But God, I’m worried about her.
At the end of the day, she is still my sister.
My sister who should have confronted me with her issues years ago, before they were left to fester in her heart like an open, rotting wound that constantly leaked pus.
I try to steel myself against the panic, and walk inside.
Standing right at the massive front doors of the mansion is Graham.
His jet-black hair, which he usually keeps perfectly gelled back, is wild. His black eyes appear even darker than usual—liketwo pools of eternal, bottomless darkness. Like the open, waiting mouth of a predatory spider. And I have just walked right into the center of his web.
The very second I get close enough to touch, his hand wraps roughly around the back of my head. His fingers twist into my hair, using it to plaster my entire body against the hard planes of his.
His lips come crashing down on mine.
Fuck.
He tastes like expensive cigars, dark whiskey, and pure sex. Despite the shame burning my throat, my eyes reflexively close for a second. My tongue tangles with his. This is exactly why I never wanted to come back here.
Come on, Maya. You’re better than this. Stop it.
I slam my palms flat against his chest, trying to push his massive frame away, but it’s like trying to move a wall. He doesn’t budge a millimeter.
I wrench my face to the side, breaking off the kiss.
A wet string of saliva keeps us connected in the space between our lips.
Graham tightens his hold on the roots of my hair, yanking my head back. He forces my face right back up to his. His eyes are unhinged as he hovers inches from my mouth.
God almighty, please help me. Please. I am not strong enough for any of this.
Finally, as if answering my silent prayer, he pulls his lips away from mine, though his fingers remain locked in my hair.
We are both panting.
He tilts his face slightly to the side and lets out a clicking tut of his tongue against his teeth.
“There’s no escape for you in this lifetime, Maya,” he whispers. “Nor the next. Nor the next.”
I choose to completely ignore his words.
But inside my stomach, an awful cocktail of good and bad feelings twists.
“What’s wrong with Valeria?” I gasp out.
Graham’s brows instantly furrow.
“So that’s the only reason you’re here, Maya? Valeria?”
Definitely. Yes.
I didn’t want to come here for him. I don’t want to see him. Because every single time I look at him, something filthy happens inside my body.
My panties get wet.
“What else do I have here but Valeria?”
He uses the leash of my hair to jerk my head forward.
