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

us my steps slowed, my body tensed,

to

front

Fuck.

which wasn't as awkward as this. Probably because I did the shopping myself. But this? Watching her choose? It made my palms

as if that would snehow loosen the tension colling in my gut. She hesitated,

This was awkward as

cleared her throat, turning her gaze to meet mine, "I

said with a calm that didn't betray all the wars going on in my

slowly returning her attention to the line of laces displayed

stop myself from listening to the frantic beating of her heart? It made my dick

lot of sexy lingerie, some barely anything at all, just strips of fabric meant to drive a man insane. I loved that. I loved everything they

the few selections

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

for shopping with us," the receptionist from earlier said, offering me a handshake, and I took it. But then, I felt something

shifted in an instant. The easy calm I'dworn throughout the shopping trip vanished, replaced by

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

smile faltered as she realized too late that

everyone.

flirt with all your clients?" I asked her in

knowing the storm that was brewing. She wrapped her delicate palms around

and I wouldn't deny the calm her voice

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

the sleek marble counter, watching as it fluttered down

24

Chapter 40

I said, slipping thy hands into my pockets. "But I don't tolerate

I'll speak

"Wait-please, I

didn't give a fuck what she

on my heel, walking away without

Kasmine said as our car came to

asked, turning to face her. I decided

driver and escorts were dismissed at the mall. I needed some alone time

I do," She replied with a nervous

and watched how her eyes lit up, "We'll be spending the evening together... Alone... In your

fuck, how I wanted to be the one biting

she said, and I couldn't argue that. She was correct. I had kept her very occupied in the last two days,