My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 737

Chapter 737

+15 Bonus

The heat climbed into my face, “You know… I put all this effort into trying to distract you because I thought you’d yell at me.”

“I noticed.”

“You noticed?”

“The second you answered,” he looked me up and down again, completely unashamed, “You were trying to manipulate me. It was cute.”

I buried my face in one hand, “Oh my God.”

“You failed,” a tiny smile tugged at his lips, “But I appreciated the effort.”

I peeked at him through my fingers, “So, you’re not distracted?”

“Mess,” his voice turned rough, “I’ve been distracted since you answered the phone but I’m also still pissed.”

I groaned dramatically and fell backward onto the bed, “I can’t win with you.”

“No,” he took one last drag before crushing the cigarette out somewhere off camera, “You really can’t.”

I laughed at that. Raphael watched me for a long moment then leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on his knees.

“Keep the top on.”

I blinked, “What?”

“I changed my mind,” the corner of his mouth lifted just enough to soften the hard lines of his face, “I’d rather look at your face. I’ve missed that more.”

And those words undid me far more than his teasing ever could.

He looked at me for another few seconds before speaking again, “You’re going to call me every night?”

I nodded without hesitation, “Every single night. And if I don’t. I want you to assume something happened.”

His eyes hardened instantly.

“I mean it,” I whispered. “If I miss even one night without warning you, don’t think I forgot. Don’t think I stopped loving you. Think something’s wrong. I won’t stop calling you unless I physically can’t.”

I

He inhaled sharply, “The moment that necklace stops moving the way it should, I’m coming. I don’t care what council made what decision. I don’t care what lines they drew.”

He leaned closer to the camera.

1/3

+15 Bonus

“If something happens to you,” his gaze turned frighteningly empty, “They’ll wish they’d killed me first.”

I smiled through the tears threatening my eyes, “I know.”

Then Raphael leaned back in his chair and ran a tired hand over his face. The blood on his knuckles had already started drying, “I’ve still got work to do.”

My brows pulled together, “What kind of work?”

He looked at me without a hint of emotion, “I’m not done questioning someone.”

I knew that look, nothing I said would change his mind. He’d already made the decision.

I bit my lip, “Stay on the call with me while you do it.”

His brow lifted slightly, “What?”

“Please,” my voice came out smaller than I’d intended, “Stay with me until I fall asleep. I’ll just… listen to your voice.”

I curled up beneath the blanket, pulling it over my legs.

He gave one slow nod, “I’ll stay.”

Relief spread through my chest so quickly it almost hurt.

“You can do whatever you need to do,” I whispered. “Just… don’t hang up.”

“I won’t,” he picked up the phone and stood, carrying it with him as he walked toward the dirty door, “You should close your eyes.”

I obeyed without arguing.

“Good girl,” he murmured.

The words wrapped around me like warmth. I smiled into my pillow, “Raphael?”

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

Then, in the same calm voice he’d used all night, he whispered, “And I love you enough to make sure you come home… and then I’ll fuck you.”

I listened to his footsteps echo through the hallway as my eyes slowly drifted shut, holding onto the sound of his breathing, refusing to let go until sleep finally claimed me.

Raphael

08

00

–

2/3

+15 Bonus

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify