Page 68 of Play It Sinful

Not this crap about being stepsiblings.

“Barely,” I reply. “We didn’t grow up together.”

“And we never had a real sibling relationship, as you know,” Sean adds.

“Marnie and Dad won’t see it that way. This will break their hearts.”

Guilt turns into a sharp dagger plunging deep into my chest. Sean must be feeling the significance of Kenzie’s remark as well. He rubs his face, and then he stares at the floor.

“Please tell me you’re going to stop,” Kenzie continues.

My heart becomes heavy, and my stomach churns with nausea. I’ve always known my entanglement with Sean would have to end eventually, but now that the moment is here, I don’t want it to happen. My heart is rebelling.

He looks at me, and I read sadness and regret in his eyes. Fuck. This is it.

He returns his attention to Kenzie. “I can’t make that promise.”

My jaw drops to the floor. To say I’m shocked is an understatement.

Disappointment washes over Kenzie’s face. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead serious.”

“Wait. Are you saying you guys are in love?” She looks at me.

My heart skips a beat. I’m certain that my inability to end things with Sean means I’m falling for him, but is the same happening to him?

“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” he grits out, and the hope in my chest deflates.

I’m such an idiot. Of course he’s not falling in love with me. He just likes to fuck me.

“Can you please have this conversation later when I’m not naked in bed?” I snap.

Kenzie shakes her head. “I don’t think there’s anything left to say. I’ve heard plenty.”

That’s such bullshit, but I’m not going to argue with her now. I’m too stunned about the last five minutes to engage with her.

She walks out of the room, shutting the door hard. The pictures on the wall rattle, but the noise is nothing compared to how loud my pulse is pounding.

“Well, that escalated fast,” Sean murmurs.

Feeling sick to my stomach, I look away. “You need to go.”

“Ash, I’m sorry. I must have forgotten to lock the door when I came back from the kitchen last night.”

I don’t remember him leaving my room and returning, but it doesn’t matter.

“What’s done is done. There’s not point feeling bad about it. Just… leave before my mother catches you here too.”

“Okay. I’ll go. But this isn’t over.”

I don’t answer him, nor do I make eye contact. He’ll see the truth in my eyes. Thisisover.

CHAPTER 28

SEAN

Ashley and I talked on the way back to Fairbanks, but it didn’t go as I expected. I didn’t think she’d let Kenzie get to her. I thought... hell. I don’t know what I thought. Clearly, we weren’t on the same page. She said she needed time to process everything, and I haven’t seen or heard from her in two weeks.

---