Page 17 of Stepbrother's Obsession
“I tried to warn you, baby.” His voice is rough in my ear. “Once I claimed you, there’d be no going back.”
A sound from outside makes us both freeze—footsteps, probably Jim getting something from downstairs.
“Tomorrow night,” he swears, pressing a kiss to my forehead. He won’t kiss my lips because if he does, he’ll have to take me fully. “Same time. I need to have you, even if it’s just a quickie.”
I nod. “A quickie?” I whisper with a wink. “I look forward to it.”
I slip back outside and race up to the house. At the door, I turn to see him watching me from the darkness.
“I love you,” I whisper into the darkness. And to my surprise, I hear his voice respond.
“I love you too, baby.”
His words send my heart soaring. My cheeks are on fire, and I have goosebumps everywhere as I race up to my room and dive into bed. This is what pure happiness feels like. Could life get any better? I think not.
As I drift off to sleep, I remember the promise in his eyes.
We’ll make it. We have to.
8
LILY
The washeraround my neck clinks against the table.
Such a small sound, but potentially world-ending.
Mom’s eyes lock on to the metal pendant, and I freeze. “What is that?” she asks, reaching out, taking it into her hand. “Is that—is this Colt’s?”
My hand flies to cover it. Too late. A blush burns across my cheeks, and the silence stretches between us like a knife. Her voice is quiet, controlled.
Busted.
I can’t speak. Can’t find my voice. Even if I could, I can’t lie to her. I’ve never been able to lie to my mom. But I also can’t betray him.
“Lily,” she snips, sharper now. “Is that Colt’s?”
My breath catches as I try to turn away, but all that does is put my guilt on full display.
“Oh my God,” Mom breathes. Then, “Colt! Get in herenow!”
It takes a second, but he appears in the kitchen doorway, stained with grease, a rag in his hand, and my body responds like it always does. My heartbeat lurches as his eyes find mine. Then he sees the washer in Mom’s fingers, and his jaw tightens.
“What is going on?” she asks, her voice trembling with anger. “One of you better start talking.”
“Mom—” I start to say, but Colt cuts me off.
“Oh, that? That’s nothing. She just borrowed it. I’ll take it back now.”
“My daughterborrowed this?” Mom laughs. “My daughter who has never touched anything mechanical in her life?”
Colt nods, somehow maintaining his cool. “She liked the way it looked.”
“Stop.” The word tears from my throat. Colt’s eyes narrow. “Don’t lie for me.”
“Lily,” he hisses, a warning in his tone.
“Mom,” I say, turning to face her. My heart is pounding as I grab the fabric of my shirt. “I love him.”
