Page 17 of Seeds of Sorrow

Chapter13

PEYTON

Peyton hadn’t movedsince Don left the garden and walked into the house. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but the sun was still shining, so she was comfortable enough to stay in her spot. She closed her eyes and drifted off into a light sleep, enjoying the quiet of her surroundings.

“Are you so overworked that you must nap during the daytime?”

The voice startled Peyton from her dozing, her eyes opening to a familiar face. She bit her lip and averted her gaze from Hadina, unsure how to act around her after their last exchange. Despite the sun shining in the sky above, Peyton felt an icy chill in the air and wrapped her arms around herself.

“I was just enjoying my free time. Your dad said he was going for a nap.”

Hadina claimed the chair opposite Peyton. “He’s still awake. I was just talking to him in the office. Maybe he’ll go for a nap now.”

Peyton shrugged. She wasn’t sure how to respond. Conversation between them was always stilted, but now it was awkward on top of that.

“I’m told you haven’t been yourself this week. It would seem I owe you an apology.”

The laugh that escaped Peyton’s lips couldn’t be contained. “I didn’t think you were the type to apologize. Besides, what are you apologizing for? Grabbing me by the throat, calling methe help, or threatening me?”

She watched as Hadina toyed with a small smile. “All the above?”

Peyton stood, her own smirk dropping as she towered over Hadina. “If you want to apologize, try harder. I’m not some stupid kid you can treat like shit, Hadina. You don’t even know me.”

“Peyton, I–”

Peyton held up a hand, cutting Hadina off mid-sentence. Then, spinning on her heel, she stomped inside. Knowing that Don didn’t need her for anything, Peyton made her way up to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her. It was a silly act of petulance, but damn, did it feel good. Flopping onto her back on the bed, she let out a heavy sigh.

She couldn’t believe that Hadina didn’t see the absolutelymassivefucking issue with the way she had treated her. Peyton knew that the only reason Hadina was even attempting to apologize was because Don had told her Peyton had been in a funk. Which was almost as frustrating as Hadina was.

The bedroom door opened and Peyton sat up, her eyes widening as Hadina stormed inside and smacked the door closed again. She marched over to the bed, her nostrils flaring as she looked down at Peyton.

“Who the fuck do you think you are to walk away from me, Miss Dimitra?”

Peyton glared at Hadina. “Who the fuck doyouthink you are to storm into my bedroom, Miss Adis?”

“The person who pays for this bedroom.”

“And also the person who grabs me by the throat and threatens me so I can’t leave,” Peyton fired back.

Hadina pressed her lips into a flat line. After a brief stare-off, her mouth twitched into almost a smirk. “I think you liked having my hand around your throat, Peyton.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at her boss. How had Hadina known that? It was wrong—even more so to want it to happen again—but Peyton couldn’t stop herself from nodding slightly.

“Use your words,” Hadina commanded.

Peyton huffed. “Yes, okay? I liked it when your crazy ass was choking me.”

Hadina raised a brow. Lowering herself closer to Peyton with one hand holding the headboard to keep herself steady, Hadina stopped only a breath away from her face. Using her free hand, she traced Peyton’s jawline with her fingertips. “Do you want me to do it again?”

Peyton swallowed thickly and cursed herself before whispering, “Yes.”

Having been granted consent, Hadina wrapped her hand around Peyton’s throat, tightening her grip as Peyton gasped. She knew that whatever was happening was a manipulation, just another way for Hadina to be in control. She knew that,andshe accepted it. If Hadina was this hot when she was in control, Peyton would consider losing all her morals more often.

Hadina climbed onto the bed, throwing a leg over Peyton so that she was straddling her waist. Peyton hated herself for how her body moved against her will, pressing into Hadina, silently begging for more. Hadina tightened her grip, her nails biting into the skin.

Their eyes locked and Peyton watched as Hadina leaned in, until their lips brushed. Peyton pushed into the kiss, opening herself up to Hadina. She tasted like salt and caramel and coffee. Peyton wanted to drown herself in it.

Pulling back slightly, Hadina bit down hard on Peyton’s lower lip until she yelped. “You shouldn’t have walked away from me.”

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