Chapter 6 - Avery
Rowen was still sleeping when I woke up. He looked peaceful, his eyelids fluttering, lips parted on a soft breath. I wanted to kiss him, but I held myself back, not wanting to wake him yet.
The lights came in through the windows, filling the space with a warm glow that countered the deep blues he’d painted on the walls.
I was almost certain the room had been decorated with hired help. There was no way Rowen picked out the art and decor, but the blue…that was definitely his choice. It reminded me of waking up next to him back home.
My chest flared with pain at the thought of home, of my mom. It felt like forever ago, but it was just the night before. I could still see the look on her face, the way her lips curled with disgust, her eyes lighting up with rage.
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected to happen when they found out about us, but I didn’t think she’d feel so cold, so done with me, when I left. My heart was broken, thinking she was okay without me, fine with me leaving and never coming back.
“Av…” Rowen’s voice dragged as his eyes blinked open. “Whoa,” he said when he noticed my tears. He pulled me to his chest. “What’s wrong?”
I wiped my wet cheeks. “Nothing. I’m okay. I just…I wasn’t expecting her to be so angry.”
He hugged me tighter, pulling me on top of him. “I’m so sorry, baby. This is all my fault.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s not. I made my choice.” I offered him a smile, and relief flooded me when he smiled too. “And I’m happy with it.”
“Promise?” he asked, a slight hint of hesitation in his eyes.
“I promise,” I said before kissing him to seal the deal.
His hands cupped my ass, and he moved his hips against me. His cock was already hard, rubbing against my pussy. I found myself moving faster, wanting more.
“If you don’t stop, I’ll have no choice but to give you another round of last night.”
I halted, lying still against him. “So, how did you even afford this place?” I realized how rude I sounded and quickly added, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that; I was just curious. You don’t have to tell me.”
He laughed. “I like that you’re curious about me.
It’s about time the tables turned. I created an app in college for a project.
I developed an algorithm that optimized hospital shift allocation based on available staff and patient needs.
After schedules were uploaded, along with patient records and their schedules, staff would have an easier time ensuring everyone’s needs were met.
It wasn’t perfect, but I had multiple offers for it by the time I graduated.
Sold it for a few million dollars. Turned around and invested that, and I had some really good luck pretty quickly.
Now, I analyze and consult other app developers on their projects. ”
I was shocked at all he’d accomplished already.
I sat up and looked him in the eyes. “You’ve done so much with so little.
Do you realize how crazy that is? Do you know you’re probably the only one your age who earned the penthouse he bought?
How are you not being called up for interviews and biographies and shit? ”
He beamed as he listened to me. “I did it all under a pseudonym.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I guess I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.” He rolled over to be on top of me, trying to change the subject by kissing me, but I avoided his attacks.
“Did you ever tell your dad?”
His eyes dimmed. “He didn’t give a shit about me after I left.”
“Because of me…” My chest was heavy, guilt-ridden.
“No,” he spoke, softly but sternly. “It wasn’t you, baby. I was an idiot for watching you like that, leaving myself all exposed. I was bound to get caught.”
“Do you regret it?” I chewed my bottom lip.
His forest green eyes grew darker. “Not one bit.”
***
“Should I call her?” I asked him, staring at my phone like it would give me all the answers.
“And say what?” Rowen said as he ate his breakfast.
“Check on her? I don’t know. It’s driving me crazy not knowing what's going on over there.”
It had been a couple of days since we’d left in the middle of the night on his bike, and I hadn’t heard from my mom since. Rowen said his dad hadn’t contacted him either, but he also said that wasn’t atypical.
There was a mischievous sparkle in his eyes before he mimicked typing on a phone.
“‘Hey, Mom, I just wanted to see if you were okay after finding my stepbrother balls deep inside me after confessing his undying love. I know it’s hard to accept, but I need you to understand—I’m addicted to his cock. ’”
“Rowen!” I exclaimed with a laugh.
I took his plate as his punishment, scarfing down a slice of bacon.
“You’re going to regret that,” he said, narrowing his eyes as he stood from the bar seating and stalked around the island to where I was. “Apologize.”
A smile spread on my face before I could stop it. “Awe. Is big brother upset his little sister stole his food?” I snatched another slice, cramming it into my mouth.
His eyes widened as his jaw dropped. “You, woman, are a fucking menace.” He was pointing at me, poised to pounce.
“Doesn’t feel too good when someone takes your food, does it?”
“Is that what this is about? Revenge?” He huffed a quiet laugh, but the way his eyes darkened was anything but funny. “I’ll teach you a thing or two about revenge, little kitty.”
The way he said my nickname, low and growly, made my body shiver. He smirked, knowing the effect he had on me.
“You get away from me,” I shrieked once he started coming after me. “I never did anything to you for you to avenge!”
I’d nearly made it to his couch in the ridiculously massive living room with huge open windows that showcased the balcony.
“Try years of painful erections I couldn’t relieve inside your slick, desperate cunt.”
Oh shit.
I liked knowing I’d been driving him crazy too, even if it was in a different way than he did me.
I’d had time to think about the things he admitted to doing: the stalking, standing outside my window, sleeping in my bed.
At first, I was shocked, violated, knowing he’d taken the liberty to do all of that without my knowledge.
The longer I sat with it, though, the hotter I found it.
His deep obsession.
His need to be near me, even if I wasn’t physically present.
The fantasy he’d refused to let go, no matter how much time had passed or how mean I was to him.
He even let me look inside a box of my things he’d collected over the years—his trophy case.
I shouldn’t have been shocked, considering the man had bottles of my soaps in his apartment before I ever set foot inside, because he missed smelling me.
The box contained all sorts of things, like old panties, some lipstick, and even a pink baby doll gown I thought I’d lost.
He was expecting me to lose it, probably call him crazy again, but I offered to put it on instead.
We never made it that far, though, because I made the mistake of undressing in front of him, and he pounced before I could put the dress on.
“What filthy thoughts are filling that pretty little head, kitten?” he whispered, slowing as he caught up with me in front of the fireplace.
I inched toward the balcony door. “How could you have possibly—”
“It’s written all over your face.” He was smug, eyeing me like a prize he’d already won. “You’re such a slut, I wouldn’t be surprised if all you thought about was my cock.” His footsteps were slow, measured.
I rolled my eyes at him. “You wish.”
“Av…” he said warningly as I reached for the door handle. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
I ignored him, pushing it open and stepping onto the mezzanine.
It was impossible to get far, though, because Rowen closed the distance between us in three seconds. He grabbed my hair and dragged me over to the furniture, quickly pinning me over the back of the nearby couch.
“Have you not learned your lesson?” He leaned down until his lips were brushing my ear, his hips grinding his hard cock against my ass.
“Did you really think you could get away from me?” He smacked my ass, and I yelled out.
“You will never escape me, baby. You let in the goddamn monster, and there’s not a damn thing you can do to get rid of him.
There’s no changing your mind or calling a break.
You’re mine now, and I will do everything in my power to keep it that way. ” His voice was thick with need.
I shuddered, goosebumps erupting all over my skin, his words burrowing so deeply, they were ingrained in my bones.