Page 22 of Make You Beg

“I mean, I said I have no interest in talking. But, if you wanna fool around, I wouldn’t mind it.”

“Shut up. That’s not why—” I compose myself, finally sitting up next to him. “That’s not why I’m here. I’m not one of those girls who follow you around at school.”

Kayden scoffs. “Oh, heck no, you’re not one of them. But you do follow me around.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Anyway.” I fold my legs and pull down the skirt of my pink dress, so I don’t accidentally flash him. “I’m here to talk about us.”

“There’s no us.”

“I know. But I think we should try to get along. Ignore each other or something instead of getting in each other’s faces. Interact only when we need to at home. Pretend we’re okay for our parents. You know, no more pranking. Let’s do it for them.”

“Hmmm…”

He turns his face to me and scans me up and down. His gaze is so deep that for a moment, I think he’s resonating with my words. He leans closer, and I instantly flush from the proximity of his face to my personal space.

“No,” he deadpans.

“Come on.” I move away from him. “Don’t you want to do that for your dad, at least? Things don’t have to be peachy between us, but they don’t have to be difficult either, Kayden. What do you want me to do? Give you my weekly allowance?”

Lucas has been giving me a couple of hundred dollars a week ever since the wedding, a new perk to being his new fake daughter, I guess. I was saving up for more books, but I’ll forfeit the money if I have to.

Kayden starts laughing, his whole body vibrating with the sweet sounds that escape his mouth.

I gnaw at my bottom lip. I had no idea that I would find that sound attractive too, but my heart’s beating even louder than before now. Or maybe it’s the fact that I’m sitting on a fucking roof and adrenaline is pumping through my veins.

“It’s five-hundred dollars per week to stay out of my way and behave, Kayden. It isn’t too bad. I mean, I know your dad already gives you enough money, but the more the merrier, right?” I laugh at my own lame joke.

He doesn’t.

“Deal?” I extend my hand his way.

His eyes darken as he stares at me again, turning his whole body my way.

He stretches his hand. I’m about to make a deal with the devil, and I’ll be poor, but it’ll all finally be over. Mom will be happy, and I’ll be okay. And I can finally move on and forget about my stupid bully of a stepbrother.

Kayden’s palm touches mine, but instead of grabbing it and shaking it, he pulls me toward him.

Then, pins me down onto the shingles of the roof, his body molding against me. His hand leaves mine and travels up my stomach, his fingers tracing their way to my neck.

We’re lying down on the roof, the shingles stabbing my back with every single movement, and I’m locked underneath him. In fact—if he moves away, I may die. I may fall to my death. The roof is unstable and bumpy; one wrong move and we can fall.

And I’m an idiot because I can’t stare at anything else but his glistening blue eyes as he takes my breath away with his big palm, now wrapped around my neck.

Kayden leans forward, his forehead touching mine. He breathes hot air into my face, and he’s so close I think he might kiss me. The mix of fear and arousal pooling within me confuses me.

My whole body radiates heat. What’s going on?

“Fuck off,” he says instead, and squeezes my neck.

I cough, asking for air, but he won’t let go.

A smirk coats his face as he chokes me.

I attempt to push him away, hitting his chest with my hands locked under him until he gives up.

He stops squeezing and lets me go.