Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
He looked up at Mike, still unsure whether he understood this. “And you made that decision after you fucked me?” It came out much louder and harsher than he’d intended. A bullet where he’d meant a punch.
Mike’s body went tense, as if the word projectile hit him right where it hurt, but he met Arden’s gaze without delay, pale cheeks gaining color. “No. I wanted to talk to you about this last night. But then you said you finally felt good about having sex again following that awful… thing your ex did, and I thought I wanted to give you a good experience, you know? So you can move on.”
Arden grabbed his own throat and curled his shoulders, unable to speak for several seconds as he processed this monstrosity. What was this supposed to mean? That Mike had sex with him out of some ill-conceived obligation? Last night’s life-altering experience had really been a pity fuck for a broken boy?
“A good experience?” Arden whispered. “Are you really dumping me like this?” One more chance for Mike to back out of this and say that he just wanted a break, or… something. Arden would accept it like the self-respect lacking sucker he was, because he couldn’t stand the idea of losing him forever.
But Mike swallowed and cupped his own head with both hands before moving them to the back, to hold onto hair. His chest rose and fell quickly, as if he were struggling not to hyperventilate. “It’s not you. I can’t be with anyone. What happened yesterday could have been so much worse. What if someone abducts you, or hurts you just because you’re with me?”
Arden watched, shocked as if Mike had declared he was about to join a monastery, but then he pushed at Mike’s chest, hoping for a reaction. “It’s not your choice to make! I know who you are, I know you do illegal shit, and I still chose to be with you! Just like it wasn’t your choice to try and ‘give me a good experience’! It’s now forever tainted by this. You think your dick is magic or something? It was never about the sex itself, but trusting someone, and you… you wrecked that trust! I can’t believe this shit!” Despite fighting tears with all his might, they still spilled down his face, proving he was far more fragile than he would have liked.
Mike stilled, his mouth twisting as he chewed on Arden’s pain, surely trying to work out the best thing to say so he’d get the outcome he wanted. Kaley had warned Arden Mike did things like this, but, like always, he hadn’t listened.
“I’m sorry. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should have told you last night, but I’m no saint. I thought I was doing the right thing,” Mike said in the end, spreading his arms in a wordless plea for his innocence.
Arden shoved him again, even though it was like punching a brick wall. “No, you didn’t! You just wanted to see if it’s any different to fuck a boy, didn’t you? Just that one time before leaving me. And now I feel like some fucking broken Fleshlight! I literally still have your cum inside me you motherfucker!” Anger was a bright red light pulsing under Arden’s eyelids, but it was the only thing keeping him sane. If it wasn’t for his anger, he’d be shattering into a million pieces.
He grabbed the little switchblade hidden in an oversized key, the one he’d failed to use when kidnapped. He’d learned since then.
Arden snapped the knife open and charged at Mike, but the fucker turned when Arden aimed for his chest, and the blade sank into Mike’s arm, into the blue parrot tattoo. Regret flooded Arden as soon as he saw blood, but he still screamed at Mike.
“I hate you so much!”
Mike touched the fresh wound, then stared at the blood as if he couldn’t believe Arden had stabbed him. “I—I’m really sorry. You can have my room and stay with us. That’s why I was packing my stuff. I really care about you!”
Scraps from the table for the kicked dog. Mike might ‘care’ for Arden, but he didn’t love Arden. Never had and never would.
Arden was drowning in the quicksand of his own making. There had been warning signs. He should have never trusted Mike. Yesterday, he hadn’t only felt comfortable and at ease enough to give Mike his body. He’d shared all of himself, with complete trust, and now he was finding out it had meant nothing to Mike.
“You don’t! You’re leaving with some half-assed excuse about my safety. Then go! Fucking go! What are you waiting for?” Arden yelled and pushed him toward the door. The blood trickling down Mike’s arm only spurred on his exasperation.
He didn’t have the strength to force Mike into anything, so the fact that Mike was letting Arden herd him out into the corridor, was just that. Mike was letting him. Because he wanted to leave, and dealing with Arden’s fury was another hurdle to overcome before he could sigh in relief and drown in all the pussy again.