Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 88305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Baby.”
She stiffens as she slowly lifts her head. I expect to find tears in her gaze, but there are none.
I wish she was crying, kicking, or screaming. I wish she’d jump up and strangle me and knee me in the balls.
Any of those options are better than the blank stare in her eyes. They’re dark under the lack of light, but it’s as if no soul resides behind them.
Washed away.
Just like the rest of her expression.
“You didn’t answer my calls,” I say quietly because any other volume would probably have the exact opposite effect.
She jerks up suddenly. The motion happens in one go, I expect her to come at me, but she simply turns and stomps to her front door.
Not so fast.
I grab her by the arm and swing her around. She slaps me across the face, and a muscle works in my jaw at the force of it.
She sure as fuck knows how to put all her weight behind her hits.
“Leave me alone.” Her voice is guttural, raw, almost like she’s used up all her other emotions and all she has left is anger.
I know that feeling all too well. I’ve lived it since I lost my parents, and I don’t want her to experience the same emptiness.
Not on my fucking watch.
“You should know by now that I won’t. We’re bound together, Naomi.”
“Bound together?” She scoffs. “By what? Your lies? Your fucking games? Reina’s bets? You already won. You fucked me, depraved me, and humiliated me to your heart’s content, so go gloat about it to your stupid friends and leave me be.”
The apathy behind her words pisses me off. People think hate is the worst emotion, but it’s not.
Indifference is.
The fact that Naomi could write me off so easily provokes my ugly monster to rear its head.
“That’s where you’re wrong, baby. I can’t leave you when I’m not done with you.”
“Well, I fucking am, Sebastian! I played your game, however unwillingly, and it’s time to end it.”
“Unwillingly? Fuck that. You enjoyed every chase as much as I did. Your cunt strangled my dick with the intensity of your excitement and fear, and you came more than either of us could count. So don’t stand there and utter the word unwillingly.”
“That was only physical. I never signed up to be emotionally abused! So, yes, Sebastian, it’s over. The next time you come near me or attempt to touch me, I’m going to file for a restraining order.”
“And you think a restraining order would stop me?”
She swallows, her pretty little throat working with the motion and I wrap my hand around it hard enough so she knows who’s in fucking charge here.
“I told you not to play with my beast if you can’t handle it. I told you to use your safe word, but you didn’t. You squealed and ran for it. You gasped and moaned and begged me to use you. That’s our reality, Naomi. It’s what we are, you and I. Beast and toy. Monster and prey, so don’t you fucking dare threaten me with staying away from you, because that’s not going to happen.”
For the first time tonight, moisture glistens in her eyes even as she glares at me, her dark eyes drawing holes into my soul. Her voice comes out as a strained whisper, “You ruined all that when you lied to me from the beginning.”
“I never lied to you.”
“You hid the truth, which is worse than lying. You only made a game out of my feelings and turned me into the laughingstock of campus.”
“No one will bother you.”
“You really think that’s the problem here?”
“You’re worried about people bullying you, which won’t be happening if they want to see another day.”
“You don’t even see it, do you?”
“See what?”
She punches me on the chest so hard, I falter, and she uses the chance to free herself from my hold.
“What you did to me! The way you played me! Do you not realize how wrong it was?”
“No, because I got to have you. The method doesn’t matter, the result does.”
She slowly shakes her head, her lips parting in a small whisper, “You’re crazy.”
“Oh, baby, you’ve only ever seen a portion of my crazy. Don’t provoke me or I’ll show you the rest.”
Her chin trembles, but she doesn’t break eye contact as she reaches behind her and fumbles with the handle of her front door until it opens.
“We’re over,” she emphasizes, and then she’s dashing inside and locking the door.
Usually, she doesn’t do that when her mom isn’t around. It’s some form of an invitation so I can startle her and take her by surprise.
This is a clear sign of her rejection, but it’s not going to work.
I don’t care what I have to do, but I’ll get my Naomi back.
Even if I have to drag her out kicking and screaming.