Page 44 of Make You Beg

“Oh. Shit.” He palms his mouth. His eyes freeze for a moment. “Shit.” A cackle. “That was your first kiss.”

I can’t even look at him now. My heart’s thumping so damn fast. I can’t think.

I can’t say or do anything. How am I supposed to go out with my friends and pretend nothing happened after this?

I’m so dead. Oh my God, I⁠—

“What’s so funny?” I mutter and push him back, looking away.

“Maddy.” He pulls me closer again, cupping my chin with his hand. “Calm down. It’s okay. You’re spiraling. It’s just a kiss.”

I stare into his deep blue eyes, lost in that ocean of his, trying to settle my thoughts.

I can’t. We can’t. This…what was that?

“I take it back.” He kisses his finger and presses it against my mouth. “There. You got your first kiss back.”

“That’s not how it works.”

“I know that’s not how it works.” His tone shifts, moodier, stronger. His eyebrows narrowed. “Jeez. This is why we can’t have nice things.”

He steps back and slumps against his bed.

I don’t even want to take it back. It’s not that.

The one thing I can’t fathom is the fact that Kayden kissed me. Me. His stepsister.

The one whom he has enjoyed bullying for the past two years. I thought we were finally getting past that. And now…he kissed me. Like it was nothing. A rite of passage.

The worst part is that I liked it.

I liked it so much more than I can admit.

“I-I have to go. Thank you for the gift.”

I run away, pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind.

We can’t. No. This can’t happen. It’s wrong. If our parents find out, things will get bad.

Mom won’t like it, and Lucas will definitely be against us.

It doesn’t matter that he makes every part of me melt under his touch. That my heart feels like it’s about to explode whenever he’s around. The reality is clear.

I can never have him.

10

KAYDEN

ONE YEAR LATER - KAYDEN - 19 YEARS OLD, MADDY - 18 YEARS OLD

It wasn’t just a kiss.

I scared her. I fucking scared her away.

I should have anticipated that. I don’t know what the hell got into me that day.

Except for the fact that day, I sealed it. My plan. I decided I’m going through with it.