Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother novel Chapter 86

KASMINE.

“Oh, heavenly goddess! Kasmine!” June’s voice rang with relief as she threw her arms around me, squeezing the air from my lungs. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.”

I let her warmth settle over me, trying not to think too much about where she had been last night. But I felt better to see her looking lively today. She was happy, and I found myself wondering what they had done the previous night. She hadn’t slept in her own designated room,

Yeah, I know how that sounds. Like I’d spent the night stalling her, right?

Well… I kinda did. Not in a creepy way, though. Just… checking, Checking if she had returned after going to “talk” to Kester.

I didn’t make the mistake of sneaking to Kester’s door. He’d sniff me and corne running into my arms like a lost puppy. I didn’t want that. I wanted the night to be all about June.

But… Had they only talked? Slept quietly? Or….

No. I couldn’t think about that.

It shouldn’t be my concern if they fucked. They were meant to get married soon. They’d be doing that often. That was what couples did. And soon, it would be normal for them–so normal it wouldn’t even be a thought to worry

about.

I swallowed against the bitterness rising in my throat.

“It’s fine, June,” I said, forcing a small smile as I pulled away from the hug. “But Mum must never know about this. She’d freak out.”

My mini duffle bag still had some space in it to contain some of the chocolates Jake had given me the day before I

traveled.

They were kind of the best I’d had in a long time. There was no outing without them, at least, as long as there were still some left.

She pressed a hand to her heart in mock solemnity. “Your secret is safe with me, darling,” she said, perching at the edge of my bed. She was already fully dressed and ready to rock the day. Her yellow floral dress stopped mid thigh, the soft fabric hugging her figure just enough to remind me of what I lacked. My eyes trailed down to her long, impossibly smooth legs, and I wished–just for a second–that mine had the same effortless elegance.

She was stunning. The kind of woman men turned to look at twice, just to make sure they hadn’t dreamed her up.

If I were to ever stand with her in front of a beauty judge, I was certain I’d only blend into the wallpapers of the courtroom – that’s if courtrooms ever had any.

Her blonde hair, swept into a high ponytail, left just enough loose curls to frame her delicate face. And as I took her in, an old, familiar wave of jealousy curled through me—hot and unwelcome.

She was beautiful to a fault.

What is wrong

with Kester? Why wasn’t he looking at her the way he sometimes looked at me–like he wanted to devour every inch of my soul?

She was everything a man like him should want. Beauty. Class. Perfection.

I sucked in a breath, pushing the thought aside, shoving it deep into the part of me that kijew better than to ask

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Chapter 86

questions that had no answers.

She pointed to the chocolates I was stuffing absentmindedly into my bag “Can I have one?

Wordlessly, I handed one over, watching as she tore it open with a soft, eager hum.

“Thanks,” She took a bite, her lips parting around the dark sweetness, letting out a quiet moan. “Mmhhh…

A shiver curled down my spine.

Was that how she sounded when Kester fucked her?

My stomach twisted, and 1 hated myself for the thought.

“It tastes so good. Where did you get these?” She tipped her head up a little, savoring the sweetness, and I couldn’t stop the way my eyes flickered over her–her long, pale neck, her collarbones peeking through the thin straps of her dress, her smooth, unblemished skin, to see if Kester had left any marks on her… That’s if they….

The chocolate nearly melted between my fingers as I grippel the bag tighter.

“Kasmine?” She called, pulling me harshly back to reality.

I cleared my throat, “Jake got them for me.” I replied, zipping up the bag

Her brows lifted slightly. “Oh. Jake. How’s he doing? Heard from him since you arrived?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Nope. Kester made sure of it.”

She didn’t miss the slight sadness in my voice. I’d been trying to wrestle the feeling of sadness whenever I thought about Jake. I knew how worried he’d be.

And to think that I couldn’t even call Claire to give her a message to him made me even more worried and sad.

She would have been the only solution right now if Kester wasn’t tracking my phone. Now that he’s finally had me where he always wanted, one would think that he’d stop prying into my personal life. But it only got worse.

Kester had always and will always be my stalker.

June sighed, her expression softening with pity. “I’m sorry, Kasmine. But you’ll get over this. In a few more weeks. I hope you find your mate on your birthday,” she encouraged, and sincerely, I didn’t know if I should be happy, sad, scared, or even terrified of that day.

I only gave a hollow smile and nodded, “Kester is certainly waiting for us. Let’s go.”

KESTER.

I had watched her swallow the ‘birth control‘ pills this morning when she woke up.

Or at least, what she thought were birth control pills.

I stood by the door, and she hadn’t even seen me. So, I quietly went back down to the car to wait for her.

It filled me with so much satisfaction knowing that she wasn’t on birth control in the actual sense.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel as I glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. She sat by the window, absentmindedly staring at the blur of palm trees and the sunlit ocean beyond the glass. H is were slightly parted.

I wished I could know what she was thinking about this fucking minute. I want to be the only one she thinks about

Chapter 16

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at all times. A sharp, possessive heat licked up my spine.

I couldn’t help but picture her with a soft, round belly, carrying our child. Her skin glowing, her curves fuller, and her body marked in every way by me. And years later, tiny feet pattering against marble floors, little hands reaching for me, little voices calling out Daddy.

The image was so right that I barely noticed the noise June was making from beside me.

“You’re not listening, are you?” she sighed, rolling her eyes. “You seem way too distracted.”

Of course, I was distracted. How could I not be?

I was in the same space as Kasmine. Breathing the same airs her without touching her. And it was torture.

I forced a slow inhale through my nose, smoothing, the irritation from my face. “I’m listening, June.“” Her eyes narrowed with suspicion “Oh, really? Then what was the last thing I said?”

She folded her arms across her chest, and for a second, my stomach clenched. Fuck. Kasmine did that a lot. That same little motion–arms crossed, eyes sharp, lips slightly pouted–that made my insides warm up every time. My grip flexed on the wheel.

“You were saying that your father is willing to help me secure the contract with Blackthorne Industries,” I said smoothly. “He has connections with their board members and believes he can convince them to move forward with the deal. You also mentioned that their CEO has concerns about the stability of my company, considering the recent… unrest among my investors.”

She was wrong. I wasn’t lost in thoughts. I was lost in Kasmine.

Fucking frustrating.

Because Kasmine shifted in her seat, tucking her legs beneath her, hugging her arms around herself as she stared out at the rolling waves.

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golden chandeliers, soft instrumental music humming in the background. It felt more like stepping into a five- star resort than a typical beachfront.

Kasmine trailed slightly behind June, keeping her distance from me as we walked in. It irritated me. She was doing it on purpose.

Gripping her waist, I pulled her flush against me, pressing her back against the door. She let out a small, startled gasp, her hands coming up to brace against my chest. Her skin was warm through the thin fabric of my shirt, and her signature perfume scent–vanilla–wrapped around me like a drug