Page 53 of Merciless

Exactly what the bully said. I’m getting turned on by my brother.

I wiggle beneath him, trying to get out of his hold, but I end up grinding against him.

“Fuck, Eden,” Elijah groans and leans into me. His hard length presses against my center, and my legs squeeze around his waist to pull him closer.

He grips my breast harder and drags his tongue along my jawline.

“I’m not opposed to a quickie before class.” He nips my throat.

“Get off,” I say. “What the hell are we doing?”

Elijah raises his head, his eyebrows furrowed together. He lets go of me and moves to his feet. I sit up and fix my sleep shirt in place, all while avoiding looking into his eyes.

“Eden,” Elijah says, his serious tone sending my heart into a race.

I leap to my feet and busy myself by looking for a clean uniform.

What is wrong with me?

Why do I want him to finish what we started?

Why am I disappointed that he listened to me and stopped?

It can’t be right for me to want his touch, especially after being violated by that man. Right?

“Eden, look at me.”

I swallow hard and face him. Slowly, I raise my gaze to his face and hold my breath.

Elijah closes the space between us and stops in front of me. He tilts my head back to look into his eyes.

“What we did⁠—”

“It was a mistake.”

His eyes narrow. “A mistake?”

“I don’t know what came over me.” I swallow hard and avert my gaze. “It won’t happen again, I promise.”

“You’re making it seem like I wasn’t taking part in any of that, and I very much was.”

I shake my head in his grip and catch my bottom lip between my teeth before saying, “Please leave so I can get dressed.”

He tilts his head. “We’re not done with this conversation.”

He releases me, and I let out a shaky breath as Elijah strides to the door, giving me one last glance before leaving the room.

My shoulders sag, and I touch my lips that still tingle from his kiss.

I won’t kiss him again, though. I won’t fall victim to the masked man’s accusations.

It will not happen again.

I glance at the door, where Elijah waits on the other side.

I don’t think he’s on the same page as me. And he’s right. He was very much into it as well. But I have to stay strong. I will not fall for my stepbrother.

CHAPTER 20