“No, I meant –” she paused as if thinking over her words. "I don't want to – I just can't."

“I know my brother. He is a charmer but he is a manipulative son of a bitch when it comes to something he wants. He got that from our father. This is the first time I’ve actually witnessed him chase someone. So if you don't want to be a part of something with him, then I suggest you be sure, because one thing Dash can detect is bullshit.”

After Willow and Sheldon left I called my aunt and spoke to her for a while. She reminded me that she was flying to her next tour stop in the morning before we said our goodnights. I quickly fixed something to eat and was channel surfing when the doorbell rang. I frowned wondering who would be coming over when I saw Willow’s notebook on the coffee table. I shook my head and grabbed her tablet. Willow was a forgetful person and would always leave stuff behind.

I opened the door with a smile. “Something here belong to you, Will –”

“Something here does belong to me but I promise it isn’t a tablet.”

* * *

Keiran was the last person I expected to see standing at my door considering last night and today. “What are you doing here?”

“You know why I’m here.”

I tried to close the door but his booted foot kept it from shutting as he shouldered his way in causing me to lose my grip on the door and stumble. He caught me before I could fall and hauled me close to his chest.

“You said we didn’t – you didn’t –” The purpose in his eyes as he held me was both provocative and scary.

“I said we had nothing to talk about. We don’t. I said we weren’t in a relationship. We aren’t.”

“Yes, but –”

“I never said you didn’t owe me your body because you damn well do and I’m here to collect.”

“I don’t owe you anything,” I said through clenched teeth.

His lips crashed down on mine and for a moment I gave in to him and let my desires show before I snatched away. He grinned and said, “We’ll see about that in the morning.” He turned me around and pushed me toward the stairs. When we reached my bedroom he dropped the bag I didn’t notice he was carrying and locked the door.

“What happened last night?” he asked as he removed his hoodie.

“I told you it was a misunderstanding. Someone was here. They broke in and chased me up the stairs but I locked myself in. I’m sorry I never saw who it was and then you were here I just –”

“Did he hurt you?” His voice sounded neutral but the tick in his jaw made me curious even when his question pissed me off.

“No more than you have for ten years. I grew thick skin.”

I don’t know what made me snap at him but I knew it was the wrong answer when his shoulders tensed and his hands balled into fists so hard the veins were bulging and straining against his skin. I didn’t believe the tension in the air could grow any thicker.

Me and my mouth.

“Is that right?” My body and entire nerve system went on alert at the chilling way he asked the question. I carefully backed away for the door, feeling sweat form around my face even as my body went cold and the hairs around my neck stood up. “I guess we are about to see just how thick…your skin has gotten.”

I bolted for the door but didn’t so much as get my hand on the door before I was snatched away and then I was flying. I landed on the soft spread of my bed and shot upright. He was already standing at the foot of my bed, watching me as he lifted his shirt from his chest and dropped it on the floor.

“Wait! I’m not ready.”

“Tough shit, Monroe. You had a year to get ready.” How could I have known this would happen? I knew he would be mad but this…

“Can we talk about this?”

“I’m done talking. It’s time to fuck.” I reared back, feeling both appalled and turned on by his crude behavior. I searched his eyes one last time but didn’t find any mercy in them.

“I’ll fight you,” I warned him, half-heartedly.

“You won’t win if I fight back.”

“Don’t do this.”

“I have every intention of doing this. I have since the first time you looked at me with the same need that I felt every damn day.”

“What are you talking about? I never –”

“I read your journal,” he interrupted with a smirk. My heart stopped in chest. Or was it beating so loud that I couldn’t hear it anymore?

He read my journal.

That meant he knew every single emotion or thought I ever felt or had about him. That also meant he knew about my parents.

“Have you ever thought about being a writer? You’re very…descriptive. I particularly liked the entries dated, August 17th and May 27th. Those dates mean anything to you?” he grinned at me but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

I dropped my head, knowing exactly what dates he was referring to. The day I realized I desired him and the day before he was arrested. They were both during the same school year.

“You’re a monster.”

“And you’re a liar.” He began removing his belt from his jeans. It was the same one from last night. My wrists still held the imprint of the skulls and were red and puffy.

“I didn’t lie.”

“Come here.”

“No.”

He sighed as if I were little more than a nuisance and then he was suddenly on the bed, dragging me to the edge of the bed and pulling me up. “Suit yourself,” he whispered against my lips.

“Don’t –” He gripped my waist tighter in warning.

My top was quickly unbuttoned and tossed away.  The cold air hit my bare chest, hardening my nipples just before his head lowered and his mouth was on me, sucking. My back instinctively arched from the sensation, pressing my breasts into his mouth further. A sharp sting from his bite had me gasping and grabbing onto his head for balance as I felt my whole world shift from that little spice of pain.

The next moment, I was on my back and his hands at my shorts, pulling them off my hips and down my legs until they disappeared over the bed. The dark look of determination on his face scared me even as my body prepared to take him. I couldn’t deny or hide the evidence of my arousal. I didn’t understand all that what was happening or what was wrong with me. I tried reminding myself of all the horrible things he’d done and planned to do, but none of it worked.

When he reached for my panties, I finally got ahold of my senses, and grabbed onto his hands to stop him, but he took those away from me too and I was left bare and shaking on my bed. I should be screaming and yelling and cursing, but I wasn’t. Instead I watched him devour my body with his eyes and I could see a hint of approval in them.

He pulled me up again and ordered me to finish undressing him. I reached for his jeans with nervous hands and unbuttoned him and slid the zipper down. I grabbed onto the waist of his jeans with both hands and slid them down his legs all the while keeping my eyes on his, letting him see my disdain and praying I was shielding my hunger.

“You can keep fighting it, Monroe, but my dick will be deep inside you before the night is over. We have all night. There is no one here to save you. No one to hear you scream. No one to see you come.” A slow, steady throb began between my legs from his threat.  “Lay down and spread your legs for me.”

I scooted back toward the headboard and slowly lowered my back to the mattress. I stared up at the ceiling while I spread my legs for him. I knew he could see my arousal.

“Look at me,” he demanded. I let my gaze travel to his face and saw the anger there. “Don’t hide from me,” he growled.

“You should be used to it by now. I’ve hidden from you my entire life.”

The deep hatred that flashed in his eyes, more than I’ve ever seen before, was my only warning. He covered my body with his and forced my thighs open wider to accommodate him. I could feel the head of his cock poised at my entrance as he grabbed a hand full of my hair in his hand and leaned down to place his lips at my ear.