contained anger.
“I also don’t want to live in an apartment with you at Coalwell.So, where does that leave us?”
“Can I ask why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you refusing to see me as a potential mate?”
“Because I see you as my brother.”
His gaze flew to mine, and I knew the moment he smelled the lie.His slow smile sent a thread of panic through me.
“If you take one step?—”
He had my hands pinned to the wall above my head before I could finish.My pulse slammed into overdrive.
“I hate when you do this.”
He didn’t let go, so I stomped on his foot.He grunted but didn’t release me.Instead, he bent down so his face was level with mine.
“Do you know how much I want to headbutt you right now?”I said.
“Do you know how much I want to kiss you?”
Heart pounding, I turned my head away and closed my eyes.Did I want Bennett to kiss me?No, I knew where it would lead.But I wasn’t afraid of it, which made the reason for my racing pulse confusing.
“Why me?Haven’t I been tortured enough?”
“How have you been tortured, Wrenly?”
I kept my mouth shut.
His lips brushed the skin just below my ear.My eyes popped open, and fear finally bloomed.
He trailed his nose along my skin, inhaling deeply.
“I think I’m the one being tortured, Wrenly.When you smell like fear…because of me…” A shuddering exhale escaped him.“Let’s make a deal.One I think you’ll like.”
