Page 72 of Corrupt Obsession

His senses were on high alert as he dressed her in sweats. The only sign of the rough sex they had at the park was her swollen lips, but that could be excused in a dozen ways. He carried her into the living room, settled her on the couch, and put on her favorite show.

“I’m going to start dinner. Do you need anything?”

She didn’t look at him or acknowledge his question. He kissed her forehead before he went into the kitchen. From the tortillas, beans, and vegetables Mom had on the counter, he deduced dinner was supposed to be tacos. Once the vegetables were cut and the hamburger was simmering on the stove, he fetched Violet’s hairbrush.

He settled her on the floor between his legs and combed her hair. He’d always loved playing with her hair. So much so, Mom taught him how to braid it. He did so now before he placed her back on the couch and switched positions, so he was on his knees facing her.

Her eyes were more hazel than that startling green. His coddling was having the desired effect. Before Mom and Dad arrived, he needed her coherent. Violet had always worn heremotions on her sleeve. A lack of them would be more noticeable than anything else she could do.

“Violet.”

No reaction.

He stroked the apple of her cheek. “What’s between us isn’t sinful.”

Her eyes focused on him.

“People search all their lives for the connection we have between us. It’s rare and special. It’s worth fighting for.”

Her gaze flicked away. The entity inside of him snarled at the rejection, but he had to be patient. He couldn’t force her to catch up to his level of adoration and worship.

“Do you remember what you said after Mom and Dad left for their honeymoon?”

She didn’t move, but he sensed her withdraw even further. He ran his hands up and down her arms to stop her from tuning out and escaping in her mind.

“You said good things don’t happen to you. You were terrified something would happen that would ruin everything.”

When he clasped her face to force her to look at him, she closed her eyes in defense. She was trembling, which he took as a good sign. The ice was cracking. He nuzzled her, encouraging the breakdown.

“Those fears never went away. They’re still here now, controlling you, trying to control me. This is a blessing, a fucking gift, and you’re treating it like a curse.” His lips captured the first tear that fell. “I’m not going to let you do it. I’m not going to let you destroy us. If you want to lie to Mom and Dad, to your friends, to God, I don’t care, but you can’t lie to me. I know you better than you know yourself.” He kissed the shell of her ear and sighed in relief when she shivered. “Tell me you didn’t like what I did to you. That you didn’t feel painfully alive. You begged me for more.”

She let out a choked sound.

“You want me, too,” he whispered harshly. “I had to force you to suck me, but in the end, you wanted me to come down your throat.”

When she punched his shoulder, he sat back and saw she was glaring at him through dripping eyes.

He softened and cupped her face. “Do you really think God is cruel enough to make us want each other if we weren’t meant to be?”

“It’s a test to resist temptation.” Her voice was raspy from screaming.

“Or a test of our devotion to one another,” he countered.

She shook her head.

“Don’t compare what’s happening between us to King David’s affair with Bathsheba or those half siblings,” he growled.

She pushed at his chest. “You’re my brother.”

“Not genetically.”

“Legally, we have the same parents.”

“Do the labels matter so much? What if I wasn’t your stepbrother?”

“But you are! And anyway, it’s still not okay! We’re not supposed to have sex!”

“But getting married would make it right?”

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