Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Euphoria sweeps over me like a warm embrace. His. I am his. So what if I don’t know what a retaining washer is? It clearly means something to him, and giving it to me is a big deal.
“I’ll take good care of it,” I whisper, cradling it in my hand. Such a small piece of metal, mesmerizing me. “And you too.”
Car tires outside jolt through me like cold water. I recognize their sound instantly—that specific crunch of my mom’s rental. Colt’s huge arm tightens around me. “Is that—?”
“Yep,” I hiss. “They’re back.”
Colt moves quickly, pulling on jeans while I scramble for my clothes scattered across the floor. My hands shake as I try to button my shorts. The marks from his teeth on my skin throb like warning signs, a secret map of his possession over me, hiding beneath thin fabric.
“Your room. Now.” His voice is gruff and commanding, and propels me to the door. He catches my wrist just before I slip into the hallway and pulls me back for a deep, infatuated kiss. “This changes nothing. You still belong to me.”
“Yes. I’m yours.”
His words echo in my head as I slip into my room, barely closing the door before I hear the voices downstairs. Mom’s laugh, Jim’s chuckle. Normal parental sounds that should feel completely normal. But not today.
I catch my reflection in the mirror and flinch. I look ripped apart—swollen lips, tangled hair, and a visible mark on my collarbone my shirt doesn’t hide. I have no time to shower, so I grab a hoodie and slide into it, despite the summer heat.
“Lily! We’re home!” my mom shouts up the stairs.
Colt’s cum drips out of me as I take a deep breath and try to calm my heart. I head down to greet them. Each step feels like I’m walking into hell. Mom embraces me immediately, no idea I was just slamming my ass back against her step-son. “I missed you so much! How was everything? Did you and Colt get along okay?”
Did we get along okay?
Oh, Mom. If only you knew…
“It was fine. What are you two doing back already?”
She shrugs happily. “Oh, we just figured why buy a lake house if you don’t use it?” Mom’s lips twist, and she frowns. “You look…different. Have you been tanning? You’re absolutely glowing.”
Yeah, from getting fucked by an Adonis.
“Oh, just swimming a lot,” I lie.
Dinner is torture. The dynamic around the table is beyond awkward. Colt is doing his best to remain indifferent, barely acknowledging my existence. I get while he’s doing it and try not to take it personally.
Just before dessert, he presses his leg against mine under the table, and warmth cascades through me. It’s all I can do not to reach out and grab his cock.
“So what did you guys do while we were gone?” Jim asks, loading his plate with apple pie.
“I worked on the bike mostly,” Colt replies smoothly. “Repaired the dock after some storm damage.”
“Did Lily help?” Mom asks, seemingly pleased at the idea of us bonding.
Oh, we bonded, Mom. Just not in the way you think.
“Nah.” His dismissal is so sharp it stings, even though I know it’s an act. “She did her own thing.”
His words hurt more than they should, and I focus on pushing food around my plate. I know he’s protecting me, keeping his distance, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
My phone buzzes with a text. I glance down and see it’s from him.
Stop looking at me like that or I’m going to take you upstairs and pound you.
I bite my lip, forcing back a smile.
Like what?
Like you’re thinking about earlier.
Great, now I’m blushing. I hide my face with my hair, catching the attention of my mom. “You all right, honey? You look flushed.”
“Just tired,” I lie. “I think I’ll go to bed early.”
I escape quickly, taking the stairs two at a time. As soon as the door closes behind me, I slump down on my bed, caught in a whirlwind of emotions. The lingering euphoria of this afternoon and the brutal reality of our situation. The world feels heavy. My limbs weak.
My phone buzzes again: Garage. Midnight.
Three hours of pretending to sleep pass while my parents settle in. I count the heartbeats until I can see him again, adrenaline pumping through me.
At 11:58, I slip outside, barefoot and quiet, navigating the dark yard by the light of the moon. The garage door is cracked open, and I slide under to find Colt waiting inside, leaning against his motorcycle.
“This is dangerous,” I giggle, moving toward him, drawn by his invisible pull.
“Everything about us is dangerous.” He pulls me close, and I melt into his arms. “Doesn’t make it any less real.”
“But the way you acted at dinner—”
“It killed me.” He strokes my cheeks, his eyes threatening to undo me. “Pretending you don’t matter—”