Page 19 of Sorrow

It’s like a bucket of ice water. If they’re done already... “They got away with it, didn’t they?” I ask softly. “The Sons.”

“Reeve and Chief Gale were both convinced it was arson, but the arson investigator said it was faulty electrical. My guess is someone’s daddy paid him off. So yeah, they got away with it. For now.”

Anger coils inside of me until it makes me lightheaded. It’s not fair, it’s notfair— and yet, Boo seems unbothered by this.

“Sowhat are you going to do?”

He shrugs, eyeing our dinner plates and the chicken left on the stove. “I’m going to eat some dinner, sleep for a couple of hours then go back to work until the sun rises. Same old, same old.”

There’s still so much he’s not telling me, but now I have a secret of my own. That’s all this town ever seems to be: secrets and curses, curses and secrets.

It just makes me that much more determined to get the fuck out.

10

Lust and anger war for my attention as I lay on the annoyingly comfortable sectional waiting for Boo to leave. Like everything else, it’s a darker shade of grey, complimenting the white and black throw blankets tossed over the chaise and the back of the couch. The spotless glass coffee table and giant flat screen TV mock me as I try to distract myself, but not even the family photos strewn across the walls seem worthy of my time right now.

It’s all too pretty, too neat.

Not nearly enough chaos.

I can’t do anything about the anger on my own, not unless I suddenly become very good at committing untraceable murder. But the lust?ThatI can do something about.

I haven’t seen Hayes since he ditched me at dinner. The coward stayed in his room,refusing to face me, not talking to my brother. He just hid.

Good thing I know exactly where to find him.

Once Boo is safely out of the driveway, I strip down to light pink panties and pause for a moment outside of the only room I haven’t been in yet. It was locked the last time I tried to get in, which tells me it has to be Hayes’ bedroom.

I saw the way he looked at me earlier. I felt how badly he wanted this. All I have to do is go take it.

Sucking in a breath, I rub my nipples quickly until they’re fully peaked then let myself in. It looks almost identical to the guest room but the bed is bigger, has no headboard, and there’s a computer over in the corner just barely illuminating the space. There’s also an extra door that I assume is a second bathroom.

The man definitely knows luxury.

Scowling, I draw my eyes away from the soft carpet I’m standing on and find Hayes sitting up straight, fully clothed and looking almost murderous.

That’s okay. I’m not here to fight — at least not in the traditional sense.

“You ran out on me,” I accuse, climbing up onto his bed and straddling his lap. “We weren’t done with my first lesson.”

“Samara,” he growls, reaching around me like he’s about to throw me off again, but his pupils blow in spite of it. “What are you doing? Is Boo gone?”

Embarrassment creeps up my spine.Virgin bitch. Why would I pick you? You’re so flat a priest would fuck you.

Tristan. Nate. Hayes. They’ve all made it crystal clear I’m not desirable, so what the hell am I doing trying to seduce Cape Frost’s most eligible bachelor?

He’s going to deny me.

“He’s gone until sunrise,” I start. “You don’t have to want me. You don’t have to pretend like you enjoy it, either. Just please teach me. I’ve never begged for anything in my life, but I’m begging for this. Please help me get out of here.”

Hayes flips me onto my back and pulls away until he’s kneeling over me and staring down. His eyes rake my frame hungrily as his bottom lip disappears between his teeth, and when he starts to shake his head no, I reach out and palm him. It’s perfectly clear the moment he caves. “You want to see my cock? Pull me out.”

I’m hanging on by athread here. One wrong move and he’ll shut down for good.

Fingers trembling, I lean up just enough to untie the drawstring on his sweats and shimmy them down, but no amount of pornography could’ve prepared me for what I wrap my hand around. He’s thick enough my fingers barely touch, and long enough to be intimidating.

But what really fucks me up and makes my breath catch is the piercing just under the head of his cock, on the little pinch of skin.

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