“You have no idea what you’re asking.” My lips brushed against hers.

“I know,” she breathed and pushed her plump, soft mouth hard against mine. I tightened my grip on her waist as I let my tongue push over the tip of hers, struggling for control. I slowed my movements, begging for the strength to stop what was happening.

Pinning her body between myself and the wall, I lifted my mouth from hers just long enough to look into her eyes. Nothing but desire stared back at me, the innocence overshadowed by my demons. I had corrupted her. My lips found hers, my kisses rough and full of need. If she wanted what I had to offer, she would learn the hard way that she was making a mistake. The beast inside me took over all rational thought as I slid my right hand down over her hip bone and along the inner crease of her thigh. Her eyes searched mine as her mouth froze, the fabric of her jeans rough against my fingertips.

“This what you wanted, little one?” I asked as I slid my hand toward her center, pushing the seam of her jeans against her. “Tell me to stop,” I pleaded as my hand moved back and forth against her. Her hips rolled forward, begging for more. She was no longer the innocent girl I needed to protect.

“It’s not like I haven’t done this before.”

Her words ignited an anger inside me that I’d never experienced. My hand slid over her thigh and gripped tightly below her ass as I lifted her in the air, shoving her hard against the wall. The pressure of my weight colliding with hers knocked the air from her lungs. “If you ever”—I pushed against her, and she moaned—“talk about fucking someone else, I will hurt you in ways you didn’t know were possible.” I thrust my hips forward, and she gasped, giving me a chance to bite down on her lower lip, tugging it gently. I sucked hard on the delicate flesh, loving the sounds that emanated from the back of her throat. Her nails scratched across the base of my neck as we deepened our kiss.

“Oh my God.” Amanda’s voice caused me to freeze as I slowly turned my head to the doorway. With her mouth hanging open in shock, she shook her head in disbelief, her purse falling to the floor as time froze.

“Fuck. Amanda.” I had no idea what I was going to say to her as I slid Annie down until her feet touched the floor. I ran my hand roughly over my hair as I looked to the ground between us, begging my depraved soul to feel some semblance of remorse so my apology would sound convincing.

“Don’t.” She disappeared into the hallway, and when my eyes met Annie’s, my heart shattered in my chest. She was silently pleading with me to make this right, but I had no idea how to take back what we had done, and I didn’t want to. But that look gutted me, and I knew I had to stop this from unraveling our lives, if only to get the opportunity to touch the milky softness of her skin again. Once again, my entire world would shift on its axis for those beautiful big green eyes.

“Amanda, wait!”

It took me a moment to process what was happening. I lurched for the door but stopped as soon as I stepped into the hall. Colin’s body heaved with heavy intakes of breath, his broad shoulders rocking with each gasp. He slowly turned to face me, his angry expression causing me to take a step backward. It morphed into anguish as his hands ran over his short hair, and he looked up to the ceiling before his eyes settled on mine again.

“Where…where is she?” My hand went to my chest, silently pleading with my own heart to slow its pace before it thudded out of my chest.

He glanced over his shoulder and back to me.

“She’s gone?” I whispered the words as if saying them any louder would make it all real. He swallowed hard as he nodded, his hand rubbing over his jaw where she had hit him.

“She’s going to destroy everything.” His voice was thick with regret because we both knew she was, in fact, that stupid.

“She…” I gasped, putting my hand over my mouth. “She…” My body trembled as I struggled to come to terms with what was happening. Everything we had built, the perfect lies were falling apart around us.

“This was a mistake, Annie.”

My heart clenched in my chest from his rejection. In three long strides, he was in front of me, and I was gazing up at his menacing face. “You should have let me leave.” He gripped my arms painfully hard, and my body shook with each word he spoke.

“You’re blaming me for this?”

“No. I blame myself for everything that has happened to you.” The column of his throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.

“You saved me, Colin. You’re not a bad guy.”

He flinched as he took a step backward, as if my words had caused a physical blow. He reached behind me, fisting his hand in my hair and gripping tightly as he pulled me against him, causing me to cry out in shock. His lips were against my ear. “Do you know what it is that I did for the Descendants? Do you know how many young little girls like you that I beat, fucked, and humiliated? Do you have any idea how badly I’ve wanted to do that to you since the day we met?” His grip tightened with each word. “You still want me inside you? You still think I’m a good guy?” He let go, causing me to stumble forward and catching myself on the banister.

“You were forced to do those things,” I choked out.

“But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it.” His voice cut off as he swallowed, and his eyes glossed over. I felt like I was going to be physically ill. My hand splayed over my stomach as I struggled to take in the truth behind who Colin really was.

What if he was telling the truth? What if he wasn’t just trying to scare me?

“Annie,” he whispered, his eyes searching mine, and I saw something I never thought I’d see. Colin was regretful, and it was killing him to admit to me what he had done.

I gripped the top of my tank top until my knuckles turned white. I felt like I was suffocating, drowning in guilt as I turned away from him. “I should have never let you touch me,” I whispered as tears stung my eyes. Had I not gone into his room, my entire world would not be crumbling.

“It won’t happen again.” He stepped closer, and I could feel his ragged breath blowing against my hair as I stiffened. “I’m so sorry.”

I turned to face him, and the idea of Amanda screaming what she’d seen from the rooftops paled in comparison to his revelation. But I wasn’t scared of him; I was scared for him. He gripped my forearms and hauled me against his body, his arms tightening around my back to hold me upright as my legs threatened to give out from under me.

“I’ll make this go away,” he whispered into my hair, his lips moving against the top of my head. “I’ll disappear. Everyone will blame me. Tell them I forced myself on you. It’s not a stretch from the truth.”

I pulled back to look him in the eye. The usual mask he used to hide his emotions was gone, and I saw nothing but sincerity, regret, and anguish. I couldn’t imagine ever having to truly fear him. “I know you won’t hurt me,” I said with conviction.

“I already have. I’ve ruined everything for you.”

I slowly turned around and gazed out over the top of the stairs. His arms fell from around my waist. “Maybe she won’t tell anyone.”

“She will.” He swallowed hard and slowly descended the staircase as I waited at the top, his broad shoulders blocking the light from the window of the door.

“I need to leave before Connor returns,” he said quietly, glancing over his shoulder at me. I was frozen, paralyzed with fear.

“Come here,” he called up to me, his voice devoid of emotion.

I walked down the stairs, not sure how I didn’t stumble and trip over my own feet.

“Hey.” Colin’s fingers rested under my chin, and he angled my gaze toward him. “It’s going to be all right. I promise.”