Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

"I was good to you," he whispered. "I was good to you."

blinked fast, my own throat burning.

The silence after Jake's last words was crushing. He sat there with his Jaw tight and his shoulders trembling slightly like he was trying to hold something in. But it was clear the leash on s control was fraying.

I didn't recognize him anymore.

"I was good to you," he whispered again, and this time, there was no heartbreak in his tone, only something eerily hollow and broken in all the wrong places.

I turned my head, blinking, trying to find the right words. Anything to calm the air that was thickening like a noose around my neck.

"Jake," I croaked. "I didn't mean for..."

His hand snapped out and gripped the back of my head before I could finish. My gasp barely made it out of my throat before he pulled me forward, fast and hard, crushing his mouth against mine.

1 jerked in shock at the desperation and roughness in his kiss.

I whimpered, my hands flying up to push at his chest, wriggling and fighting, but he was too strong and too

far gone.

My heart was screaming. I shoved harder again, my palms colliding against his collarbone until finally, finally, I twisted away just enough to break free, gasping for air.

I yanked at the door handle and practically threw myself out of the car.

The cool night air slapped me in the face. Gravel bit into the soles of my shoes as I ran a few feet before spinning around,

my chest heaving.

Jake followed me.

He stumbled out, his eyes wide and manic under the single yellowish gleam of streetlamp above us. His hair was tousled, and lips red from the forceful kiss, while his hands were twitching like he didn't know what to do with them.

He didn't look like Jake anymore.

"Don't," I warned, raising my palm to keep him back. "Don't come closer."

"Kasmine..."

"No!" I snapped, "Don't. Please. Jake, I'm sorry," I breathed, "I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry you had to you had to see it. But you have to understand..."

ir it. Sorry

so loud it nearly deafened me. My pulse thudded in my

1. up.

happen like that," I said, my voice no different from cracked glass. "I didn't want to hurt

1/3

Chapter 353

I never meant

eyes, but I blinked them back because he was still moving

I whispered. My chest split open around

need you to "let

contorted. Something darker had taken

rasped. "No, you don't get to say that. Not after everything. Not after

"I'm sorry..." I sobbed.

Mine. I will, I swear. We still have time." He rushed his

terrified.

suck in a scream, his hand shot out, gripping the back of my

panic surging like ice through my veins. I shoved at his chest, fingers clawing at

me! Jake,

broke free. My legs moved quickly, carrying

spun under my

voice roared behind me. "Don't you run from

my arms out

any closer!" I shouted,

slowed, but his eyes gleamed, glassy,

he said. "I still love

think I'm going to just

all of this?

you

them, Kasmine!

you. Not even

arms outstretched and his eyes locked on mine like

about to devour me

whole.

reached me, a wet,

Jake jerked and froze.

confusion at first, then pain... A deep, soul-shattering

parted silently as if to