The Villain's PactChapter 3

Apparently, in the ICU, we were both circling the drain. Our parents, in a fit of rich-people desperation, had consulted their high-end spiritual guru.

The guru told them our souls were "dangerously intertwined." If we weren't "bound" in this life, our "negative karma" would kill us both.

So, while we were in comas, they had their lawyers draw up a marriage contract.

And it worked. We woke up.

Asher looked at me. "So. What now?"

I looked at the diamond ring they'd put on my finger. I sighed. "What can we do? I'm the villain. No matter what I do, I lose."

Asher actually smirked. "You know... maybe we should just go through with it. Save ourselves the trouble of harassing the heroes. We can just... I don't know... harass each other."

It was like a lightbulb went off.

He was right. Connor already thought I was toxic. Why waste my energy? I could just stay here and "ruin" Asher. Maybe I'd even survive the final chapter.

I grabbed his hand. "Asher, you're a goddamn genius."

He immediately looked horrified. "Sloane, I was kidding. I think of you as my sister. I can't... I don't feel that way about you..."

That pissed me off.

I climbed onto his bed, straddled his hips, and pushed him back against the pillows. I leaned down until our noses were almost touching.

"You don't?" I whispered. "Are you sure?"

My fingers traced the outline of his T-shirt, slowly sliding down his chest until they rested right above his jeans.

His eyes went dark. His voice was a strained whisper.

"Sloane. Stop playing."

I felt the unmistakable twitch under his waistband. I laughed and jumped off the bed.

"See? You feel it."