Page 13 of Her Devils

4.

Stepsiblings

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Lenley

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“IDON’T LIKE THE IDEAof you being all alone in that big house,” Darrius says stubbornly, trying to take my hand and drag me along the beach.

I let out a mirthless laugh. “That never bothered you when you were out chasing one of your conquests. I mean it, Darrius. Just go.”

Fury flashes in his dark brown eyes, but he relents, turning on his heel and walking in the direction of his house, which is just a few properties down the same stretch of private beach.

I exhale, and some of the tension that’s been keeping me on edge since we went to dinner finally leaves my body.

I turn in the opposite direction to walk back home when I spot a tall figure walking toward me, coming from my backyard.

“Peyton!” I call out, quickening my pace and meeting him at the edge of my garden where the paved tiles of the backyard end on the soft sand of the beach.

“Hey.”

I notice the rough edge to his tone, but he wraps his arms around me as soon as I’m close enough to touch.

I bask in his familiar scent of clean cotton and in the solid warmth of his muscular chest.

He lowers his head to kiss me, even though the contact with his soft lips is shallow and fleeting.

“I’m so glad you came back. I couldn’t wait for everyone to leave, and I was about to call you.”

His hands tighten around my waist, and the muscle in his jaw ticks as he looks at me. “Yeah, I saw Penn trying to drag you with him.”

There’s obvious irritation in his voice, just like every time Darrius is involved or even mentioned. “I didn’t want to spend the night at his place.”

His shoulders relax a little at my admission, but he’s still tense, and there’s a thunderous gleam in his dark blue eyes.

Is he jealous of Darrius? I had a feeling he was earlier, when he showed up at my door before... before I took him to my room.

I kind of want him to be jealous, but not just because he hates my former best friend. I want him to want me the way I started wanting him, but I know my feelings are dangerous.

He hasn’t promised me anything beyond our deal, and if I’m so stupid to catch feelings, then that’s on me, not on him.

Peyton hates that reputation of being a heartbreaker because he doesn’t set out to break any hearts. He just wants to have fun, and he never promises anything he doesn’t plan on delivering, unlike Darrius.

That’s why it’s so easy for me to trust him and his friends.

“Darrius kept insisting that I spend the night at his house, but I wanted to stay here. I was hoping you’d come back.”

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