Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Don’t talk to Finch.”
I look up from my paper, confused at Spencer’s harsh tone. “What?”
His nostrils flare. He’s pissed. And I have no idea why. Spencer stalks into my room, eyes filled with fury, not stopping until he looms over me at my desk.
“Don’t. Talk. To. Finch.”
“I heard you,” I grumble, “but I guess the better question is why not?”
“Because I said so.”
I scoff at his demand. Spencer isn’t usually like this. Sure, I’ve seen him get pissy with his dad lots of times, and even Dempsey, but never at me. We’re more than stepsiblings. We’re friends. Sometimes I wish we were a lot more than either of those things.
“He’s my lab partner. I kind of have to.” I shrug, turning back to my schoolwork.
Clearly annoyed at my dismissal, Spencer swivels my desk chair around to face him. He grips the armrests, caging me in, and leans so close, I can smell his minty breath. I blink several times and swallow down the butterflies in my throat to attempt to keep my expression neutral.
Spencer Park cannot know I’m stupidly in love with him.
“Do what you have to for the class, but don’t talk to him outside of class.” His eyes narrow. “He wants to get in your pants and that’s not fucking happening.”
My heart stutters to a stop as I gape at him. “He does?”
And Spencer is angry about this?
The hope dancing in my chest is stupid, but I can’t help but feel invigorated by it. I’d always thought my feelings for my stepbrother were one-sided and obviously completely forbidden, but now I’m wondering if maybe he feels the same way too.
“Is it just him I’m not supposed to talk to or every guy?” I ask, fishing for a little more from him. Spencer guards his emotions fiercely and it’s difficult knowing how he truly feels about anything.
“You can date when you’re in college,” he says, eyebrow quirking as if daring me to challenge him. “No one here is good enough.”
You are…
I try to convey my thoughts into my expression, letting him see that I don’t want to date anyone. I want him. His lips on every part of me, his body in my bed, his heart holding mine. It’s reckless and has the potential of tearing apart our family, but I can’t stop the way I feel.
“Spencer,” I murmur, voice unsteady. “I don’t want to date anyone.”
His features soften and his gaze drops to my lips. Unable to stop myself, I lick them. Heat unfurls in my belly at the sharp intake of his breath.
He feels it too.
He’s not immune to this connection that always seems to zap and crackle between us.
Maybe this could finally be our moment.
I lean forward in my chair slightly, aching for his lips to come crashing to mine. Instead, all he offers me is a frustrated groan. Defeated, I sink back into my chair, tearing my gaze from his so he won’t see the way my eyes are starting to water.
“Don’t go there,” he says softly. “We can’t.”
I know he’s right. We’d be the town gossip. If there’s one thing Spencer cares about, it’s his family name and image in the community. Dating his stepsister would be catastrophic to the Park reputation, especially his.
Instead of answering, I clench my teeth, willing the tears to remain at bay. Then, his hand reaches up, gently gripping my jaw. He turns my head until our eyes once again meet.
“Trust me,” he whispers. “I want. You have no idea just how much I want.”
Is knowing his feelings are reciprocated enough? His thumb drags over my bottom lip, sending a shiver down my spine.
Yes.
It has to be enough.
The sound of girlish voices nearby pulls me from my memories. Thinking about Spencer before he turned into my monster is dangerous. Back then, he was so…different. I’d loved him. Helplessly loved him.
Until everything changed and I hated him.
“Aubrey!” Gemma’s shriek as she enters through the side gate has me hopping up to greet her. “Oh my God! I haven’t seen you in eighty-two years!”
I can’t help but grin. “Someone’s still dramatic as ever.”
Gemma runs toward me, her sundress dancing up her thighs and perfect boobs bouncing. Last time I saw her, she had braces and an awkwardness that comes with being fifteen. She’s no longer that girl, though. Gemma Park is stunningly beautiful.
She launches herself into my waiting arms, nearly tackling me. Gemma smells like blackberries fresh from patches we’d find in the woods on Park Mountain. Fond memories of exploring with her, Dempsey, and Spencer as we ate the blackberries straight from the source have my heart warming, chasing off any lingering chill from Spencer’s cold stare.
“I missed you,” she whines. “You went and got all super-hot. Dad would legit trap me in my closet until the end of time if I even thought about getting a tattoo or piercing, which is totally unfair because Dempsey has lots of tattoos. Ugh, God, I want to be you, Aubs.”