Page 2

North

She didn’t belong here.

Quinn fucking Harley. My new step-sister. My new problem. Sitting there across from me at dinner, picking at her food like she wanted to disappear into the table. Like she wasn’t sitting in my house, eating my food, breathing my air.

Her dad ruined lives. He destroyed families, left a trail of broken people behind him, and now his daughter was here, acting like she was the one who had it rough. As if she didn’t just waltz into this house, dragging her shitty thrift-store bags behind her, expecting everyone to feel sorry for her.

She was pathetic.

But I couldn’t stop staring.

She didn’t look at me—not once. Her hazel eyes stayed glued to her plate, her lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. Her hair was a mess, soft waves of auburn that caught the light every time she shifted, making it look like the sun had decided to set on her head.

And the freckles.

Fuck. Those stupid freckles are scattered across her nose. I hated them. Hated how they made her look soft, almost sweet, like she was some innocent little thing who had no idea what she was walking into.

I hated a lot of things about Quinn Harley, but a hell of a lot had to do with how much she resembled her late father. Same innocent features, same guileless eyes. I hope the fucker suffered before he died.

Lauren and Dad were talking—about the lake house, the festival, some boring small-town bullshit I didn’t care about. Their voices faded in and out, blending into the background noise while my focus stayed locked on her. She shifted in her chair, her fingers tightening around her fork, and I caught the faintest flicker of a blush creeping up her neck.

Was it because of me?

The thought made my smirk stretch wider.

“We’re going to be gone for most of the summer,” Mark said suddenly, his voice breaking through my thoughts. “Business in Europe, some conferences… You two will have the house to yourselves for a good couple of weeks, and then I’ve asked Evie and Liam to come down. We have some news that we want to share with everyone. Nothing big,” he smiled at Lauren as he said that, and I felt my stomach twist.

What fucking news? And why were they waiting until my siblings were here before they told us? Why not just say something now? I shoved the thought away, focusing on something else instead.

“You’re going away?” Quinn’s hazel eyes darted to Dad like she hadn’t heard him right. Then they flicked toward me. “You didn’t say anything.”

“I’m sorry, Quinn baby, but we planned this a few months ago and it would be such a waste not to go.” Lauren frowned, her fork clinking on her plate. “I know the timing’s really bad, honey, but I’ll make it up to you.”

“How long will you be gone?” my step-sister swallowed, her voice hoarse and I couldn’t help but feel fucking gleeful as my father cleared his throat and answered.

“It’s a two-month trip.”

“Two months,” Quinn repeated. “And it’s just going to be North and me here.”

That’s right, little rabbit. All summer, no supervision.

“Got a problem with that, rabbit?” I tilted my head just enough to catch her attention. I forgot all about the trip they’d been planning, but this was perfect. Without Mommy and Daddy around, the little rabbit had nowhere to run to. Which meant she’d be all mine. “I promise I don’t bite.”

Too hard.

Quinn didn’t say anything, but the look on her face said it all. Unease. Discomfort. She looked like someone had just told her she was being locked in a cage with a predator, and honestly? She wasn’t wrong.

My father’s eyes narrowed warningly.

“We trust you both to behave,” Mark added, looking between us like this was some kind of adorable bonding opportunity. Dying with my intestines strung around my neck sounded less painful. “You’ll take care of each other, right?”

“Of course,” I said smoothly, leaning back in my chair. “I’ll take great care of Quinn.”

She stiffened, her shoulders going tight as she dropped her focus back to her plate.

Lauren’s voice chimed in, all warmth and fake sincerity. “This is your home too now, sweetheart. We want you to feel comfortable.”

No, it fucking wasn’t. And comfortable? That was the last thing I needed Quinn to be.

I bit back a laugh, running my tongue over my teeth as I glanced at Quinn. She looked like she wanted to bolt from the table and run straight into traffic. And honestly? I liked it. I liked that she was squirming.

“Yeah, I know.” Quinn stabbed at her food with her fork. “I’m going back to college after the summer anyway.”

Dad smiled like everything was just peachy. Like the girl sitting across from me wasn’t a walking reminder of everything her father had done. “It’s fine. It’s just for the summer.”

They might be willing to forget, but I sure as hell wouldn’t.

***

Dad ended up pulling me into his office just to ask me to look after Quinn while he was gone. It was a fucking joke, but he kept me there for two hours and then told me to get to bed.

The hallway was quiet as I did, save for the faint creak of the house settling in for the night. My focus was pulled to Quinn’s door, and a smirk curled my mouth as I sauntered up to it. Not bothering to knock, I pulled it open, catching her as she paced the room. Her steps were restless, uneven, like she was trying to work something out in her head.

Good. Let her squirm.

I didn’t bother hiding when she heard the door creak and noticed me there, but I couldn’t ignore the spark of pleasure when she froze, her body going rigid as her hazel eyes locked onto mine.

Scowling, she stormed to me, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, and her hair messy from where she’d probably been running her fingers through it.

“What are you doing?” she snapped, her voice sharp, but I could hear the edge of unease buried underneath.

“Just checking in on you, Harlequin,” I said, the nickname rolling off my tongue with a deliberate drawl. “Wouldn’t want you getting lost. Big house and all. Know you’re not used to that, rabbit.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she shifted like she was about to step around me, but I blocked her path, leaning down just enough to invade her space. Her scent hit me—something soft and floral, like lilacs—and I let my gaze drift over her face, taking in every detail. The freckles. The flush is crawling up her neck. The way her chest rose and fell a little too fast.

