Page 7 of You're Mine Now

“Gran!” I’d sputtered. “He’s saying he wants to use my body! How is that romantic?”

Ginger waved me off with a laugh.

“Oh, honey, it’s more than that. This one’s obsessed with you. He’s not some wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am type who rolls over and says, ‘There’s the door; let yourself out.’ He’d do anything for you.”

I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt.

“You should be having experiences while you’re young!” she went on, undeterred. “Save up some memories for your wank bank when you’re old and gray.”

“Gran!”

I buried my face in my hands, mortified.

But she only cackled.

“Don’t pretend I’m wrong, sweetheart. Life’s too short not to take chances. You kept those letters for a reason, didn’t you?”

She winked at me like she’d cracked some unspoken truth.

I laughed softly at her memory. But she didn’t understand how his words made me feel. How his very presence unnerved me. That my heart pounded in my ribs whenever I thought about him, while a cold, paralyzing fear coiled around me like a chain.

Still, I reached for the box despite myself. His handwritten notes waited for me inside, each one folded with care. I pulled one out randomly, the ruled paper rough beneath my fingertips, dragging me back to high school.

It was a later one, sent after he’d gone to college.

Scarlett,

You’re 18 now. Happy birthday. Do you know what this means? There’s nothing holding me back. You’re mine, and I’ll be claiming you soon.

I’ve been keeping tabs on you. No boy has touched you yet, have they? I knew you wouldn’t let anyone else have what belongs to me. You’re such a good girl.

I can’t stop thinking about you. About your body. How soft your skin will feel under my hands. Your tits. That perfect ass. You’ll look so fucking beautiful spread out for me, trembling while you wait for what’s coming.

You’ll gasp when you see it. My cock. It’s big, Scarlett. But I already know you’ll take it for me. You want to, even if you won’t admit it yet.

At first, it’s going to hurt, and I can’t promise I’ll go easy. You’ll scream. You won’t know whether it’s from pain or pleasure. Don’t bother fighting it. You’ve always known I’d come for you. You’ve always known you’re mine.

Happy birthday, princess.

I’ll see you soon.

—Adrian

I shuddered, folding the letter and slipping it back into the box. That same storm churned inside me—the one that always did when I thought of him. Terror, icy and paralyzing, gripped me like a hand at my throat, tightening, threatening to steal the air from my lungs. But beneath it lurked something far more treacherous.

Desire. A dark, unrelenting heat that coursed through me, leaving me breathless and burning. My body betrayed me, as it always did. I was absolutely throbbing with need.

I sighed, resigning myself.

Fine, I’ll go to his place.

This time, I’d be brave. I’d show him he didn’t have the same effect on me anymore.

With that thought, I headed to the shower, letting the hot water cascade over me, washing away my nerves. When I stepped out, I added a hint of makeup and slipped into mysexiest workout gear—leggings that highlighted every curve and a cropped tank top that left just enough to the imagination.

If he wants to see me, fine. Let him look. Let him want.

And when—if—he made his move, I’d make sure it hurt when I turned him down.

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