What's a girl to do when she's failed to scare away her opponent? Kenna James is practically engaged to the man I love, Seth Gamble, who also happens to be my stepbrother. I thought that Seth would admire my fight for him, that he would carry me up the stairs to his bedroom and ravish me with kisses and we would laugh, laugh at Kenna, laugh at our funny romance, and make love as we usually do. That's not what happened.

I bite my lip to tell you how he looked at me with scorn in his eyes, how he vowed to move away, far away from me. I felt my heart fall into my stomach. I wanted to break down right then and there. I wanted to scream. I waited until the sun went down, after our parents went to bed, and I begged his forgiveness. I can not have the man I love to leave me alone, but I can promise to be his mistress. I'll devote my life to waiting for my chance with him. Maybe he'll get married? I'll probably get married, but I swear to God I will never love anyone as much as I love that man. I promise, I'll be good from here on out, so long as I can have him.