Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 40

KESTER.

She stood there, her wide, curious eyes scanning the lavish space as if trying to piece together the reason she was there. I dismissed the escort with a subtle flick of my fingers, my attention solely on her now.

"Mine?" I called, pushing myself up from the plush seat.

Her curiosity tugged at something deep inside me, an unfamiliar warmth blooming in my chest. I liked seeing her like this-intrigued, à little cautious, but drawn in. It made me want to do more for her, give her more, just to see that spark again

She didn't necessarily 'need' any of these. She had them in abundance. Her life was already filled with luxury. But I'd leamed that it wasn't about the things themselves-it was about the gesture, about experiencing something together, about watching her smile because she knew this wasn't just about material things. This was about her.

"What are we doing here?" She asked curiously.

"Shopping," I said simply, moving toward her, closing the distance between us. I stopped just in front of her, close enough to hear the way her breath hitched ever so slightly.

Her cheeks were faintly flushed, her lips parted just enough for me to see the war waging in her mind. She wasn't used to this. To me-not like this.

"What do you think?” I murmured, reaching up to caress her cheek, my fingers gliding down her chin. I let my thumb brush over her bottom lip, feeling the soft warmth of her skin beneath my touch

She shivered.

"That's... Thoughtful. But you didn't really have to..." She protested, and I could hear her heart hammering in her chest, too fast, too loud. If I listened closely, I could almost taste the nerves rolling off her.

I almost smirked. She was nervous as fuck, but she hid it well. I shook my head internally. That was fine. She'll soon get used to this side of me... Of us.

"Come on. Let's go and see what you'd like to get," I said and leaned down, planting a soft kiss on her lips-just a

taste. A tease.

It took everything in me to pull away.

I swear to fuck, I wanted more. Wanted to deepen it, to pull her closer, to claim her breath along with that sweet little gasp she had just given me. But I couldn't.

Not here. Not now.

Not when I knew that if I let my demons wake, this mall wouldn't survive the disaster that followed.

I led the way, and she followed.

She walked beside me, her fingers brushing against mine every so often as we moved deeper into the store, flanked by two impeccably dressed sales assistants.

Kastine, for all her initial hesitation, seemed to adjust quickly, her eyes flicking between the displays of high-end perfumes and silk robes, her curiosity overtaking her shyness. It was almost endearing until we reached the lingerie section

And then everything went to hell.

Chapter 40

the assistants had brought us my steps slowed, my body tensed, and something in my brain outright refused to process what

had to

in front

Fuck.

Probably because I did the shopping myself. But

if that would snehow loosen the tension colling in my gut. She hesitated, too, her fingers hovering over a sheer lace set

was awkward as

throat, turning her gaze to meet mine, "I don't

going on in my head. “Come on. Help her,” I told the assistants, and they were more than

to the

myself from listening to the frantic beating of her heart?

swallowed hard, watching as the assistants picked up a lot of sexy lingerie, some barely anything at all, just strips of fabric meant to drive a man insane. I loved that. I loved

dropping the few selections I

of the shopping wasn't as tense as the lingerie shopping. Kasmine had eased up a bit, enjoying the rest of the evening as she picked up lots of her favorite perfumes, including new brands to try out, clothes some I

handshake, and I took it. But then, I felt something being slipped into my palm - A

trip vanished, replaced by something dangerous. I didn't have to look to know what it was.

let go of her hand and held up the card between two fingers, tilting my head slightly. A name. A number.

too late that she'd been

everyone.

with all your clients?" I asked her in

that was brewing. She

deny the calm

again like she was trying to come up with a defense-something to salvage her dignity. "I-oh,

sleek marble counter, watching as

24

Chapter 40

hands into my pockets. "But I don't tolerate

I'll speak to your employer about

gasped. "Wait-please, I

didn't give a fuck what she

on my heel, walking

Kasmine said as our car came

to

dismissed at the

She replied

surprise for you inside the house," I said and watched how her eyes lit up, "We'll be spending the evening

fuck, how I wanted to be the one

to spend some time with Mum tonight before she leaves tomorrow," she said, and I couldn't argue that. She was correct. I had kept her very occupied in the last two days,