Page 113 of Cruel Dominion

She staggered back. Her hand went to her mouth, choking on a sob.

“Did you ever mean it when you said you loved me?”

Every fucking time, with everything I had in me.

“No,” I said instead, the word tasing foul in my mouth.

That was it, she turned and bolted, her footsteps quickening to a full out sprint as she tore down the street toward the beach.

The instant she was out of sight, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I slumped against the door, my legs completely giving out beneath me. My heart clenched so painfully I thought I might be having a heart attack. Hot tears streamed down my face and I couldn’t. Fucking. Breathe.

I swiped the tears away angrily and made myself get back to my feet.

Anna Vaughn wasn’t the kind of girl that a guy like me got to have. I got to be her mistake.

26

ANNA

“Can I get you anything?” Summer asked in a low voice.

All morning, she’d been knocking at the guest room door, then lingering in the doorframe, waiting for me to spring up and be happy again.

As if that was ever happening.

My photos were gone, and it felt like my career burned up in the fire along with them.

I’d severed my relationship with Dad, and along with it, any connection to my home.

I desperately wanted to talk to Carter. He would hold me tight and stroke my hair. Then, he’d probably spank me, choke me, or fuck me until I forgot everything and turned into a wiggling pile of want. At least I wouldn’t feel like this.

But I still didn’t know if he’d really let my dad bribe him into staying away. And with all our history, I didn’t even know if I could be with him the way he wanted.

Basically, the only thing I had going for me was how comfy Summer’s guest bed was. So I wasn’t getting out of it anytime soon.

“I don’t need anything. I’m fine,” I told her.

Summer sighed. “Well, I hope you don’t just sit there and mope all day. Maybe take my advice and start shopping that portfolio around to galleries. You could be out of my guest room in a blink if you sold a couple of those photos. Oh! God. Not that I want you gone. I didn’t mean?—”

“Summer, it’s fine. I’m fine. Just go. You’re going to be late meeting up with James.”

I couldn’t bring myself to tell her what Dad did to my negatives. She still had so much hope that I’d be showing them in a gallery in no time when in reality, I’d never have more than a few small prints to show for all that time. All she knew was what I told her; that I couldn’t stay there anymore. She didn’t pry, but I knew she’d want at least some answers eventually.

“Okay, well, you should at least take a walk. It’s nice today.”

“We’re in California,” I pointed out. “It’s always nice.”

…and I didn’t feel like being followed around by Carter’s men.

She rolled her eyes. “Ugh, you know what I mean. At least take a shower, will you? Eau du sad bitch is not your scent, babe.”

I wanted to snap at her and say I didn’t feel like doing anything except lying in bed and staring at the ceiling. But Summer didn’t deserve that. When I told her that I needed a place to stay, she invited me to take her spare room, no questions asked. The least I could do was act a little grateful.

“I will.”

“Good.”

Satisfied with her work, she closed the door behind her, blowing me a kiss on her way out. I sniffed my pits and my nose wrinkled.

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