“Get out,” she said, her tone flat, her body tense like she was ready to bolt.

I smirked. “Why so tense? I promised Daddy I’d take good care of you.” My voice dropped as I dragged a finger just beneath the hem of her tank top, grazing the soft skin just above her waistband. “In every way.”

Her reaction was instant. She batted my hand away, her hazel eyes narrowing as she stepped back. “Don’t touch me,” she hissed, her voice low and furious.

I chuckled, the sound low and mocking. “Relax, rabbit. You’re safe—for now.”

“I’m not your fucking rabbit,” she spat and as I started to chuckle, she caught me off guard.

She shoved me and managed to push me out of her room. My surprise meant I stumbled back a step, and the door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. I stood there for a moment, the smirk still playing on my lips as I imagined the way her face had flushed, the way her breath had hitched.

I’d gotten under her skin.

And I wasn’t done yet.

Whistling to myself, I strode toward my bedroom, shutting the door and leaning against it, running a hand over my mouth. Tension thrummed in my veins, hot and insistent, and I couldn’t shake the image of her wide hazel eyes, the way her chest had heaved when I got too close.

I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was supposed to be an annoyance, a problem to deal with until summer ended. But every time I looked at her, I felt it—a pull I couldn’t ignore, no matter how much I wanted to.

My cock throbbed, hard and aching, and I cursed under my breath. I should’ve taken care of this earlier. That little blonde from the couch earlier hadn’t been enough, not after seeing Quinn’s reaction.

I made my way to the bed, yanking my shirt over my head and tossing it onto the floor. My hand drifted to the waistband of my sweatpants, ready to handle the problem myself, but then I hesitated. The bathroom was better. Then if Dad decided to come looking for me again, he wouldn’t catch me with my dick out. Just because I was twenty-one didn’t mean explaining that away would be any less awkward.

I slipped into the bathroom, chuckling as faint music poured from the closed bathroom door separating us. My door creaked as I shoved it closed, and I didn’t bother locking it as I switched on the shower. That should be enough for the little rabbit to stay clear. God only knew I couldn’t take her eyes starting at me again.

Snatching a towel off the hook, I dumped it on the floor and settled against the counter. I wasn't going to jerk off in the shower, too much water in my fucking eyes made it a worse off experience than it seemed. Meanwhile, the counter was cool beneath my palms as I braced myself against it, my head dropping forward. My free hand slid beneath the waistband of my pants, wrapping around my cock, and I groaned softly as I began to stroke.

Images of Quinn filled my head—her wide eyes, her flushed cheeks, the way she’d looked at me like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to slap me or run away. The thought of her lips parted in anger, her voice shaking as she tried to tell me off…

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, my strokes quickening. I should’ve been thinking about the blonde, but I guess hate-fucking my fist was my kink tonight.

A groan rumbled in my chest as I pumped my dick, picturing Quinn on her knees in front of me. She’d look fucking amazing covered in my cum—murderer’s daughter or not.

The door burst open, and my head shot up.

Quinn stood in the doorway, her mouth falling open as her eyes dropped—then snapped back up to my face. Her cheeks turned crimson, her hand still on the doorknob as she stumbled backward.

“Shit,” she stammered, her voice high and panicked. “I—I didn’t know you were—”

“Hard?” I growled, my voice rough as I yanked my hand away. Heat crawled up my neck, and not from embarrassment. I was pissed. Pissed that she’d caught me. Pissed that my body was still reacting to the sound of her voice, the sight of her flushed face. Pissed enough to want to make her pay for it.

And hey, maybe it wasn’t my best idea, but I decided to go for it.

With a cruel smirk twisting my lips, I approached Quinn, and her eyes grew wider as I pulled her into the bathroom and locked the door behind her.

“Wanna touch, rabbit?” I purred, snatching her wrist and pressing her palm against my dick. She wrapped her fingers around me, almost instinctively, and I bit back a moan.

“Don’t worry, you wouldn’t even have to beg,” I continued, my voice turning breathless as I pushed her against the counter, pulled my hands off hers and pressed them back against the cool tile. I wanted to see what she’d do. Kind of expected her to take the chance to run, but that wasn’t what she did. Instead, she started to pump my aching dick, and my legs nearly gave out as stars crossed my vision.

“What are you doing, North?” she whispered as I caged her in.

“What are you doing?” I countered, rocking into her grip as my eyes dropped to her hand on my dick.

She didn’t answer me, her breaths puffing against my neck. She didn’t answer me, but her grip was soft and unsure and I needed a whole hell of a lot tighter. So I squeezed my eyes shut and pretended I wasn’t doing what I was. Then I placed my palm on hers and roughly fucked our combined hands until my release exploded out of me, painting her pretty legs white.

It was enough to make me lose my balance, but then everything wrong about this rushed back to the surface of my mind.

What the hell was wrong with me?

“Get the fuck out.”

“Wh-”

I didn’t wait for her to answer, throwing the towel at her. “Get the fuck out.”

“No, wait, North, we—” she started again, but I cut her off. Like hell I was going to sit and listen while she panicked and gave her excuses about why we shouldn’t have done that. I fucking knew that already.

“Get. Out.”

The door slammed shut behind her, leaving me alone with the sound of my own ragged breathing and the lingering heat of her presence.

So much for making her life hell.

This was going to be a long fucking summer.