Page 7 of The Way You Hurt Me

I can’t do that. She’s only getting the punishment, none of the rewards. My jaw flexes. There’s no denying I hate it.

Heaving, she turns on her heel, pressing her shoulder blades against the wall, and lifts her gaze up to mine.

I’m startled by what I see when our eyes meet. Her parted lips, her dilated pupils, the sheer, unapologetic desire in those bright green eyes.

Fuck.

I shake my head in disbelief. Fucking trouble. Camden, Morgan, and most likely, I, will gain a fair few gray hairs trying to manage her.

“What was that?” she breathes, her voice rough, tainted with heat.

“Another warning.” I barely recognize my voice, dark and low. “Consider yourself fortunate. I don’t often issue a second one.Stick to boys your age.”

At least for now. They won’t be able to handle her soon enough.

“Is that my punishment if I don’t?” She has the temerity to jut her chin. “A spanking?”

I narrow my eyes at her daring, teasing tone.

This was meant to be a lesson, and I know, listening to that tone, watching her lips curving upward, that it didn’t land as intended. She learned something very different from the point I was trying to make.

“Because it’s totally worth it,” she clarifies, in case her smug expression didn’t make her opinion clear.

Never mind going gray. This girl is going to lead all of us to an early grave and dance on our tombstones.

“I’m not fucking you,” I remind her, determined to stick to those words.

I leave her in the kitchen, stopping myself from accompanying her to her door.

Because I know what would likely happen if I did, and that can’t be good for either of us.She’d push some more. And I would likely snap.

Moments ago, when I decided she needed to experience the consequences of her actions, I was completely rational. Now? Not so much. I can’t remember ever being this out of control. What the fuck?

Under the cool jets of my shower, I still shake my head at the entire episode.

She kissed me.

No one kisses me. I kiss people. Sometimes. Occasionally. Usually because I want something from them.

What does she want from me?

I struggle to sleep.

I struggle to think.

My hand is twitching throughout the wedding, the next day.

My mind isn’t my own the next week.

I learn her name after that night.

Willow. Born December 19th. Shewasindeed attending Cross and Roses, until last summer. Straight As, with four advance placement classes. But she got into college two years early. Several schools have rolled out the red carpet for her: Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, Rothford. She has a full ride guaranteed to all of them. Willow chose Columbia in order to stay in the city, close to her little brother.

Where Morgan’s a smart, clever little hacker, Willow Brown is brilliant, with a bright future ahead of her, and a dark past that explains why she’s drawn to the shadows.

Drawn to me.

She has a security detail she’s not aware of beginning the day after the Hunt wedding, and I receive a monthly report on everyone who gets within ten feet of her. Frankly, I’m surprised Camden didn’t organize something like that for her; but then again, she’s not directly associated with him. He likely thought no one would target him through his wife’s little sister.

---