The girl who used to carry the biggest of smiles, even when she carried a heavy weight on her shoulders.
My nails dig into my skin. But a memory is just a memory. And that girl sitting there in that tub hates me more than anyone else ever could.
She’s nothing like the girl I remember.
The girl I fought so hard to ensnare.
I killed her sister and my brother, and now she’s going to make me pay the fucking price. Did I make the wrong choice?
I shake my head and laugh it off, even if it isn’t funny. Fate always has its ways of punishing you exactly the way you deserve.
Because what I desire the most is something I’ll never fucking have.
I sigh out loud.
Nothing in this life comes easy. But I won’t fucking give up. I refuse.
I’ll make her see me. I’ll make her want me.
And I’ll make more than just her body mine.
Chapter 16
Jasmine
* * *
When I’m done bathing, I quickly dry myself off with the towel, hoping he doesn’t come in before I’m dressed. Just because he’s already seen most of my body doesn’t mean I want him to see me naked. And it definitely doesn’t mean I want to prance around in the nude.
A bundle of clothes lies on a small stool near the door. I hold them up in front of me. It’s a pair of baggy pants and an oversized shirt that smell like him, the scent making me lean in to take a whiff. It smells … earthy, like wood and soil, and raw nature … Almost sexy.
I swallow a raunchy thought back down and put it all on, ignoring the scent that’s forcefully entering my nostrils. It reminds me too much of the boy Liam used to be, way before he became … well, whoever the fuck he is now.
I still wonder what happened to him to make him like this. Why he lost all of his memories. Even though I listened to the story he told on the cliff, I was way too busy trying to save my sister from being murdered by him.
But now that she’s safe and sound at home, nothing is stopping me from finding out more. What else am I going to do while locked up in here?
I grab the door handle but pause because the pressure on my hand suddenly became ten times heavier. Like the mere thought of facing him after all these years makes my heart beat in my throat.
Get over yourself, Jasmine. Man the fuck up.
Keep your eyes on the job.
Get him to like you.
Find your phone. Escape when he’s distracted.
I blow out a breath and push through, opening the door to find him tossing more wood into the small fireplace in the cabin. When he looks up, my cheeks instinctively flush.
“Hi …” I say.
God. Could I sound any dumber?
“Hey,” he responds.
Leaning on his knee, he gets up, the fabric of his shirt stretching to the limit around his muscular shoulders. And I just do not know why I’m focusing on it.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.