Semua Bab My Stepbrother's Lust : Bab 41 - Bab 49

CASSIAN'S POV I tell myself the wedding matters more—then her name echoes in my head and ruins the lie.So I pour another drink because it’s easier than admitting I fucked up.I had waited. Listened. For the sound of her heels against the floor as she walks to my door, for a knock, anything…When I heard her door open, I rose from my seat with renewed urgency.I braced for her to burst through my door with fire in her tongue.With a sinking heart, I watched her hesitate.Then she steeled herself and walked right past the door and into the elevator. I should have gone after her. Stupid.I can close billion-dollar deals without blinking, but I can’t stop one woman from walking away from me?Now I'm sitting in my chair, finger curling around the glass in my hands. I don’t throw the glass, but I want to—so I drink instead and let the burn punish me.I rise to my feet, swaying gently, and turn to the glass windows.Night has come, and the city now blinks back in a galaxy of moving light

CASSIAN'S POV My grip tightens on her office door as I scan the purple space.No coffee mug at the table. No scent of vanilla in the air.She's late. Good. I would have hated for her to question my tardiness…or worry about me.So I shut her door and head into my office. Maybe I can get some sleep before she gets here. I could barely pry Sloane off me yesterday. She wanted to cuddle. I said no, and she didn't like that one bit.I settle into my chair with a deep sigh. If I wasn't having a meeting today, she wouldn't have let me leave. I'm not falling for her trap again. My eyelids flutter shut, but my brain thrashes theories around in my head. So much has happened, I can't even keep track.From Nina's brother poking around my company, to my father feigning ignorance, I know something's not right.It nags me that I don't even know the charges, but since Lucas hasn't reared his head again, I'll say he's trying to spook me.One wrong move, and I'll be caught in the crosshairs, ans

CASSIAN'S POV The murder allegations don't unsettle me, but the thought of Nina looking into the abyss twists my gut.Her stubbornness is fucking hot, but right now, I ache to punch a hole in her beige wall. For a long breath, her gaze is fixed on Lucas and his smug face. Then her eyes find mine.“Cassian…do you know anything about this?” I'll be damned if I admit to anything, especially in front of her stuck-up cop brother. “Well? Say something!” Her voice is a harsh whisper, and her eyes dart to the curtains. “What do you want me to say?” My gaze slithers to her sweater sleeve. “For once, can you NOT be an asshole?” Her chest heaves, and one could swear this is the ‘murder’ scene.I don't care about that.It's a hot day. She shouldn't be wearing this. And why does she keep tugging at the sleeves?“Forget it. He's bluffing.” “Am I?” Lucas chuckles.My jaw tightens when I look at him, and my knuckles ache to crash into his smug face.He's saved by the shrill ring of my phone in

NINA'S POV Man cave round two. The first time, I nearly died of booze and panic. Now, I’m about to die of embarrassment and possibly regret.I came here thinking I could lie my way out. Big brain, Nina. Really big brain.Silence poisons the air as we walk down the corridor and I suck in sharp breaths, preparing myself for more alone time with the one man I should avoid. His breathing is even beside me, and there's an eerie calm about him that sends bells ringing in my head.I can't run anymore. This is happening.“You okay?” he halts by the door, brows raised.I try and fail to clear my throat, and my voice comes out wobbly.“I'm fine…never better.” “Okay, princess.”My heart flutters. He hasn't called me that in a long time, and I know this can't be a weird coincidence.He presses a thumb to the scanner, and the door whooshes open, revealing more darkness.His hand rests on my back, and I feel myself go rigid with…fear? Maybe he knows I'm lying and he's going to torture me and m

NINA'S POV My heart is already racing when I open my eyes, like something terrible has happened and I just haven’t remembered it yet.Except I do, and it makes me feel hollow all over again.Sunlight streams in through a gap in the curtains, and for a moment, it feels like my own bedroom.The ceiling is mine, the curtains are mine…The walls are the exact shade I chose three years ago, but the air just doesn’t feel like mine.Because this isn’t my room—it’s his version of it.But he's not in bed like he promised, so I prop myself up on my elbows and scan the room for his heated stare.I'm met with the cold silence of furniture and the faint whiff of his cologne on my robe.“Mother fucker…” my throat feels raw, but it's nothing compared to the storm raging in my head.The soft rug tickles my feet as I cross the room to the bathroom, in hopes that maybe he's in there.Again, I hit a dead end. My stomach churns, and I feel a tingle up my spine. This doesn't feel right.I wrap my robe t