Page 48

He captures my mouth in a kiss that’s all tongue and desperation, swallowing my moans as his pace increases incrementally. Each thrust drives me higher, closer to that edge I’m desperate to fall over.

When my orgasm finally crashes over me, it’s with his name tearing from my throat and his eyes locked on mine, intense and full of something that looks like worship. My whole body convulses around him, inner muscles clenching rhythmically as wave after wave of pleasure rolls through me.

The sight of me coming undone beneath him is his undoing.

He buries his face in the curve of my neck, his rhythm becoming erratic as he chases his own release.

When he comes, it’s with a broken sound against my skin, his body shuddering as he empties himself deep inside me, marking me as his in the most primal way possible.

We’re tangled together, skin slick with sweat and satisfaction, when my phone buzzes with a news alert. The sound is jarring in the peaceful aftermath, but I reach for it anyway.

“Blackridge University’s Student’s Death Ruled Accidental,” I read aloud, scanning the brief article. “Investigation concluded that Jack’s death was the result of accidental blunt force trauma sustained during a fall. No charges will be filed.”

I look up at Thatcher, something clicking into place in my mind like the final piece of a puzzle. “Thatcher… I can’t believe you did everything you did. From the beginning, you––”

Thatcher goes very still beneath me, his expression carefully neutral. “Rhea—”

I lean in to kiss him. I want to wipe away that worried expression on his face. I can’t blame him now that I know him. He doesn’t do anything small. He has no idea how to.

“You’re quite the stalker, and you are very persuasive,” I whisper against his lips.

Thatcher is quiet for a long moment, his eyes studying my face like he’s trying to find the right words to speak.

“Rhea… do you remember meeting me at that party with your––”

“We didn’t meet at the Halloween party. You were stalking me and freaking me out.”

He shakes his head, touching my lips. “Not that party, baby. The other one during summer with your stepdad.”

Butterflies threaten to die in my stomach. “You… Wait––”

“Yeah,” he says as if he knew what I was going to say.

“That was you? You’ve been stalking me ever since?”

He raises an eyebrow at me.

I lean back. “Are you obsessed with me?”

He chuckles. “Only since I laid my eyes on that pretty fucking mouth.” He rubs his thumb across my bottom lip, and I suck on it.

He watches me slowly, and then his gaze meets my eyes.

“I’m sorry I did what I did. I saw an opportunity to make you mine and I took it,” he says, his voice steady and completely unapologetic.

“If I didn’t blackmail you, you would have disappeared, and I’d never have gotten the chance to make you mine. ”

I try to figure out how I didn’t remember his face from the party that night. I remember it now that he’s mentioning it.

“I lied.” His gaze doesn’t waver, doesn’t show even a flicker of remorse. “I manipulated the situation to keep you close because I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you before you understood what we could be together.”

I stare at him, processing this final revelation, this last piece of his deception. I should be furious. Should feel betrayed, used, manipulated beyond forgiveness.

Instead, I start to laugh.

“You bastard,” I say, shaking my head in amazement. “You beautiful, manipulative bastard.”

“Rhea—”

I silence him with a kiss again, fierce and claiming and full of everything I can’t put into words. “Do you know how fucked up it is that I’m not even angry?”

“You should be,” he says against my lips.

“I should kill you for it,” I agree, pulling back to look at him. “But all I can think is how happy I am to have your come inside of me.”

The confession makes us stop and stare. His eyes search mine and I smile, pushing him back onto the bed. I straddle him, feeling him already hardening beneath me.

“You manipulated me,” I say, grinding against his growing erection.

“Yes.” His hands come up to grip my hips, fingers digging into flesh.

“You lied to me.” I lift myself slightly, positioning him at my entrance.

“Yes.” His voice is rough.

“You let me think I was a murderer.” I sink down onto his dick in one smooth motion, both of us groaning at the sensation.

“Yes.” He’s fully hard now, filling me completely.

“But you’re the murderer.” I rock my hips.

“Yes.” He pinches my nipple.

“And I’m still here.” I begin to move, setting a rhythm that’s harder, more demanding than before. “What does that make me?”

“Mine,” he groans, his head falling back against the pillows. “It makes you mine.”

“Yours,” I agree, my pace building, chasing another release that’s already building at the base of my spine. “Your twisted, perfect match.”

This time is different—harder, more desperate, more honest. I take what I want, using his body for my pleasure while he watches in fascination, his eyes never leaving my face as I ride him toward another shattering climax.

When I orgasm, I throw my head back and moan his name, not caring who might hear, not caring about anything except the feeling of him inside me, the way he fills every empty space in my soul.

When he comes, it’s with my name torn from his throat like a prayer and a curse combined.

Afterward, I collapse against his chest, both of us breathing hard, hearts hammering against each other in perfect synchrony.

“I’m glad,” I say quietly, my fingers tracing patterns on his sweat-dampened skin.

“Me too.”

I lift my head to look at him, making sure he can see the truth in my eyes. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

I hope you enjoyed this book! Thank you for reading.