Page 120 of Depraved Desires

A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, a blush tinting her cheeks that I found adorable as hell and so unlike her. “You’re cheesy as hell.” She laughed, ducking her head to hide her face.

“Maybe.” I grinned.

After a few moments, she met my gaze again. This time, her expression was unsure again and it made me uneasy. I didn’t know what more I could say to her to assure her that I was all in now.

Swallowing, she tugged her hand from my grasp and planted it within her lap. “Did you cheat on Dixie?”

I reeled back, confused as to where the hell she got that information. “What?”

“Did you cheat on Dixie? And please don’t lie to me.”

“I never evendatedDixie. Who the hell told you this?”

Sighing, she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.” The resignation in her features pissed me off. She thought I was lying. Iwasn’t.

“I’m telling you the truth, Aspen. We never dated.”

“Never dated like how you and Madison never dated? Well—” she paused, furrowing her eyebrows. “Until you did.”

“No. Not even like that. She was fucking crazy as hell, and frankly, wasn’t even my type. She tried to get me to date her, but I always ignored her advances. Until it got harder to. She started slipping love letters under my goddamn door. She would stare at me constantly, and not in the way that most girls did. It creeped me out. Everywhere I looked, she was there. Watching me like she’d been following me.” A shudder rolled through me. “Finally, when it became too much, I confronted her and told her to leave me the hell alone. Next thing I knew, she was hanging out with Rocky. But at least it kept her off my back.” I shrugged.

She sighed in relief, her shoulders relaxing once more. She seemed on edge today and with good reason apparently. Dixie had been a stalker. It was really as simple as that.

“Thank you for confiding in me, Collin. I know it wasn’t easy.”

“It wasn’t,” I agreed. “But if that’s what it takes, then so be it.”

She leaned forward, her breath a whisper against my lips. “This is your final chance. Don’t make me regret it,” she said softly.

I nodded, my heart rate starting to pick up again. She closed the distance, brushing her lips against mine. I couldn’t even remember the last time she’d kissed me. It felt good. Electricity zipped through my body, and I reached out, wrapping my arms around her and pulled her closer.

The kiss was soft, patient, and full of emotion. Something I’d never experienced before, and I wanted more of it. I wanted everything she had to offer. Right down to the very core of her soul. What demons haunted her? Well…other than us. What exactly got her sent here? Why was she so untrusting and cold-mannered? I wanted to know it all. My new mission was to get to know more about her, to get her to trust me completely, and for me to honor that trust. I could be patient. For her, I would be. The alternative wasn’t an option.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Aspen

It was that time again. Time for another pointless party. Seeing as how the last one didn’t go so well, to say I was nervous would be a massive understatement. Every year, right around this time, it was hard for me. Christmas was about being close with your friends and family, and while I didn’t necessarily believe in what was being celebrated, I’d enjoyed the holiday as a kid—until…I didn’t. Avery was a sucker for Christmas when we were little. She enjoyed all the traditions of the holiday. Presents, singing around the tree, decorating the tree, watching the movies, drinking hot chocolate, and waking up early.

I was more of a Fall person. For me, I enjoyed haunted hay-rides, haunted houses, pumpkin carving, decorating with spooky things, horror movies, pumpkin picking, the festivals,everything. Avery hated most of those things. She hated being scared, but it created a nice balance between the two of us.

A sad smile tugged at my lips as I peered into the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, taunting me as if to say:Look at who you’ve become.

Now I was alone. Someone who got paid for sex and danced for hungry men all in the sake of feeling independent. I still tried to convince myself that it was for her, that my reasons were justifiable when they really weren’t.

“Do you have anyone coming to see you tonight?” Gia asked from beside me, painting a shade of dark red on her lips.

I sighed and shook my head. “No. Do you?”

“My parents come every year.” She smiled sympathetically. “I think it’s their way of justifying throwing me in here after what happened.”

A grimace captured my features. That was right. She’d been through hell, forced into the trade as a child and the horrors of what she endured changed her. I still didn’t think it warranted them throwing her in this place, though. Parents sucked.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked.

We were holed up in the bathroom alongside a few other girls. I’d curled my hair down my back and was dressed in a thin, sparkly red dress that glittered and reached the top of my thighs. My backpack rested by my feet, containing my dance wear that I’d be wearing tonight at the club. The plan was to hang out at the party until it was time for me to leave. My leather jacket and combat boots completed the look, giving me that edgy look I’d grown to love over the last couple of years.

Reluctantly, I nodded. The last party I subjected myself to, my friend died. While things seemed different now, it didn’t stop me from worrying that those assholes might have something else up their sleeve.

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