Shattered Asylum

Chapter 71

We're standing right outside the door when I hear Grayson's voice. "Stop looking at me like that. You're creeping me out."

Noticing the door isn't fully closed, we push it open just enough to peek inside.

Grayson is leaning against his dresser, a towel slung dangerously low around his hips. Kristina is sitting on his bed, staring at him like she's just now realizing what a man looks like.

What the hell is she doing here?

"Kris, get out." His voice is flat, already irritated.

Kristina doesn't move. "Just change, I don't care."

Grayson exhales sharply, his jaw clenching. "Yeah? Well, I do."

She grins, slow and lazy. "Relax, I'm not looking at anything I haven't seen before."

His expression darkens. "You're my brother's girlfriend."

Kristina shrugs. "So? You're twins. You're basically the same, right?"

Grayson scoffs, pure disgust flashing across his face. "I didn't want you back then. I sure as hell don't want you now."

That one hits. Kristina's smirk falters for a second before she pushes herself up from the bed.

She takes a step toward him, swaying slightly, her eyes locked on him like she's testing how far she can go.

Grayson shakes his head and turns away, yanking open his dresser drawer, clearly done with the conversation.

"This is why Ethan hates when you smo-"

That's when she does it.

Her fingers trail down his back, slow and deliberate.

Grayson goes rigid.

"I can change that," she murmurs.

It's instant. He spins around so fast Kristina barely has time to react before she's nearly chest to chest with him, her hands still braced against him.

"The hell you can," he snaps. His voice is sharp, final, laced with something close to disgust. He smacks her hand away from his lower stomach. "Don't ever touch me again."

Her hand jerks back, catching the edge of the towel.

It slips.

He inhales sharply, reflexes snapping as his hand shoots down, but he only catches part of it.

The fabric drops on one side, baring the hard line of his hip, the defined cut of muscle along his side, the deep V of his lower abdomen disappearing beneath what little of the towel he still holds. His thigh is exposed too, strong and tense, muscle tightening with the sudden movement.

It starts to fall on the other side, but he's quick, grabbing it and yanking it back into place, grip tight, jaw clenched, expression lethal.

Color blooms across his cheeks, creeping down his neck and catching at the tips of his ears, and it lingers there, refusing to fade.

Kristina's eyes instantly drop, drawn to what's still far too exposed... something your brother's girlfriend should never be that close to seeing.

My heart stutters as I catch her literally biting her bottom lip, barely holding back a grin.

She likes what she saw.

Before anything else can happen, Amy and I knock lightly and push the door open more. Kristina jerks back, looking caught, while Grayson stands there, his breathing sharp, his expression like he's two seconds away from throwing her out himself.