Page 52 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

“I’m a woman who keeps her word. I’ll uphold my end of the deal. And I admit, I’m currently wet because of your touch.”

She looked his way and saw a smile of victory on his face. She forced one of her own.

“You won. But don’t for a moment think you’re special just because you got me wet. My ex used to get me wet also, and I loathe him just as much as I loathe you.”

That wiped the smile off his face. Another jab point for Monique.

“What did you say?” He asked through clenched teeth.

“I said congratulations, Orazio. You got me wet. You win. Just like with Trevor, my body responds to you. And just like Trevor, you’ve used me as you see fit. And like with Trevor, I have no choice but to wait until you’re tired of me before I can be free of you. Maybe I should just call you Trevor, because when I look at you now, all I see is him.”

He stood up abruptly, releasing her and stepping away from the bed.

“When you touch me,” Monique continued. “All I feel is him. Yes, my body likes it. However, my heart, mind, and soul hate it just as much as I hate him... and you.”

A pang of guilt twinged her heart at the look of shock and horror on his handsome face. She steeled herself against her traitorous heart. Like her body, it was starting to feel for Orazio. Not happening.Fuck him!He was in the wrong. It was only right for him to finally start feeling ashamed of himself.

It proved there was at least one shred of decency left in him. One more verbal jab should have him releasing her and never wanting to talk to her again.Come on, Monique. You can do this.

“I just have one question. Who was the man I met last night? The man who made me feel special. The man who made me feel like maybe all men aren’t jerks. The man who made me feel like I could finally put Trevor and his bullshit behind me.”

“That was me,” he said, voice low, pained. “I...”

She interrupted him before he could continue, not wanting him to try to explain away his jerkish behavior.

“I know that was you. But this is you too. And this version of you has shown me that maybe there aren’t any men who aren’t jerks. Instead of helping me put Trevor behind me, you’ve brought him into whatever this is we have. Now, he’ll forever be a part of my life as long as you’re a part of my life. There are three of us in this room – you, me, and the man who ties us together, Trevor. I didn’t see him here last night. But now that the sun is up, I see him in your eyes.”

A tear trailed down her cheek. She wasn’t fake crying. Neither was she lying. She did see Trevor in Orazio’s eyes. She saw the same schemes, the same lies, all the things she’d wanted to leave behind. Now, they were standing right in front of her again.

She wiped the tears from her face and whispered, “I thought I’d left all of that pain behind me. I thought I was free. Why am I staring into the eyes of pain again, Orazio?”

She could’ve sworn his gaze filled with tears. He looked away from her. She held her breath, waiting for him to say something.Had her words sparked an ember in his cold, dead heart? It seemed like that was the case, but she wasn’t sure. He opened his mouth, then closed it, only to open it again.

Yet, he remained silent. His mouth snapped shut. The signature tick in his jaw returned. Her words had upset him. But he couldn’t run from the truth. He couldn’t talk his way around it or try to rationalize it. If he was honest with himself, he’d see he was no different from Trevor.

Say you’re sorry, and you’ll let me go. Forget the sorry. Just say you’ll let me go. Come on, Orazio. You can do it.

He didn’t do it. Her heart raced as he stormed out of the bedroom. She exhaled the breath she’d been holding. Did his abrupt departure mean she’d won? It felt like a win.Yes!She’d won. If she weren’t butt-ass naked in a maniac’s bed, she’d do a happy dance.

She hadn’t known if her tactic would work or not, considering how determined Orazio had been. However, she was thankful it had. He was going to leave her alone. Would he bring the contract to the room and tear it up while apologizing for being a jerk?

Or would he call security to escort her out, then later send a note stating that everything had been returned to her? Either option worked for her as long as she was able to leave this hotel and get all of her shit back in her name.

It wasn’t until she heard a ding that she realized he wasn’t just leaving the room. He was leaving the suite altogether.Shit!Still butt-ass naked, Monique jumped from the bed and raced toward the elevator, almost slipping on her dress that Orazio had tossed on the floor.

Don’t fall, don’t fall, don’t fall,she chanted as she headed for the elevator. She rounded the corner just as the elevator doors began sliding shut. Her eyes connected with Orazio’s. The darklook in his piercing gaze made her freeze. He looked upset and hurt.

“I’m nothing like him. And you’re still mine,” he told her as the elevator doors shut.

Mere moments ago, she felt like she’d brought him down a notch. She was now wondering if she’d made the entire situation worse.Oh, well!Fuck him and his anger. He had no right to be mad or hurt.

He was the one who’d created this problem, not her. Monique stormed back into the bedroom. She stood there, hands on her hips, naked, alone, and still trapped in Orazio’s hotel room. What the hell was she supposed to do now?

Sure, she’d won this battle. But the war was still raging. Orazio versus Monique. Only one could be victorious. It had to be her because she’d lost too much already. She needed a win. Shedeserveda win.

She was determined to win her life back.

Chapter Eleven

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