Page 65 of Play It Sinful

I follow the herd until I’m in the large living room where a low stage is set up. I’m taller than most, so I hang back and search for Ashley. The problem is that she’s short. If she’s all the way at the front, I won’t be able to see her. Most of the kids that attend All Saints are wealthy, and Ken Kudo is no different. His house is massive.

My sister and her bandmates hop on the stage, and the crowd goes quiet. She picks up the mic and greets everyone. Kenzie’s always had stage presence. She’s comfortable and confident, and people respond to that. I wasn’t expecting her to have a guitar strapped to her body though.

When did she learn to play guitar?

The band starts their set with an old-school song by The Offspring. It’s hard not to sing along to “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid.” I’m bobbing my head up and down, enjoying myself for real. The band is awesome, and Kenzie is killing it at vocals and guitar.

I finally spot Ashley cutting a path through the crowd, and my whole focus shifts to her. A tall dark-haired guy is following close behind her, and he has his hand on her shoulder. My amusement vanishes as jealousy tinges my vision red.

Before I can stop myself, I’m moving toward them, elbowing and pushing people out of my way. I reach Ashley and her leech before the band finishes the first song. My intention is to join them and put the kibosh on whatever he’s planning to achieve. But he leans down much too close to her face, and that snaps something in me. I grab him by his shirt and yank him away from her.

“What the hell!” He turns to glower at me.

“Back off,” I warn.

“Sean… what are you doing?” Ashely asks.

The jerkface looks at her. “Do you know this asshole?”

“Yes,” she hisses. “He’s my stepbrother.”

He widens his eyes. “Oh shit. You’re Kenzie’s older brother. I wasn’t being disrespectful, dude. I swear.”

“He really wasn’t, Sean.” Ashley touches my arm.

Hell. Did I overreact?I rub my face, hating that I lost control. “I’m sorry.”

“No worries. You didn’t know. I’m Ken Kudo, by the way.”

I narrow my eyes.You little piece of shit liar. Youwereputting the moves on Ashley.

“Let’s get refreshments.” She takes my arm and pulls me away from Ken.

I’m still fucking pissed, but the fact that she’s with me now works to pacify the beast churning inside. I have no idea where we’re going. This place is huge, and so crowded, I can’t make out the layout of the house.

When we wind up in the garage, I’m surprised. “What are we doing here?”

“I’m taking you home.”

I glower. “Come again?”

Her green eyes spark with annoyance. “You’re wasted and almost picked a fight with the host.”

“Because he was coming on to you!”

“He wasn’t. I told him I wasn’t interested.”

I scoff. “Like that’s a deterrent to any guy.”

She puts her hands on her hips and tries to stare me down. It’s pretty funny, considering she’s a tiny little thing. “If he didn’t get the message, that’s his problem.”

I step into her space and pinch her chin between my forefinger and thumb. “No, Ash. It’smyproblem. You’re mine.”

I slant my mouth over hers before she can protest. She’s angry and resists, but I coax her lips open with my tongue, taking possession. There’s still fight in her, but she isn’t using it to push me away now. Her fingers curl into my shirt, and she pulls me closer.

An ice-cold fever overtakes me. I’m burning up and have chills running down my spine. I’m half a second away from spinning her around and setting her on the hood of my car, but she pushes me back.

“Sean! What are you doing?”

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