Page 4 of The Dare

Then again, I understood my obsession with Molly enough to know that once would never be enough. One touch, one taste, and I would not be able to get myself back anymore. I was already nearly feral for her, anyway.

“Everyone ready to eat? The caterer is ready to serve,” Dad said, and I followed him into the dining room.

The dining room at the cabin was my favorite room in the place because of the glass ceiling. It allowed for an unencumbered view of the sky above. Tonight was cloudless, the moon just a sliver above us, and I could see thousands of stars.

Taking a seat at the table, I held in a sigh as my aunt bumped into the back of my chair on the way to her own seat. The dining room was huge, but there were still enough people here to make it feel small.

I secretly hated these types of gatherings. I didn’t even enjoy it when it was just immediate family, but having this many people present was overwhelming and stressful. I hated making small talk and feeling crowded. But as Molly took the seat directly across from me, it didn’t seem so bad to be here. She glared at me, but I didn’t give a damn. She could find me nerdy and pick at me anytime she wanted to.

It didn’t matter to me like it used to. I let her get under my skin in the past, but since my obsession had taken root, I saw it as fuel for the fire. I’d fantasized about punishing her so many times that it was the only way I could get off these days.

Molly was always the life of the party, and tonight was no exception. She chatted and laughed and lit up the damn room. I stared openly at her as dinner went on, and she couldn’t ignore it even though she tried. Her big brown eyes, framed by long, dark eyelashes, kept drifting to me. She’d scowl as she caught me staring, then turn back to a conversation with one of her friends, sitting on either side of her.

My mom’s oldest brother, Uncle Jake, sat beside me, and he’d finished his dinner quickly. As the caterer took his empty plate away, he focused his attention on Molly.

“Hey, Molls,” he said, and the use of that nickname sent a flicker of jealous anger through me. I didn’t care that he meant nothing by it. I hated another man being so familiar with her. “How’s school going?”

She’s doing great. Made the dean’s list.

“I’m loving it. I even made the dean’s list last semester, and I’m on track to do it again,” Molly said, her back straightening with pride.

“I’m proud of you,” Uncle Jake said. “Didn’t you switch majors this year?”

Yes, and marketing is a much better fit for her.

“Yeah,” Molly said. “I was going for a teaching degree at first, but I realized that I’m not quite patient enough for it when I tried working for a tutoring service last year. But I have a genuine interest in business, so I’m going into marketing.”

“I certainly hope that you plan to come back here to work after you graduate,” Dad said with a fond smile. “We miss you around here.”

I hoped she didn’t. I needed her to stay in New York. Watching her every day had become an obsession, and I couldn’t imagine being unable to do it any longer.

I didn’t just follow her around, watching from a distance. I’d gotten bold a few months ago and broke into her dorm room to install cameras. Watching her when she was alone, doing private things, was enough to drive me crazy. Changing her clothes, talking on the phone, sleeping in her little panties and tight tank tops that left nothing to the imagination. Just the thought of her curvy body on display made my cock turn to steel in my pants. As subtly as possible, I reached down to readjust myself just as the cake was brought out. The lights were dimmed and candles on the cake were lit. Everyone sang, and it was silly, but it was tradition at these get-togethers. Mom blew out the candles and we all cheered. When it was over, the caterer started passing out pieces of cake.

“And what about you, Atticus?” Uncle Jake turned to me. “How are things in the tech world? I hear you got a promotion last year.”

“Are you leader of the dorks now?” Molly asked in a sickly sweet voice.

Her friends laughed, and I answered Uncle Jake as if I didn’t hear her snide remark.

“Yes,” I said, accepting a plate of cake from the server. “I’m the head of my department now. We handle software development for the company.”

“Atticus is amazing at what he does,” my dad cut into the conversation. “If you ever have a tech problem, he’s the man to call.”

I gave him a humble grin and inclined my head. “What can I say? It’s always come easily to me.”

“That’s because you spent your formative years staring at computer screens instead of having a social life,” Molly cut in.

Annoyance flashed through me, but it was chased by desire. I couldn’t help myself. Her bratty, disobedient side just put me in the mood to punish her. The more she pushed, the harder I got, until my cock ached every time she made a rude remark.

“Molly, don’t be rude,” Dad admonished, and she pouted for a moment.

Fuck. What I would do to bite that full bottom lip that she stuck out…

Yeah, she could misbehave. I was fine letting my sister get away with treating me poorly for now, but if I ever got the chance, she was going to pay.

Chapter 5

Molly

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