Page 414 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

I slide around the door, pressing my back into the wall as I release the breath I was holding. I wait for her to call out, for her to ask me what the fuck I was doing watching her...but I guess I got out of there just in time because there’s no sound from the bathroom. It’s only when in the hallway outside, turning to close her bedroom door behind me, that I hear her call out, “Hello?”

Silently, I shut her door and creep back into my room.

I lock my door. There’s no way she’s catching me jerking off again. I don’t even bother turning on porn. I shove a hand under my mattress and drag out her undies, already pulling my dick out of my sweats as I perch on the edge of my bed.

I inhale the scent of her, but despite the punishing rhythm I set, my climax feels miles away. Growling with frustration, I toss her panties away from me and fall back on my bed, closing my eyes and trying to work up a visual image of Harper so I can end my misery.

But nothing works. All I can see is her soaking in the tub, curves that would give Michelangelo a fucking hard-on.

It takes me a few minutes of futile jerking off before I realize what’s wrong. I sit up in a rush, shoving my rock-hard cock back in my sweats and digging my fingers into the comforter spread over my bed.

She was fucking happy, that’s why. I don’t know what—or who—she was thinking about, but it wasn’t me. And that made her happy, and when she’s happy...

I’m pissed off.

It makes no sense. I’m not a fucking sadist. I don’t enjoy seeing other people in pain. But I do resent the fact that Harper can lie in the tub and be happy, even for a brief moment, after all the shit she’s pulled.

What does that make me?

I leave my room in a rush, striding past Harper’s bedroom door without even looking at it. I’m in the attic a minute later, dusting my hands as I scan the cobwebby shadows for the boxes I left up here.

I’m not a sadist...I’m Harper’s worst fucking nightmare brought to life. And if she can lie there and behappy,then I’m obviously going about this all wrong.

I made it too easy.

I took away every ounce of temptation. Meanwhile, I have to live with her in the same house, sleeping a yard away from me. She’s aconstanttemptation. I realize my mistake now. I’ve stacked the odds in her favor.

Time to fix it.

Chapter 30

Harper

I take the stairs slowly, like I’m in a dream, my muscles loose and relaxed from my long bath. I’ve been feeling like utter shit after being sober for almost two days—headaches, the shakes, nausea—but after that soak, I’m actually starting to feel like a human being again.

I go into the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea, but stop when I see the bottle standing on the kitchen island. There’s a shot glass beside it, a measure of cream liqueur poured right up to the brim.

What the hell is a bottle of Bailey’s doing in?—

Jude.

I scowl at the bottle, flipping it off for good measure as I go to make myself a cup of tea. I hum a wordless tune as I’m busy, but it’s more to force away the awareness of that bottle right behind me than anything else.

Does he really think I’m that stupid? I mean, come on. A bottle of Baileys? What is he expecting? That I can’t evenseealcohol without wanting to drink it? It’s ridiculous how Jude thinks he can manipulate me.

He’s such a fucking asshole.

I start tapping my foot, then drumming my fingers on the counter as I wait for the kettle to boil.

God, why is it taking so long?

I swing around and glare at the bottle. I can smell it from here, and I absolutelyloathethe fact that it’s making my mouth water. So I raid one of the cabinets and grab a box of cookies, tearing it open and shoving one in my mouth.

It’s too dry. Too sweet. All crumbly and shit. I go over to the trashcan and spit it out.Thankfully, the water’s boiled by then. I pour my tea and hurry out of the room as fast as I can without spilling, leaving the bottle and shot glass untouched.And I’m damn fucking proud of that. So proud, that I’m grinning when I head back to my room and close my bedroom door.

Not for the first time, my eyes dart down to the empty keyhole.

My cheeks heat as anger builds inside me, but I push it down and stomp it out with ruthless determination. I can’t win this thing if I keep losing my shit. Jude does all of this just to rile me up.I’ll be giving him exactly what he wants if I lose my cool.

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