Page 112 of Whispers of Obsession

“What do you mean?” I ask, pursing my lips and tilting my head to the side, considering his words, but also giving him better access. “And stop trying to distract me by turning me on…”

“I’ve read your diary. More than once. Even when we were younger, I knew your deepest, darkest desires…” He emphasizes the words with a bite to my earlobe.

I squirm uncomfortably at what he’s saying, but his admission does not surprise me. Slater and boundaries never really went hand in hand. But when I think of some of the things I’ve written…my body burns with shame. I wiggle, trying to escape his hold on me, but he’s so strong. He easily keeps me in his lap. I’m not pressed close enough to feel his hardness, and I’m wondering if that's intentional. He’s trying to comfort me…relax me, as we discuss these uncomfortable things.

“Cora, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone has fantasies.” His hands caress my wet skin, from my hips to my ribs, firm and possessive. “Your fantasies are normal. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

I shake my head, swallowing around the lump in my throat. They’re not just any old fantasies though, are they?

I dream of depravity. Always have. There’s something wrong with me.

Ever since I was younger - too young - I’ve had dark desires. With no outlet for them, I did the only thing I could think of and wrote them in my journal.

“There’s nothing wrong with you, Cora. You’re just like me. Your darkness and mine fit together like two pieces of a puzzlethat were made for one another.We’reone and the same, not me and the mask.”

I want to believe Slater’s pretty words, but I can’t.Good girls don’t want…they don’t dream of…

“You knew,” I whisper, tears welling in my eyes.

“Knew that you had a —”

“Please don’t say it,” I beg, my shame spilling down my cheeks in hot, salty rivulets.

“Cora, lots of people…engage in consensual non-consent. It’s normal.”

“What we did wasn’t consensual,” I point out. Though I guess I should have said whathedid wasn’t consensual.

Was it?

I’m so confused.

“I knew you wanted it. Craved it. Needed it. You just required a little encouragement to explore that side of yourself, Cora. How did you feel when you watched that video of me while you were sleeping?”

“Turned on,” I whisper, closing my eyes, so my sin is easier to confess.

“Exactly. I don’t regret it, and if you’re honest with yourself, neither do you.”

And that’s the crux of it, isn’t it? Slater saw me. Saw my darkness and decided to hone and shape it into something he could use to his advantage.

Yet, I don’t regret it. He knows me too well.

“Where does that leave us now?” I ask, huffing as I open my eyes and am forced to accept that my stepbrother is right. He’s always so damn right. And this conversation has me all kinds of messed up, but the overriding feeling I have right now is one ofneed.

As he smiles at me, he grips my hips firmly, tugging me down into his hard length. It slides across my pussy, rubbing my clit and making me gasp.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but this water’s getting cold, and I’m ready to remind you just how much you crave what only I can give you, my little darkness.”

EPILOGUE

CORA

The sun streams through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. It's a peaceful morning, promising new beginnings. I stretch lazily, feeling contentment washing over me. It's been a couple of months since Slater was released from the hospital, and life is slowly finding its rhythm again.

As I sit up in bed, I can't help but reflect on everything that has happened. The events of the past few months feel like a whirlwind, each twist and turn leaving its mark on our lives. But amidst the chaos, there are moments of clarity, moments that bring us closer together.

I glance over at Slater, who is still asleep beside me. His face is relaxed, a peaceful expression replacing the lines of worry that had etched themselves into his features during his recovery. Despite everything, he is here, by my side, and that is all that matters.

I get out of bed quietly, careful not to disturb him, and make my way to the kitchen. As I brew a pot of coffee, my thoughts drift to my mom. She’s honestly been so amazing with everything. We knew we’d have to tell her everything about Heather and Sean, about everything that happened, and that we’d also have to come clean about our relationship — even though that’s something we’re still trying to figure out ourselves. It wasn’t easy, but she deserved to know the truth.

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