Hate me

Aspen

Leaning against the headboard, Knox brings a cigarette to his lips and lights it. For such a terrible, disgusting habit, he sure makes it look sexy. 

Then again, I’m still on a post coital high from our second round shortly after we came home. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t last long because an image of Candi’s necklace infiltrates my mind.  

“Why was Candi’s necklace under your bed?” I hold up a hand. “I believe you when you say you didn’t kill her. I’m just wondering why…you know.” 

You had a dead girl’s necklace in your room.

His dark brows pinch, and a stream of smoke leaves his mouth. “You sure you really want the answer to that?” 

I blink, not understanding. “Of course, I do. Why wouldn’t—”

I stop talking when I realize. Goddammit. 

“You had sex with her.” 

He shrugs like it’s no big deal. 

Disgusted, I reach down for my money bag. After the incident in the jeep, I went back inside the club to collect my things. Of course, Knox followed right behind me like a bloodhound tracking a scent. 

Fortunately, Heather and Violet worked tonight, so they kept it safe for me. 

Knox takes another drag of his cigarette, studying me intently. “You’re upset.” 

I dump the contents of the bag onto his bed so I can count the money I made. “Upset that my boyfriend’s a whore?” 

Yeah, I am. 

He gives me a wolfish grin. “Last I checked, you benefited from my whore ways.” The smile slips off his face and his expression grows serious. “Aspen.” 

I hold up a finger so I can finish counting the hundred-dollar bills in the pile. However, he doesn’t wait. 

“I don’t do girlfriends.”

My heart thuds, hard and pained because his words sting. Maybe I jumped the gun before by calling him my boyfriend, but I figured we were finally past the point of playing games and it was a given. 

I mean, yeah, he’s also my stepbrother and that will no doubt make things awkward, but…

I close my eyes when I realize. Once again, I found myself in a relationship with someone who can never truly be mine. 

“But you have no problem making me your dirty little secret, huh?” 

Just like Leo. 

God, I’m such an idiot. 

But at least I know exactly where we stand now. 

Or rather, where we stood…because I will not be someone’s surreptitious option again. 

I deserve to be a priority, dammit.

To be kissed and claimed in front of everyone. 

I’m worthy of more than the scraps he’s offering me. 

“I think we should just be friends.” 

A flicker of relief flashes across his face. “Right. Friends who fuck.” 

It takes everything in me not to smack him. “No…just friends. No fucking.” 

He looks like he smelled something rancid. “That’s not go

I shrug. “Too bad. I’m not putting myself through another Leo situation.” 

I can tell I’ve made my point because he falls silent as he tokes away on his cigarette.  

Turning back to the pile of cash on the bed, I continue counting my money. It’s more than I’ve ever made in a single night before. A lot more. 

“Looks like I’m going to have to do a repeat performance,” I mutter. “I made over a grand tonight.” 

Knox’s jaw tics. “There will be no repeat performance.” He stubs his cigarette out in the nearby ashtray only to immediately pull another one out of the pack. “I told you, you’re done.” 

“Sorry, pal, but you don’t control me.” 

Reaching over, he grips my chin. “Read my lips. You’re not going back to that shithole. I don’t want you working there.” 

I hold his lethal stare. “I’m not quitting my job for someone who isn’t my boyfriend.” He opens his mouth, but I’m not done talking yet. “And no, I’m not trying to twist your arm or give you an ultimatum. I’m just saying that there’s no reason for me to take your feelings about me stripping into consideration and leave the club when we’re just friends.” 

His nostrils flare on an indrawn breath as he ponders this. “Okay, I won’t fuck anyone else then. Happy?”

Far from it. He’s acting like being with me is a fucking chore. 

“Spare me.” Exasperated, I shove the cash back into the bag. “I don’t want someone who doesn’t want me, Knox.”

Now he’s the one who looks a

 “And I want more than that,” I yell. “I want someone who actually wants to be in a relationship with me. Not because he’s jealous and wants me to quit my job, or because I won’t let him fuck me anymore. But because he actually wants me.” 

And Knox has already made it perfectly clear he’s not that guy. 

I’m about to leave, but Knox reaches for my wrist and gives it a tug. Without saying a word, he flicks off the light. 

When I curl up next to him, he drapes his arm over me, pi

I swear if his hands start roaming inappropriately, I will deck him.

But the only thing he does is draw little circles up and down my torso, lulling me to sleep. 

I’m dozing off when I hear him grunt, “Fine.” 

I stir as sleep claims my body and I fall into a slumber. “Huh?”

His lips find the shell of my ear, causing little shivers to run up and down my spine. “I want you.” 

After shutting the beeping timer off, I bend down and open the oven door. A quick check with a toothpick tells me they’re done, so I take the tray out. 

They smell heavenly. 

Humming to myself, I place them on the cooling rack and focus my attention on piping the cheesecake frosting over the chocolate ones that have already cooled. 

I also baked a carrot cake and apple pie for Knox to try, but I really want him to taste the cupcakes I’m making. 

It seriously bothers me that he wasn’t allowed to have sweets growing up. 

Not only is it strange…it’s unfair. 

Every kid deserves to know what it’s like to sink their teeth into something moist and yummy and catch a sugar rush right after. 

I’m topping my now frosted cupcakes with some chocolate chips when I hear footsteps enter the kitchen. 

When I glance up, Knox is looking at me, his expression inscrutable. 

“How long have you been up?” 

I shrug, suddenly aware that the only thing I’m wearing is his t-shirt. “Since six a.m.” 

Given I don’t have a car to go to the store myself, I ordered groceries online. 

He moves behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist before kissing the crook of my neck. “You’ve been busy.” 

“I wanted you to have a little of everything. I would have made more, but…” 

“But what?” 

“They’ll be home in two days and I’m not sure you’d be able to finish it all.” 

At that, his lips twitch against my skin. “What makes you think I’ll eat any of it to begin with?” 

His words make me deflate like a balloon. “You don’t have to—” I shake my head, a

Reaching in front of me, he takes a cupcake from the cooling rack. 

“It’s fun getting you all riled up.” 

Smirking, he bites into the cupcake. Then his eyes close, as if he’s savoring the flavor. 

As usual, I don’t know what to make of his expression.