Page 28 of Brutal Obsession

Bougainvillea bushes with pink and purple blossoms greet us first. Woven through with string lights, the sprawling plants give the entire driveway a warm glow as it curves into a circle just in front of the house.

The beach house itself is a two-story, post-modern paradise with floor-to-ceiling windows everywhere, yet the property is entirely hidden from view by the hedge-covered fence line, providing ultimate privacy.

I snap my jaw closed.Thisis the place the Kings arranged for us? A fucking honeymoon hideaway? It’s almost as if my jobwants meto fuck Harper Brennan.

“What is this place?” she whispers in awe.

“Let’s find out.”

I park the Porsche in the circle, disengage the locks, and hop out. I’m around to the passenger side in seconds, but before I can open Harper’s door, she tries to hit me with it by opening it herself.

As soon as she’s out of the car, her hands go to her elbows. She’s holding herself. I step toward her, and she steps back.

“Harper.” I exhale her name in exasperation. “Come inside.”

Wariness spreads over her expression.

“You expect me to believe you’re here toprotect me?” She takes another step back, fear and anger colliding on her face. “From what, Cian? Sharks? Sea turtles? Drunk tourists?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose to prevent myself from snapping at her.

It’s obvious she has no idea the De Lucas are after her. And on a day like today, ignorance really is bliss.

“Look. I?—”

“Stop lying to me!” Harper shrieks, actuallyshrieks. Her eyes cut like razor blades. “If you’re not here to drag me back to New York, then why the fuck are you here?”

Okay, that’s it.

I close the distance between us in three quick strides, wrap my fingers around her right bicep, and proceed to drag her to the front door.

She protests all the way up the steps and over the threshold. I barely register the chandelier hanging in the entryway or the warm brown tiles at our feet.

The gorgeous interior decorating doesn’t seem to distract Harper either.

“What the hell are we doing here?”

As soon as we’re inside, I shove her back to the door, closing it and pinning her with my body in the same motion.

Harper zapped the last of my restraint, and she’s about to fucking find that out.

The hard way.

With my hands pressed to the wood on both sides of her face and my torso pushed tight against hers, I finally have her full attention. Those clear blue eyes are wide and focused on me, as they should be.

“Stop asking questions.” There’s no stopping the kiss I’ve been dying to give her since the last time we met. But when my lips descend to hers, she turns her face at the last second. That’s fine. My lips trail down her neck instead.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“What did I just say?”

“Why are you acting like this?”

Impatience roars inside me.

“Why?” I drop my forehead against hers, holding her in place. “Because I haven’t fucked anyone in months.”

“What does that have to do withme?”

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