Page 18 of Sweet Temptation

Grabbing a beer, I down it before moving through the kitchen toward Damien and Sabrina. "Who fucking invited her?" I bark. My brother watches me, then looks away, keeping his arm around Sabby's waist. Rolling my eyes, I pop open another beer and take a swig, leaning against the counter. Hanna slowly makes her way toward me before she stops.

"I was wrong. I don't want you to stay away from me. I don't have to push people away, I just do. I'll only tell you this once," she says softly, playing with her hands.

Setting down my beer, I watch her for a couple minutes, admiring her courage and beauty as she stands there in a similar outfit to the second day of university.

In the end, this woman is still not good for me; I’ll still end up getting her killed. But at that moment I didn't care. I don't care because I'm not the type who thinks about the consequences till after I do the deed.

I can't stop myself as I grab her hips and press my lips to hers. Her lips move with mine like they were made for each other. I flick my tongue over her bottom lip, asking for access, and she quickly grants it as our tongues tangle together in rhythm. I can't stop kissing her now that I've started.

Her taste, her smell, her everything… I'm just pulled in, and she intoxicates me every time her tongue rolls over mine. Groaning into her mouth, I pull her closer, attacking her lips with mine until we're both breathless. I gently pull away, watching her eyes carefully. "I need you, too," I whisper in her hair. I need her, but not in the way she thinks.

Hanna's face turns red when she notices all the eyes on us. My eyes find Damien, and I see the smirk plastered across his lips as he watches me with Hanna.

The beautiful brunette covers her face with her hands. I wrap my arms around her and pull her against my chest, pressing my lips to her head. "It's my fucking birthday. If I wanted people to stare, I'd go sit in the cafeteria in UOP!" I yell. The crowd turns away from me and goes back to partying as I stare down at Hanna a second time.

"We can go hide in my room," I whisper in Hanna's ear. She looks up at me, her face less red, and she nods slowly. Taking her hand, I lead her upstairs into my bedroom and close the door behind us. Hanna squeals when she notices the cat on my bed and rushes forward, scooping it up with a cute smile on her lips.

"What's her name?" she asked me.

I stare at my cat for a few seconds. "Her name is Whisper," I reply with a smile. Hanna grins at me before she sets my cat down and flops on my king-sized bed, and I crawl into bed next to her. "Why did you act like that in the hospital yesterday?"

Hanna looks up at me as she fumbles with her hands. "My stepbrother… if I kept you around when you know what happened, then he—" She closes her eyes and sighs. I stare at her, confused, until she opens her eyes.

"Um… I don't exactly know what happened in that bedroom, because you were unconscious when I got there." Even though I do know what happened, I would just rather hear it from her.

She looks up at me, tears filling her beautiful green eyes. Taking a long breath, Hanna watches me before she speaks. "You dropped me off when we got back to town, and he showed up in my bedroom after I laid in my bed, naked. I thought nobody was home, so I didn't lock the door… H-he…" Hanna stops and closes her eyes as more tears fall. "He raped me…" she sobs, collapsing on my chest. Hanna cries into my chest, and I feel a piece of her cracking with each sob.

My entire body goes rigid as I think about the fucking bastard she's living with. I still need to kill him, and I plan on it. "You can't stay there anymore, Hanna," I say against her hair.

"I don't have a choice," she cries.

I shake my head and pull her tiny body to me. "You can stay with me and the boys," I say to her. Even though that is a stupid response because she can't stay here. I can't have her here.

Hanna looks up at me with mascara running down her cheeks, along with the shed tears. She shakes her head and rests her head against me. "I can't do that, I can't," she replies once the tears have finally stopped.

Sighing, I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her. "I'm here. I'll be one call away," I whisper into her hair. Another stupid remark because my lifestyle will get her killed.

I feel Hanna's smile as she cuddles closer to me. "Thank you."

I smile and press my lips to her head. "If anybody ever touches you again, I'll kill them," I growl, tightening my grip, and I mean it because I will kill them. Starting with her stepbrother. I watch Whisper jump up on the bed as she makes her way to me and Hanna, curling up between us in the tiny space.

I didn't think you could change in one day, but I vow to never let anyone hurt her again.

TEN

Walking through the front door to Damon's condo, I look around the room, spotting Ace first. "Hanna… what are you doing here?" he asks in panic.

I smile softly before removing my boots and setting them down gently. "I didn't want to spend the night because of the party, so I'm coming to see Damon." I still can't trust him, so really, why am I here?

Damien comes down the stairs with the same look on his face when he sees me. Tilting my head, I walk to the stairs and carefully make my way up them. "Hanna! You don't want to go up there!" Ace yells.

"I'll be fine, it's just Damon." I giggle, walking toward his bedroom door. I open it slowly and smile at his sleeping form, but my smile doesn't last when I notice blonde hair sprawled out on the pillow next to his.

My eyes narrow on her, and I notice her clothes are missing from her body. Wiping the fallen tears, I pick up Whisper and cuddle her to my chest, walking back down the stairs.

"Hanna," Damien whispers.

The rage in my chest snaps. "Oh shit! Sorry!" I scream, tucking the small cat under my jacket and holding her close. I drop Whisper on her feet gently before whipping toward Damien.