The first time I pinned her against the wall, I watched both the confusion and lust swirl through her dark depths. It’s nothing short of thrilling to stoke that kind of arousal to life in someone. Her desire has been a pleasant surprise. One I can’t get enough of.
Luckily, I won’t have to.
When my father proposed the idea of marrying Summer, I thought he was out of his mind. You better believe I told him to take that idea and shove it up his ass. All the money in the world isn’t worth tying myself to a girl I have zero interest in. I don’t give a shit about Hawthorne Industries. Driving her away had been the only thought in my head, but that backfired. The more time I spent with Summer, the more obsessed I became. And now that I’ve had a real taste of her, I can’t imagine not having her. And I sure as shit can’t imagine another guy laying his hands on her. I made her mine last night and there’s not a damn thing anyone can do to change that.
Not even Summer.
She had a choice in the matter. Perhaps I should have laid it all out so she would understand exactly what she was agreeing to, but by then it didn’t matter. That girl was always going to be mine. When it comes down to it, Summer chose me of her own free will. Maybe the situation will end up being more than she bargained for, but that no longer matters.
I hope she can reconcile herself to that. Or maybe I’ll have to remind her of it. Over and over again. My lips quirk at the idea of fucking her into submission.
The room is swathed in blackness as I creep toward the bed.
Know what the first thing we’re going to do will be?
Get her on the pill so I don’t have to wear a condom. I don’t want anything coming between us. Not even a thin layer of latex. I want to feel her heat against my bare cock.
I’m halfway to her bed, thinking about how amazing it will feel to sink inside her warmth when the overhead light flicks on, illuminating the room. Blinded, I blink as my eyes adjust to the unexpected brightness. My gaze falls to the queen-sized bed only to find it empty.
The bed is neatly made as if—
“She’s gone.”
I swing toward the deep voice only to find Austin lounging against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest. Green sparks of anger fly from his eyes. I brace myself for an attack. That motherfucker has a lot of rage brewing inside him. It’s easy to recognize a kindred spirit.
“Where is she?”
His lips curve into a smirk. “Nowhere you’ll find.”
My hands tighten into fists as I take a menacing step toward Austin, ready to beat the piss out of the guy if I have to. No one is going to keep me away from Summer.
Including her own flesh and blood.
“Don’t fucking play games with me,” I growl, advancing toward him.
“Maybe you should talk to your pops. I’m sure he would be more than happy to fill—”
Before Austin finishes the sentence, I’m on him. My fingers close around the collar of his T-shirt as I slam him against the doorframe. “Where the fuck is she?”
A ghost of a smile slithers across his lips. I never realized it before, but Austin and I are roughly the same height and build. Unlike most people at Hawthorne Prep, he’s not intimidated by me. In that moment, I sense the same kind of deep-seeded anger I’ve always felt swirling around inside me.
“You might be surprised by this, but my sister wasn’t nearly as delighted about the prospect of marrying you as everyone thought she would be.” He laughs as I press my hands against his throat, slowly cutting off his air supply. “It was the opposite, actually. Summer has plans for the future and guess what, asshole? They don’t include you.”
“It no longer matters what she wants,” I bite out as hot licks of rage wash over me. “She’s mine and I want her back.” I press my weight against him. “Now!”
Unfazed by my fury, Austin continues to grin. “Good luck with that, man.”
I press my fingers into his windpipe before releasing him with a frustrated growl. As much as I’d like to beat the shit out of Summer’s twin, it won’t endear me to her. More like the opposite and I can’t afford to piss her off anymore than she already is.
“This isn’t over.” Dismissing him, I swing around and stalk toward the screen door.
“True that. I have the feeling it’s only beginning,” he chuckles darkly.
He couldn’t be more fucking right.
Chapter Thirty-Three
A heavy weight descends, and I wake with a start. Before I’m able to get my bearings and figure out what’s happening, my arms are dragged above my head and pinned against the plush ivory fabric covering the headboard.