Page 199 of Endgame

As much as a man like me is capable of worshipping anyone.

She needed it. Needed me, and I was more than happy to serve her, take care of her. Her cramps were killing her.

Her heart too. She mumbled Winston’s name in her sleep, asking why and what happened. She suspects he’s tied to Lotus’s death, she just doesn’t know how.

After today, we’ll have our answers.

My eyes cut away from Aurora to the glove compartment of my idling SUV, where I hid Lotus’s hairbrush last night, thenback to Aurora. On the collar at her throat. On her lips, still swollen from my kiss.

The lips I need wrapped around the coffee mug in my hand to get her DNA. I could’ve gotten her hairbrush, but I didn’t want her to suspect anything. Didn’t want her freaking out about being the product of rape when it’s possible she isn’t.

“Yes.” My voice is steady. Soon I’ll have the full picture. Until then, no planting doubts in her head. She’s had too much already. “I’ll be driving you today.”

“Why?” Her brow furrows.

I slip a painkiller from my pocket and press it to her lips.

Blush creeps into her cheeks, her eyes watering. I hate myself for it. For using this as a trick to get her to drink from the damn mug.

For how kindness feels so foreign to her.

I should’ve seen it sooner, that she was a prisoner in her own home.

I shouldn’t have been so fucking self-absorbed.

I should’ve made sure someone, anyone, was watching over Winston’s daughter.

Most of all, I should never have let her rot in that house for twenty-two years.

“Here.” In front of the gardeners, in front of the driver who brought the car around for us, I step closer to Aurora. “Open up.”

She does. I place the pill on her tongue, biting back a groan. Her mouth is where I want to spend the rest of my life.

“Drink.” I would’ve spit in her beautiful mouth like I did this morning.

But I grit my teeth and hold back.

Eyes fixed on mine, she accepts the cup. Her left hand wraps around it, her engagement ring and wedding band glinting in the sun. The possessive animal in me stirs at that.

It’s a fucking wonder how her every movement gets my dick unbearably hard when she presses her lips to the rim. The way her throat works when she swallows.

Aurora sees what she’s doing to me. Her pupils grow larger, pushing out the blue. Her breath quickens.

I don’t scare her anymore. She doesn’t hate me.

She wants me.

I want her so much more. I haven’t wanted anything as much as I want her.

“All done.” She hands over the empty cup, swiping her tongue over her wet lips.

It takes immense concentration not to crush the cup in my hand.

“You good?” Her hair falls to the side as she tilts her head.

The little brat has learned how to tempt me. I fucking admire her for it.

“Hmm.” I take her jaw in my palm, looking at her as if she means nothing to me. As if I hate her.