Page 112 of Paper Thin Love

He steps forward.“I paid my debts.”

My forehead wrinkles.“You did no such thing. You owe me.”

His grin stretches ear to ear.“And I paid in full.” He closes the distance so only I can hear.“Do you remember when I fucked you?” He asks.

His choice of words makes my body jerk. The first time we had sex wasn’t fucking and to call it such is the highest insult. We made love; we made each other feel something neither of us had felt before.

“I told you that you would regret this.” He tilts his head, looking at me like I’m a pathetic creature clinging to the steps of his throne.“You said, and I quote,‘I’ll live off the memories for much longer.’”.

I did say that.

My bottom lip trembles.“Don’t do this, Dash.” I beg him as I stumble towards him. His arms don’t come out to help me balance.“I know you don’t think that I can love you, but I can.”

He ignores me, going for the kill.“You said you would worry about the repercussions later. This is later, Mila.” He steps back, creating a chasm between us. I don’t think my desperation can fill it.

“I specifically asked you if fucking me was what you wanted.” His words kill my memories slowly.

“Stop saying that!” I scream.“It wasn’t fucking, it was more.”

“You’re right. It was a game I was playing.”

A pained, dying cry slips from my lips.

Dash grinds his jaw.

“That was me paying the favor I owe you back.”

I violently shake my head.“You never said that. Sleeping with me wasn’t the favor I wanted, and you know it.”

“But it’s what you picked.” His eyes narrow.“I owe you nothing now.” He looks me up and down slowly, then turns and joins Casandra again.

Was it really a bet?

No. I shake my head. That was a lie to push me away.

But the favor…was it really just a favor to sleep with me?

I take a step forward, but a hand grabs my shoulders, spinning me around. I ball my fist and swing, aiming as high as I can. The figure ducks and I miss as expected. Only it’s not Cillian or Dante; I spot them leaving the clearing, and a new pain enters my bleeding chest.

“Let him go,” the person holding me back says. I look up to see Avery Hailstone again.

“Dash doesn’t want her. He… he is lying. He didn’t sleep with me as a game. He’s lying.” I ramble.

I don’t have time for this. I step to the side. I need to get to Dash.

Avery grabs me again. I swing my fist again, but she dodges.“What are you doing?” I snap as I rush towards the tree line. Where is he? Is he sprinting back to the dorms to fuck Casandra?

I swear to God, if he touches her that way, I won’t forgive him!

“Helping you.”

“You don’t know me,” I growl. It’s so dark now that I can barely make out the trees as I weave my way through them.

“I know,” Avery replies,“but I was you once.” Her words make my feet trip on a branch. Ouch! My knees hit the ground hard, and my palms rub and scrape the soil, cutting me.

“Where is your line, Mila?”

I push myself up.

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