Page 59 of Crucible
“My mother is dead.”
“Lucky her.”
I laugh, and the reaction makes her flinch.
“Lucky me,” I say easily. “My mother was a junkie whore without a maternal bone in her body. She had a mean streak a mile wide, though.”
“So that’s your secret tragedy? You got mommy issues, so you hate all women?” Aurelia snorts and shakes her head. “Your origin story sucks, dude. It’s not even original.”
“Stand up.”
It’s a command Aurelia doesn’t have a problem obeying. She stands, but I don’t miss the way she backs toward Khalil and Seth. I doubt she expects them to protect her from me.
Spoiler alert: they won’t.
She’s just desperate to get away from me.
That won’t do at all.
“Come here.” When she hesitates, my fingers flex with the urge to grab her, but I force myself to stay put. I didn’t enjoy what I did to her just now. I’d rather not repeat it. “I’m not going to ask you again, Aurelia.”
Her lips part to say something smart, but she thinks better of it and snaps them closed.
Aurelia doesn’t realize it yet, but she’s already starting to fall in line.
It’s all I can do not to send smug looks to my brothers when she inches closer. Aurelia isn’t ready to admit that she enjoysa firm hand and probably never will, so I gently take her nape as soon as she’s within reach and draw her close to me until her body is flush with mine and my free hand is resting under the curve of her ass cheek. My fingers are just inches from the tempting heat of her pussy, but I ignore the distraction and focus on the task at hand.
“Now, let’s try this again,” I say patiently. “If you refuse to answer or I don’t like what I hear, I’m going to hurt you. It won’t be easy, and you won’t be able to take it. Don’t test me, Aurelia. I’m not in the mood. Am I clear?”
My anger slowly unfurls in my chest when she stares at my chest and nods.
“Did Khalil tell you what we expected of you today?” Aurelia hesitates a moment and then nods slowly. “Were you confused by what he told you?” She shakes her head. “So why wasn’t it done?”
That defiant gleam enters her eyes again, and I tighten my hold in warning. She blinks, and then it’s gone. “I-I didn’t know how.”
“You didn’t even try,” I bite out.
“Because I don’t know how!”
I slap her ass hard enough for it to smart, and I swear to fucking God her nipples pebble through the flannel. “Watch that volume, songbird.I won’t tell you again.”
Aurelia shudders violently and then squirms against my hold when she realizes I can feel her reaction. “Don’t call me that,” she grinds out.
“Why not?” I whisper against her lips. “It’s what you are. “You don’t like it?”
“No.”
Her response is a knee-jerk reaction. And it’s a complete lie.
I’m tempted to reach under the flannel—myflannel—and touch her pussy to prove it.
Khalil couldn’t wait to find us earlier and brag about how he kissed her, and she kissed him back. According to him, she was damn near panting for it.
It’s hard enough watching Aurelia run her mouth, sleep in my bed uninvited, and walk around dressed in my clothes with nothing underneath and not do anything about it, but now it feels like I’m competing with my brothers for her attention.
“Tough. I don’t like it when my woman doesn’t obey me.”
“I’m not your—”
