My jaw aches from how much I’m clenching it. This bastard has turned my life into a nightmare for the past couple of days and he doesn’t even know why.
So I provoke him. Probably not the best choice, but I have no other way to hurt him.
“I’d never,evergive you the time of day or look in your direction if I had a choice.Never.”
“Never say never, baby.”
“I’m not your baby.”
“You’re whatever the fuck I call you,baby.” He tugs on my lip again before he releases my mouth.
It’s swollen, puffy, and feels so sore, as if I’ve been kissing for hours.
No, no. I’m not going to think about kissing while this prick is here.
“Seriously, what do you want from me? I don’t even know your name, and I have no clue how you know mine.”
“Maybe we have more in common than you think.”
“What…is that supposed to mean?”
“You’re a smart girl. You’ll figure it out.”
“Just like you’ll figure out what you want from me?” I can’t hide the sarcasm from my tone, and he smiles.
“Exactly. You’re a fast learner.”
“Not fast enough to find a way to get rid of you.”
“That won’t be possible from your end, so don’t fry those neurons for nothing. Just…be good.”
“Who the hell are you to tell me whether I should be good, bad, or anything in between?”
“I don’t need a label to get what I want. You already know that.”
A sudden shudder jolts through my system. He’s subtly reminding me of how he easily escalated from nothing to full-on violation and that if I provoke him, it wouldn’t be abnormal for him to do the same.
Over and over until I learn my lesson.
I can’t help the need to face him head-on. “What does that entail exactly? Forcing me again?”
“I’d rather not. Unlike the impression I gave on the cliff, violence is not my first method of choice. However, if I have to resort to disagreeable options, I will. So don’t make me, baby. I’d rather we start on a clean slate.”
“Fuck. You.”
He releases a low chuckle that sends chills down my spine. It doesn’t reach his eyes, not even close, but it’s the first time he’s shown any semblance of human emotion. And I don’t know why I find myself memorizing every second of it.
“Such a foul mouth for a pretty little face.” The sound disappears as soon as it appeared as his fingers grab the sides of my throat. Hard. So hard that he’s practically choking me.
“Cursing me isn’t the definition of a clean slate, Glyndon. We were just talking about you being good, so how about you stick with that, hmm?”
He releases me as fast as he grabbed me and I splutter for air, my lungs nearly giving out. “What the hell is wrong with you and choking me?”
“How else will I get your full attention? Besides…” He rubs his thumb against the rest of his fingers. “I like the feel of your quickening pulse.”
I swallow as if gut-punched. There are so many dark emotions hidden behind his words and I don’t know whether to scream or cry—or do both at the same time.
He steps back, returning the space he robbed so suddenly. “I’ll keep an eye on you. Be good, baby.”