Page 27 of Degraded Terms

She walks down the sidewalk, hands in her sweater pocket before she suddenly pauses and looks up at the street light. Ava tilts her head to the side.

“I know you’re there.”

The defeat in her voice does something to my heart, but I push forward to stand next to her. Her blue eyes blink up at me, the sadness in them making me wish I could take it away.

“He’s my dad.”

I nod. “I figured.”

Her mouth turns into a half-smile. “I should have guessed since you didn’t get all possessive this time.”

Swallowing, I lick my drying lips and study her face. “I didn’t think you would appreciate that.”

Her eyebrow raises. “You care about that?”

I narrow my gaze. “I’ve always cared, Ava. Our entire time together has always been about your pleasure, has it not?”

A small crinkle forms on her forehead. “You embarrassed me, had me doing…humiliating things for the sake of a grade.”

My fists curl before I bring them to my stomach, cracking my knuckles. I wait a few seconds to answer her, pushing my annoyance down. “Can you honestly tell me you didn’t enjoy anything I’ve had you do? That I didn’t reassure you multiple times that we could break this arrangement at any time?”

Ava looks away from me, sucking her bottom lip into her mouth. Then she frowns. “Why me?”

A laugh barks out of my throat before I can stop it, and I run my fingers across my mouth. “Why you, huh?”

“You could have had anyone you wanted.”

Her statement pisses me off, but I know our relationship is still too delicate for my anger so I bury it.

“And I got exactly who I wanted.”

Ava’s little nose crinkles and I know she’s not pleased with the answer. I step closer, caressing my fingers down her arm until I reach her wrist and drag it up to my mouth.

Pressing my lips to her pulse, I inhale her sweet scent and lock my gaze with her wide eyes and parted lips.

“I didn’t notice you at first. The first few days of class, I barely glance at any of the students, considering the majority drop out after a couple of weeks. But you caught my attention in the second class. The way your raven hair reflected in the light as you gathered it in a ponytail. The way it revealed your pale skin and bright brown eyes, staring at me with the purest innocence. I was consumed with the need to corrupt it. To corruptyou.”

Ava’s pulse picks up as we stare at each other, so I continue.

“And I couldn’t help but think, what is someone so exquisitely beautiful doing here? That doesn’t seem right. She must be destined for more than this.”

Her eyebrows flicker. “You thought to change my destiny?”

“I don’t know, Ava. I didn’t think about much other than you deserved more than pushing numbers. I despised you being in my class and contributing to that dreadful industry.”

She pulls her wrist away, taking a step back. Letting out a hollow laugh, she shakes her head. “Even now. You’re still making it about you. You despised,youdidn’t want to contribute. What about me, Asher? It’s my life and you fucked with it.”

A bitter taste fills my mouth as an anxious chill ripples through my body. I can’t lose her, not after I’ve finally had her. “What do you want me to do? You want me to get that internship back? I will. Anything you want, Ava. I need you.”

Her eyes shut for a second and she takes another step back, holding up her hands. “I want you to leave me alone. I was—god, I’m so stupid. I was falling in love with you and all you want is to own me.”

I stand there, stunned.Love.No one said anything about love.

Her eyes roam over my face, and she nods slowly. “Exactly.”

When she tries to walk past me, I grab her elbow and pull her into me. “You can’t get angry about that. Our arrangement was clear. You got what you wanted; I got what I wanted. I never promised you love.”

“No, why would you? I doubt you’re even capable of it,” she seethes, and then some of her fury drains. “I’m not mad that you don’t feel that way about me, but I think I deserve to walk away from this when it’s too much. You lied, Asher. You orchestrated this whole thing and I’m the only one who continues to get hurt.”

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