Page 85 of Lies Like Love

A familiar knot tightens in my gut, even if it’s pathetic.

“Where have you been?” I watch him circle my room from the corner of my eye, but don’t dare look up from my book to face him.

Jude walks over and drops down onto my bed next to me. “Out.”

“Your dad’s looking for you.”

“He knew where I was.”

Finally, I do meet Jude’s emerald gaze. “Then why was he waiting in my room to ask me where you were?”

“No clue.” His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t let me in on whatever he’s thinking. “What are you reading?”

“None of your business.” I clap the book shut as he tries to peek over my shoulder at the page.

“That won’t stop me, Fel.” If anything, my immediate defense lit a challenge.

I’m about to pull the book away, but Jude hops up and pins me down, straddling my waist with his strong legs, sitting on top of me. He snatches it straight out of my hands, while I try to claw at him to get it back.

His legs are too strong and his arms too long for me to stand a chance. Not that it’s ever stopped me from at least putting up a fight.

“Nice try, sis.”

“Don’t call me that.” I cross my arms over my chest.

Our parents have been married for only a few months, and already I’m counting down the days until I can disappear to college. Until I’m no longer a room away from a boy I’m not supposed to be thinking about as anything more than family.

“What should I call you?” he asks, flipping the book open to the page I was on. “Red?”

“You know I hate that.” I roll my eyes. “You would think guys could be a little more creative.”

“They could. I’ve thought of a hundred creative nicknames for you. But you might not like them any more than that one.”

“Like what?”

Jude tears his gaze from the book and his opal-green eyes nearly suffocate me. He presses closer, so he’s hovering his mouth beside my ear.

“Nothing good… sis.”

A bubble of rage pops, and I push at his chest, trying once more to grab the book, but he laughs and keeps it away.

“What is this anyway?” He skims the page with his finger, hovering as he starts to read it. “Damian drags his hand up her stomach, over her chest. Drawing a path of fire he cools with his tongue—”

“Jude, don’t.”

“You’re the one reading it.”

“Not out loud.”

Jude ignores my irritation, returning to the page. “His finger and thumb trace her nipple, sending heat waves through her. Pressure building and begging for release. And when he clamps his mouth over—”

Snatching the book from his hands, I toss it across the room before he can stop me.

“I was reading that.” Jude leans forward, still sitting on top of me, so his fists are on either side of my head.

I swat at his chest. “You’re just making fun of me.”

“I don’t know, it was pretty entertaining.” He leans in closer. “Is that what you sit in here and think about, Red?”

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