Page 34 of Vicious Rule

I stare at him in utter confusion. What night? We’ve never gotten together at any of his parties. “When?”

He slides his arm around my waist as I try to figure out what he means. “The other night,” he answers with a shit-eating grin. “When we were both watching everyone.”

Narrowing my eyes, I can’t decide if he’s kidding or not. “You want to stand here and just watch? Why?”

“Because. Now keep your eyes open. You never know what you’re going to see.”

I do as he commands but don’t understand why. Is he ashamed of me? It’s not like he’s shy about sex in front of other people. Night after night for the past few months he’s joined the orgy like everyone else.

As soon as that thought settles into my brain, I inch away from him. I thought we’d moved past all our issues, but it’s like as soon as one disappears, another one pops up. I don’t see how we’re ever going to be happy like this.

Alex follows me to where I’m standing and leans down to whisper in my ear, “What are you doing over here?”

Without even turning to face him, I say, “I thought maybe you’d prefer it if we weren’t standing right next to one another. I can watch people from this spot.”

“I know you can, but we’re together, so I want everyone to know. Also, I want to see your reaction to my special guest.”

I finally turn to look at him to see him grinning like a damn Cheshire cat. “I already met your buddy Nico. I’m fine if I never have to talk to him again, to be honest. Sorry to disappoint if that’s not the reaction you were looking for.”

He shakes his head and kisses me. “He’s not who I’m talking about. I expect her to arrive any minute.”

Her?

Hurt courses through me, making me hate myself for trusting this man. We’ve slept together, and still he plans to invite a woman here for him to fuck?

Why did I ever think I could be with Alex Rule?

I twist out of his hold and move to leave, desperate to be free of the humiliation that’s filling my soul. This was a mistake, and I should know better. I swear to God this man makes me stupid. No other man in my entire life has made me feel this way.

“Where are you going?” he asks, sounding genuinely upset that I keep trying to escape from his hold.

“My room. Have a nice time.”

I get away and hurry out of the main room before tears begin to well in my eyes. Tears? Seriously? I’ve never cried over a man. They don’t deserve my tears or any woman’s. Wiping them away, I steel myself. I will not cry over Alex Rule.

Never.

A hand grabs me by the shoulder, and I look back to see him standing behind me. He seems truly confused by my behavior. Typical Alex. He crashes into things like a fucking bull in a china shop and then can’t understand why people get pissed at him. I don’t know how I forgot that charming trait of his when I was entertaining the fantasy about us being a happy couple.

“Sasha, what the hell is going on? I just told you that I wanted you to see my special guest, and a second later, you leave the room. What the fuck?”

I don’t want to have this conversation, but my heart seems to have different ideas, so I snap at him, “What would make you think I want to watch you bang some woman right in front of me?”

“What?”

God, this man is either a sadist or the dumbest bastard on the planet.

“What what? What about that sentence didn’t compute?”

He doesn’t answer, which convinces me he’s just a moron. I think I would have preferred him being a sadist.

“Whatever. I’m going to my room. Have fun.”

But he stops me by holding my arm. “She’s not here for me. She’s here for someone else.”

I want to believe him, but I can’t. “Don’t lie, Alex. You clearly think I’m stupid because I believe in you, but I’m not a total idiot. Now let me go. I’m tired.”

Still he won’t let me leave.

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