Page 67 of Stay

When I climb out of the memory, we’re already back at the house. Shit, we’ve made the entire loop on one of my dad’s many trails, and I have no idea how it happened. But when I look at Haley again, I see her differently than before.

“We should probably get going. It’s a long drive back.”

“Okay,” Haley’s voice sounds hollow, defeated.

I can’t fix that here, which is why I’m taking her home.

Chapter 21

Haley

When we make it back to my place, it’s past midnight, but I’m not tired. I’m drained.

We didn’t talk much on the way here. I can’t shut my brain off. I’ve ruined Cole’s holiday with my past hangups once again haunting me. Guilt eats me even as he laces our hands together and leads the way up to my apartment like nothing’s wrong. My head and heart brace themselves for a fallout. I’m scared that I’ve taken two steps forward and three steps back with myself… and with him.

“I’m so sorry,” I say while unlocking my door.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for, Angel.”

Opening things up, I kick off my shoes and drop my purse on the floor like it’s a sack of trash. “I feel like I’ve ruined your night.”

“You didn’t.” He toes his shoes off and lines them up by the door. When he walks towards me, he’s predatory. Confident. Sexy as hell. “I want you to do something for me.”

“Anything.” I mean it. I’ll do anything for this man. Besides, he still has a few days of free-use playtime with me, and he barely took advantage of it today. The prospect of picking up where we left off with that almost chases my blues away.

I think our love language is physical affection, only Cole gets cuddly and clingy while I just want him to rail me until I can reset my factory settings.

“Stand over by your bookshelf, facing it.”

Umm. Okay. That’s not what I thought he was going to say. So much for hoping we’re going to screw each other’s brains out so I can factory reset myself.

When I reach the bookshelf, I swear my pussy dries right up. It’s nothing but a glorious display of how fucked in the head I’ve always been. How much effort I’ve had to put into carving a new life for myself that doesn’t involve my toxic parents. I want to curl into a ball and cry about it. It’s embarrassing to have grown up the way I did. And it’s double awful that Cole knows so much about my past.

Does he look down on me for it?

Does he pity me?

“Stay just like you are,” Cole growls from the couch. My back is to him, so I have no idea what he’s doing. But when I feel him approach, my stomach flutters. “Daddy’s so fucking proud of you, Angel.” His hands glide down my arms and he grabs my wrists, placing my hands on the bookshelf. “Look at what a good job you’ve done.”

I don’t understand. “I haven’t done anything.”

Cole lifts my dress up to my hips. Then his hand lands hard on my bare ass. Smack! “Wanna try that again?”

Holy shit. What’s happening here? “I…”

I’m so confused.

“Look at what a good job you’ve done,” he growls against my ear. Smack! “Who’s been such a good girl?” Smack! “Who knows her motherfucking worth now?” Smack!

My ass is on fire.

“I…” I can’t breathe.

He spanks my ass again. “Say it.” His breaths grow heavier. “Who’s a good girl and knows her worth?”

“M-m-me?”

He spanks me again. “Is that a question or an answer, Angel?” He spanks me again before I can answer.

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