Page 129 of Wicked Sins

“Jo, there’s no time.”

I stiffen, expecting a reprimand for using the name no one but his family can use. That’s what he told me, after all.

But I guess a lot has changed since then, because his eyes light up with joy, not anger.

“I know,” he says. “But, I need something from you first.”

My heart clangs against my chest when he narrows his eyes. All that joy, it transforms into something manic, something so intense that the butterflies in my tummy become swarming wasps.

“Jo?” My lips barely move, but still, his eyes lock onto my mouth.

“He can’t have you, Candy,” he murmurs.

Those wasps take flight, filling my entire body with prickles of anticipation.

“We’re not going anywhere until I’ve made you mine.”

Chapter Fifty-Five

Josiah

Candy scans my face, her lips quivering. Whether consciously or not, she’s gone and wrapped her legs around my waist. Her hands were pushing against my chest, keeping me away, but now they slide up and over my shoulders.

Her gaze drops to my mouth, and then flickers up.

“I’m already yours, Jo.”

I press into her, freeing up my hands. Smoothing her hair from her face, I cup it in my hands and search her features for some sign, a clue that will tell me if I’m being delusional, or if something I thought was all made up shit might actually, possibly, be real.

Love?

Don’t be fucking ridiculous.

So then we’re family, and that’s enough.

It’s never enough. She’llneverbe enough.

I will those acidic thoughts to disperse, and for once—miraculously—they do.

“He’s had more of you than I have,” I say.

Hurt touches her eyes, but she blinks it away. “Why would you say that?”

“It’s true, isn’t it?” I tilt my head, rubbing my thumb over her bottom lip. “Tell me I’m lying.”

Why would he lie?

The sick part of me that dreamed up all the depraved things I could do to Candy, it’s not letting this go. I’ve tried my best not to think about it, but now I can’t stop. She never told me what my father—Wayne—what Wayne did to her.

I have to know.

She drops her gaze. “He never…I mean, I don’t think he ever…”

My heart’s pounding, my voice has gone thick. “Fucked you?”

“My…virginity. He never—”

My heart’s coming out of my chest. “Promise?” I whisper, hating myself for sounding so fucking needy, so…desperate.

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