Page 81 of Our Lips Are Sealed
But when she reached them, Evie realized her mistake too late, and found herself in Toby’s arms with Jamison being shoved to the ground. The hard metal of the gun pressed into her throat, and she cried out in surprise.
“That was easier than expected.” Toby harnessed her against his chest. “Well done, Evie.”
Jamison kicked at his leg, landing a blow from behind, and Toby screamed at her to get back. “You are more trouble than you’re worth. Laura Jean would be horrified to know that her daughter turned out like this,” he screeched. “Go sit with your mother for a time out.”
When Jamison stayed put, the cold barrel dug into Evie’s jawbone, making her wince in pain. Her sister moved then, crawling over the ground to sit atop their mother’s marker near Annabeth.
“You certainly are brave to want that one, but I guess men in your profession like a little danger, even in their personal lives,” Toby said, addressing Cohen. “Because that’s what these two are. Dangerous creatures that like to burrow themselves into a man’s soul and make you crave them every second of the fucking day.”
Toby nipped at her earlobe, and Evie jerked her head to shake him off, but it only made him bite harder. “Lower your weapon, Agent Cohen. I think I’ve been more than polite. We both know I could’ve simply removed you from the equation altogether back at the house. I only let you live out of respect for your father.”
“It wasn’t respect driving you to make that mistake, but arrogance.” Cohen tossed the gun, doing as Toby asked. “Must be some sort of Fairweather genetic trait. Most of the males in your family are dripping in it.”
“Comparing me to the Fairweathers isn’t the compliment you think it is,” Toby replied with a snort. “I’m nothing like them.”
“No, you are not,” Evie agreed. “You’re the exact opposite.”
“Why are you acting like that’s a bad thing?” Toby asked, sounding genuinely curious. “I became what you wanted, didn’t I? A gentleman, and not a brute that just barges in to take what he wants.”
“So, was that your plan? Become the ideal man, date me, and then kill us?”
“Not exactly.” With the gun in his right hand, Toby wrapped his other arm around her waist. “Do you remember how lonely you were when I found you?”
Evie tried to block the words as best she could, even though they were true. She had been lonely when they met, living a tailored existence to keep herself in balance. But then to have this beautiful, and what she thought, kind man pay her attention had brought out emotions she’d kept tapped down since Samuel’s departure.
It had also made her blind to the truth.
“My plan was simple. I would seduce you and make you fall in love with me.” Toby sniffed at her neck, inhaling her scent as if he were some type of animal. “That was the easy part because, I mean, look at me. How could you not want this?”
Tightening his grip on her waist, Evie felt him harden, and her gut threatened to revolt. She shoved at his arm, digging her nails in. If he didn’t stop, she would lose it after holding it together this whole time.
“Only once I’d fucked you senseless, and you were madly in love with me, would the game begin.” His erection ground into her back, and he grunted, enjoying her distress. “I wanted you to experience the pain of rejection on a whole new level before I made you mine.”
The fragile strings holding her sanity intact started to snap one by one, and if she were honest, there weren’t that many there to begin with. The courage she’d been clinging to evaporated, leaving her nothing. Her limbs dropped limply to her sides, and she had no choice but to let him do what he wanted.
“I cannot wait to fuck you,” he whispered, continuing to move against her. “And by the time I’m finished, there’ll be no room in your heart for anyone else. You’ll only belong to me.”
Abruptly, he stopped grinding into her back so he could shift their position. “It’s just a shame Samuel beat me to your bed. The prick has been selfish his whole life, and the second he laid eyes on me at Selah’s party, he sensed real competition. I bet he never made a move on you before that night,” Toby shouted, turning her to face the trail. “You remember what he was like when we were kids. No one could ever have nicer toys than him, and I’m very sorry to be the one to tell you this, but when it comes down to it, you’re just another plaything he wanted because it belonged to someone else.”
A lone figure appeared on the path from around the bend, walking slowly with their hands in their pockets. Toby threw his head back and laughed, the distorted noise bouncing around the forest in stereo.
“Isn’t that right, Sammy?”
Chapter 24
Samuelapproached,keepinghispace steady and not rushing forth to save her as Evie expected him to do. He stopped directly across from where she stood in Toby’s arms, remaining outside the fence, his gaze trained over her shoulder at his cousin.
“Tobias.”
“Samuel.”
Everything inside Evie screamed that this was her chance, and she bucked hard against Toby.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” Toby mused to Samuel, easily subduing her by gouging his fingers into her throat and moving the gun to rest upon her cheek. “And so much fiercer than I expected.”
“She is.”
“I’m sure she’ll be worth my wait.”
