Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy, #2)

by Rina Kent

Since the night I broke whatever is between us, Adrian hates me.

He hate-fucks me every night, in the pussy, then in the ass, and sometimes he’ll take me to the shower just to do it all over again. I loathe how much I like it, how much I tingle with anticipation for his rough handling and unapologetic owning. In a way, that’s the only time I’m forced to be ...

He could’ve built a place for me in his black heart, even if it’s not as big as the area he occupies in mine.

I’m the foolish one who fell in love. Adrian only ever saw me as a possession, as property. Someone he could fuck and keep under his thumb.

So I wanted to hurt him deeply. I wanted to stab him in his emotionless heart over and over so he’d feel a sliver of what I did. The only way to do so was by telling him that he was second, that the object he loved to possess wanted someone else. But while I liked that night’s sex and the sex that followed after, I miss the other side of Adrian. The one who took care of me. The one who hugged me to sleep and placed my feet on his lap, massaging away the tension. Sometimes, I pretend to fall asleep in Jeremy’s room just so I’ll feel him lift me up, hold me to his strong body, and tuck me gently in bed.

Because in my waking moments, all I see on his face is hatred. Sheer, utter hatred. Adrian might have slightly gotten over my escape attempt, but he’ll never forgive me for cheating on him. He might not leave me, because I’m Jeremy’s mother and ...

Sometimes, I want to tell him it’s not true, that I lied because I was hurt, but his clipped words discourage me. He’d never believe me, anyway. Not when I held on to the lie for so long.

“He’s blinded by you, Lia.”

“By me?” “Yes. His obsession with you is forbidding him from thinking logically. And you did tell him you cheated. Did you think he’d pat you on the back?”

“Still, do you think painting his most precious person, you, as a cheater was a wise idea?” No, it wasn’t. “I’m not his most precious person.” “Yes, you are, Lia. I’ve known Boss since I was younger than Jeremy and I’ve never seen him treat anyone the way he treats you.”

“With disdain, you mean?” “You must me be joking. Listen, he’s not the type who allows anyone to cause him pain, but you were able to. You hurt him.” “No more than he hurt me.” Tears well in my eyes. “Besides, he’d need to feel for me to ever be able to be hurt by me.”

“You’re just as blinded as he is, I swear. Just talk to him and I assure you that he’ll see your honesty. You’re torturing each other and it’s painful to watch.” ...

The moment he decides he hates me more than he wants me, he won’t hesitate to get rid of me.

This is for my survival. I might love Adrian, but I won’t stick around until he’s bored of me, until he makes me go really crazy.

Lia has something to do with it. Or, more accurately, my obsession with her does. At one point, it became carnal and dark. I tried to lighten it at the beginning, to make up for my lack of feelings with my actions, to show her that she’s special to me, even if I’m wired differently and didn’t know how to feel as she secretly wished.

I thought she’d eventually see the effort I was making. It’d take time, but it would happen. Lia would come to me, not work against me. She’d trust me and talk to me.

When the doctor said that she shouldn’t be put in stressful situations or surrounded by people who make her anxious, I distanced myself further. Even though it kills me to stay away from her, I can at least recognize that I’m the major cause of her depression and anxiety.

The only person in this house whom she loses her smile upon seeing is me. Even my fucking guards get her smiles. But never me.

I still believe that I’ll be able to draw out the Lia from the past. The Lia who sat down with me for dinners and talked about everything and nothing, trying every trick under the sun to get me to talk as well.

maybe I’ll never forget what she did, but I’ll never let her leave either.

I stare at the woman again, hoping I’m wrong, but when I don’t find Lia in there, my chest constricts with something so similar to…fear.

The red mist that I only see when Lia is involved covers my vision and all I can think about is that she left. She fucking ran. I never thought she’d leave Jeremy behind, but she went ahead and did it. She had enough of pretending and escaped.

He’s the type who learns someone’s weakness, exploits it, then suffocates them with it until they wish for death. I guess that’s what he did to me. The only difference is that he showed me a side of him I fell in love with, then he took it away, leaving me with painful emotions and hope for nothing.

“Lia, stop!” No! If I do, everything will be over. This time, I won’t be able to survive his wrath and I will splinter into irredeemable pieces. This time, it’ll be the end.

“So you’ll take me back and lock me up?” I taste salt, and it’s then that I realize tears are soaking my cheeks. “No.” “You will! You’ll also take Jeremy away from me for good. You’ll torture me with your silent treatment until I go mad or kill myself.” “I will not do that.” “You’ve been doing it already! Can’t you see that you’ve been slowly killing me? Killing us? You don’t even kiss me anymore.”

“What’s there to talk about?” “Everything, Lenochka.”

“Have you ever loved me, Adrian?”

“Because I loved you.” I lay a palm over my heart and fist the material of my dress. “And it’s killing me every day.”

“Come down, Lenochka. Please.” “I took your hand before, Adrian, and you smothered me with it.” I smile a little. “I’d rather die quickly than slowly.” “Lia, no!”