Page 44 of Break

Stop it, Nicole.

“Open it.” Landon hands me the bag.

Biting my bottom lip, I pull out a small velvet box and pop the lid. A pair of stunning sapphire earrings sparkle at me. “They’re gorgeous. But why on earth did you buy me these?”

“If you’re going to be Free Use for us, there needs to be boundaries. We can’t just assume you’re game to be our fucktoy for the entire week.” Landon sits on the edge of the bed and tucks my hair behind my ear. “Wear these when you want to be a toy. Take them off when you want something else.”

“What about whatyouwant?”

Landon and Kerrington exchange a look I can’t decipher.

“This week isn’t about us. It’s about you, baby.” Kerrington runs his hands up and down my thighs.

I climb off him and tuck my legs under my ass at the corner of the bed opposite Landon. “Why?”

“Because it’s what you want,” Landonanswers like I’ve asked a stupid question.

“You wanted to be our Duchess for the week. You said you wanted to be…”

“I know what I said!” My heart won’t stop beating in my throat. I feel sick. Clutching the earrings, the urge to chuck them at his head is strong. But I reel in my anger because he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. Me getting mad that he can’t read my mind is immature and ridiculous. And since I’m not willing to open up and say what’s weighing on my heart, I have to accept that this is all I’m going to get out of them.

A weeklong dickdown and a pair of fucking earrings.

“Thank you,” I say, schooling my tone. With shaky hands, I pull the earrings out and put them on. “How do they look?”

Neither of them answer me quick enough.

Frustrated with myself, I slip off the bed and storm into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.

What the fuck is the matter with me? I’m being a bitch. A slut. A greedy little whore. Selfish in a million ways.

Weak.

“Snap out of it, Nicole.” I pat my cheeks and look at my reflection.

Oh. My. God.

My mascara’s got me rocking raccoon energy. The goddamn collar around my neck is mocking me and the leash is dangling like my morals. Right between my tits. Gone are mycurves and soft belly. I’ve got more ribs poking out than a motherfucking BBQ contest, and my skin is pale and horrid.

How could Landon and Kerrington be attracted to me?

Easy. They’re not. They’re just appeasing me because I’m a hole to fuck. An easy lay.

A desperate, shameful cunt who needs a fix and they’re more than happy to fill the roles.

Tears sting my eyes. I think I’m going to throw up.

I can’t believe I’ve done this. There’s no reason to be mad at anyone but myself here. They’re giving me exactly what I asked for. A week in their beds, as their Duchess.

I bet they felt this same pity for me the night of the gala.

They never showed interest in me before then.Never. Sometimes I’d think I’d catch Kerrington staring at me, but it was easy to dismiss as a delusion. All because I was crazy for him didn’t mean he’s felt the same in return. And Landon? That man would flirt with roadkill. It’s just who he is. Fun, filthy, and carefree to a fault.

Neither of them thinks I’m special. And I’m not some pick-me girl who would try to get them to fall for me.

No matter how many times I’ve fantasized about it.

The morning after the gala, I ran out of their lives and as far as I could get from the fantasy weconjured and didn’t give myself a chance to be weak again. I deleted all the social media apps off my phone and hired someone to post for me instead. Next, I went into damage control at work and home.

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