Page 65 of Malicious Desires

“I’m in love with him, father.”

“How dare you admit such heinous words to me,” my father seethes, unballing his fists and lunging towards me. I should move away, to avoid his incoming hit. But I don’t move even an inch. My breathing is heavy, my heart aching because I’m regretting even bringing it up now. My father raises his fist and I close my eyes, anticipating causing my heart to race even more.

He strikes me then, his fist slamming into my nose causing blood to gush out and down my face. It hurts. Really hurts and tears sting my eyes. Words of apology are caught on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t want to apologise for loving Jasper. I shouldn’t have to. Loving someone needs no apology, not to my father or anyone. I don’t react, don’t say another word, instead I leave. When I’m out the door I let the tears fall, realising that it’s gonna be harder than I thought to be open with my feelings for Jasper. It seems as though my father is not going to accept Jasper, and that breaks my heart.

I don’t want to be a Montserrat if I can’t be with Jasper. Our last names are not who we are, and I will deny mine to be with him. I’m not sure if he’s back in the dorms, but I get back in my car to head there anyway. At least in the confines of Jasper’s dorm room we can be together freely, without anyone barging in to forbid us from expressing our love for each other.

Chapter 38

Jasper

I’ve barely been back in the dorms for an hour when there’s a tentative knock on the door. I don’t want to answer it, to face anyone. My head is racing with thoughts of Reece, and how incredible it was to be with him completely but I’m petrified of my father finding out that I’ve not only been with a guy but my enemy.

Quickly, I tug on some grey sweats and stumble to the door. Opening it my heart plummets. Reece is standing in the hallway, his face bloody and streaked with tears. I grab his hand and pull him into my room, slamming the door behind him.

“What happened, baby? Who did this to you?”

He shakes his hand away, crossing the small space to sit on the edge of my bed.

“Reece, who did this to you?”

I’m feeling protective. Seeing Reece hurt and in pain stabs at my heart. I can feel his pain as though it’s my own.

Sitting down next to him, I take his hands again. “Reece, please baby,” I plead, reaching one hand up to cup his jaw and turn his gaze to mine.

Reece exhales a deep sigh. “My father.”

“Why?”

“Because I told him about you.”

“You what?”

“I told him I love you, Jasper and he hit me for it. Cursed you out for being the enemy.”

“You’re not my enemy, Reece. I love you and you can’t love the enemy.”

“I know, but I regret telling him now. This feud is not ours, but it’s still a threat to keep us from loving one another.”

“Then we end it, Ree. We find out why this feud is still keeping our families at arm's length.”

He sighs again. “I don’t think it’s that simple. Our love isn’t going to end a generational feud, Jasp.”

“It may not, but I for one cannot stand to see you hurt for no fault of your own.”

“I don’t know what we can do though, Jasper. My father keeps many secrets from me.”

I lean forward and kiss his lips softly, drawing a gasp out. “Leave it to me. I will dig deeper and find out the truth, even if it kills me.”

“I hope that is not the outcome, Jasp. I’d kill anyone for you, though,” he promises me, kissing me again and pushing me down on the bed so he’s straddling my hips.

“I love you, Reece,” I say, stretching up to kiss him and licking the blood from his philtrum, causing him to moan.

“God, fuck, Jasper. You doing that turns me on so much. I love you so fucking much.”

“Yeah, I wanna make you moan, Ree. Even when we’re naked, skin on skin, I want you closer.”

Reece groans, lifting his t-shirt over his head. He grips the waistband of my sweats, tugging on them to expose me.

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