Page 78 of Whispers of Obsession

“I don’t understand,” I whisper, and Slater chuckles.

“I think you understand perfectly. I’m not going to pretend I’m just your big brother anymore. I’m not going to hide from the fact that I want you. Because I do, Cora.”

“You do?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You think all guys get this fucking jealous over their stepsisters? They don’t. I don’t. I don’t give a fuck about any other girls but you, Cora.”

I don’t know what to say, but Slater doesn’t need me to say anything. I do the thing I’ve been obsessing about for years, if I’m honest.

I wrap my arms around his neck, rise up onto my tiptoes, and kiss him. Every moment I’ve spent with Slater, filled with tension and forbidden desire, feels like it was all worthsomething. I wasn’t pining over a guy who will never want me. Slater kisses me like he’s just as desperate as I am.

“Let me walk you home,” Slater whispers as he pulls away from the kiss, and I nod. He steps away from me, but doesn’t release me entirely. He holds his hand out for me to take, and I do, lacing my fingers with his.

Even though this moment feels perfect, like every wish I’ve ever had is being granted, there’s one little thing missing, and I find my mind wandering to the masked man, like it often does.

33

SLATER

Walking Cora back to her dorm serves two purposes. One, it’s my chance to make sure she gets back safe and sound. And two, it’s my excuse to feel her skin against mine, even if it is just through the simple act of holding hands. I know I have to take things slow with her. Despite having a trail of guys panting after her, Cora’s inexperienced, almost oblivious to everything – including her own beauty.

As we stroll down the quiet, tree-lined path that leads to her dorm, I can't help but steal glances at her. Her blonde hair, in two now-messy pigtails, keeps catching the moonlight and glinting like spun gold. Her cheeks are flushed, either from the chilly night air or from the closeness of our bodies. I can't tell, but it doesn't really matter.

I held back tonight. After seeing her flirt with those men, over and over. Watching them with her…the desire in their eyes…

I know the urge to murder and destroy every one of them is irrational.

I don’t have room to be jealous. Cora doesn’t know she is mine.

Well, I guess now she does. Now, she knows who she’ll belong to, and when I tell her not to fucking flirt with anyone else, she’ll listen.

We walk in comfortable silence, our steps in sync, as if we’ve done this a hundred times before. It’s strange how natural it feels, being with her like this. Crossing that stepbrother-stepsister line.

I find myself wanting to hold her hand tighter, to pull her closer to me, but I resist. I need to take it slow. If I keep repeating it, I might actually listen to myself. Maybe.

“This skirt is criminal,” I whisper in her ear as we walk up to her dorm building. I don’t think Cora has seen me around campus much, but I know everything about her. Who her friends are. Her schedule. Her room number. Where she is at all times.

“Why?” she asks innocently.

“I want to rip it off your body,” I tell her emphatically.

She gasps, looking up at me with her wide eyes.

“I don’t want you to wear it for anyone but me, Cora,” I insist. Maybe I sound a little possessive, but if we’re doing this - and we clearly are because I finally snapped and lost control - then we’re doing it my way.

“Okay,” she whispers, frowning slightly. She looks really cute with a little crease between her brows and my fingers itch to smooth it away.

“Do you know why?” I ask.

“Because you don’t want other people looking at me?”

“You could wear a paper bag, and people would still look. You’re stunning.” I shake my head, stopping, and pulling her into me. “I don’t want you wearing it out because I can’t get my job done if all I can think about is how badly I want to tear yourskimpy skirts off your body. I can’t think straight, or rationally, when all I can do is imagine the sounds you’d make if I did.”

“Slater,” she whispers, and I reach out, stroking my thumb over her lower lip.

“I love the way you say my name,” I tell her, before pushing my thumb between her lips. Fuck. My dick instantly responds, and I have to remind myselfagainthat I’m supposed to be taking things slow with her.

Fuck that.

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