Page 110 of Devious Obsession
“It was fine. We didn’t win.”
“You’ll get ’em next time,” I mutter. Because I don’t know what else to say.
She shrugs. “Maybe.”
“Why are you out here?”
Last I checked, Knox was dancing, and it wasn’t with her. But that was before I retreated out here. It was either stay inside and punch him, or… not.
I chose the latter.
Above all, he’s my brother. Fighting him would do neither of us any good. So I pick him over everything else, even when he’s being a dick.
For a split second, I hope she didn’t see him. I hope she didn’t have to witness Knox being a narcissistic asshole. But then my common sense overrides, andmyinner asshole wins out. Because fuck that—she should see all of him, not just the pretty parts he keeps polished for her.
“It’s hot inside,” she lies.
I exhale.
One day, Willow Reed will grow a fucking spine—but that day isn’t today.
“I’m bored,” I say, straightening.
I’m sure as fuck not going to stand out here and commiserate with my brother’s girlfriend. Not when I’ve wanted her from day fucking one. Not when seeing him treat her like garbage—and herlethim—makes me angry enough to stab another line in the railing.
Someday, she’ll admit her feelings out loud, and my brother will stomp all over her heart.
And all that’ll be left for me is broken little pieces.
But you know what?
That’s all I deserve.
33
STEELE
“Easy,” I murmur, guiding Aspen up the stairs.
Her eyes are mostly closed. She’s been getting progressively less responsive for the past hour, and now her muscles are failing her, too. She stumbles and puts more of her weight on me. She mumbles something, but I can’t make out the words.
Eventually, once we’re out of sight of the party, I swing her up into my arms and carry her the rest of the way. I balance her and unlock my door, then set her on the bed. She flops a bit, her body relaxed. She doesn’t so much as shift.
I lock the door and reposition her on the bed, her head on the pillow. She looks like a sleeping angel like this, her dark hair fanned out, her lips slightly parted. Her eyes flutter. I pull the blanket up over her and flick off the light, then sit beside her.
After a while, she falls into a deeper sleep.
The drugs I put into her drink grab a deeper hold of her mind.
“Aspen.” My voice is loud.
No response.
I turn my bedside lamp on, and she doesn’t react to that either. My heart picks up speed, and I take a deep breath. I’ve been planning this for so long, practiced for even longer. I’m not the sort to get nervous—but I amready.
I push the blanket off her. With slow, sure movements, I unbutton her jeans and yank them down. Over her hips, past her thighs. I toss the denim to the floor and go for her panties. Dark purple. Satin. A thong, no less. I smirk as I drag them down, too. The strip that sits against her cunt is damp. It makes me wonder what sort of wicked plans she had for us tonight.
She probably didn’t seethiscoming.
