Page 18 of Blood Ties
Riley
W hen I hear footsteps on the stairs, I force myself out of my defeated slump beneath the blanket. If Kai is having doubts, that just means I have to work harder. I’ll smile brighter, bat my eyelashes, suck his dick — whatever it takes to convince him that I’m worth keeping around.
But when I turn to the stairs, the smile withers on my face.
“Knox,” I whisper, shrinking back against the wall. My eyes dart to the top of the stairs, hoping Kai will follow, but there’s only a closed door behind him. “What are you doing here?”
He ambles over, grin stretching the scar on his cheek. “Not happy to see me?”
My thoughts are frozen in panic. I’m not sure how to answer, or how to act. Kai is the one I’m trying to seduce... but I have no doubt that Knox will kill me if I fail to stay on his good side. “I’m just... surprised,” I stammer out. “I was expecting your brother.”
If Knox has anything akin to a conscience, maybe the mention of Kai will remind him of it. But instead he only chuckles, dropping to a crouch in front of me. I lower my eyes to the floor, clutching my blanket around my chest.
“Does this innocent act get my brother hard, or what?” His hand darts out to grab my chin, forcing my face up so my gaze meets his. “We both know this ain’t you.”
“You don’t know me,” I whisper.
“Feels like we got to know each other pretty damn well the other night.” His free hand snakes beneath the blanket. I try to pull away, but I’m already against the wall; there’s nowhere to retreat. “In fact, I know you well enough to tell you’re probably wet for me right now, you slut.”
His hand slides up my thigh. I kick my legs and try to push him away, but his other hand closes around my neck and presses me against the wall. I’m helpless to do anything but clutch at his wrist and gasp for air as his fingers undo the button on my shorts and slide beneath.
His eyes glint. “Mm. I was right.”
My face burns from both the humiliation and the lack of oxygen. “Stop,” I choke out.
He teases my clit with two fingers, rubbing slow circles that make heat bloom in my lower stomach.
I don’t want to enjoy it, but he forces the pleasure out of me with his expert fingers, his rhythm gradually increasing.
Tears prick the corner of my eyes as I realize I can’t fight the feeling growing inside of me.
“Come for me, little whore,” he says.
I come apart beneath his fingers with a sob, my body trembling as he turns it against me. Then he releases me and slowly draws his hand back, leaving me hollow and humiliated.
“I hate you,” I whisper. I can’t bring myself to care about staying on his good side. Right now it feels like maybe I would prefer to die after all.
He licks his fingers and hums under his breath. “Doesn’t taste like hate.”
*
K AI FINDS ME SOON AFTERWARD . My tears have run dry, but I’m sure I still look like a miserable mess, huddled under my blanket against the wall. I can’t summon up the energy to lift my head as he comes to a stop in front of me.
“You said you were going to protect me,” I whisper, my voice thick.
“Did he hurt you?”
I finally manage to lift my eyes to him. “What do you think, Kai?”
He sinks to his knees on the concrete in front of my mattress. I revel in the genuine pain on his face.
“You won’t touch me, but you’ll let your brother do whatever he wants?” I ask. Dig my fingers into the wound. Let it hurt.
It’s worth it to see him flinch. He presses his palms against the concrete, leaning forward, desperation etched in every line of his face.
“I can’t stop him,” he says.
“Can’t, or won’t?”
“My dad will kill you if he catches us fighting over you.”
Silence stretches out between us. I take a deep breath, and another. As badly as I want to hurt Kai, I know that I can’t push too far. I still need him, and this is an opportunity. I’m feeling vulnerable right now, but so is he.
After a moment, I extend a hand, letting the chain rattle as it drags across the floor. “Come here,” I order.
He climbs onto the mattress on his hands and knees, hesitant but obedient.
“Hold me,” I say.
He doesn’t hesitate this time. He sits beside me, back against the wall, and scoops me into his lap.
His lean arms feel more like a cage than a comfort, but I let myself melt against him, my head on his chest. I can feel his heart pounding; I want to rip it out and stomp on it.
One day , I tell myself, as I sink into his embrace.
One day I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill them all.