Page 39 of Wicked Surrender

Tonight, he stared at me sullenly as I started like usual.

Every other session we’d had, he would interrupt. I knew he did it to be combative and to get a rise out of me. This time, he didn’t, andthatthrew me off. Maybe that was his goal, to change it up and keep me on edge, waiting for him to cut me off rudely. Just like he was keeping me waiting and on edge, wondering when he’d share that video.

But he didn’t. Not a single interruption broke the whole hour. Not a peep out of him.

I almost began to miss his trying to tease me seductively like he had last time, when I scurried out of here so turned on that my panties were wet and my nipples beaded under my bra.

All he gave me this session were angry glares as if he were concocting torture plans for me.

I wasn’t used to talking the entire time uninterrupted, and I was desperate for a drink of water. At the end of the hour, I hated how I’d fallen further into the trap of curiosity, wanting to know what his issue was.

Tired of these mind games, I sighed and straightened my papers and books.

Another hour wasted on you.

“That’s it for tonight,” I said, summing it up unnecessarily just for the sake of breaking the intense silence he gave me.

Then without a word and not losing that scowl, he got up and stalked off, leaving me there stupefied.

I narrowed my eyes, watching his back and damning him for confusing me like this. For making me care at all.

Yeah, right.If he knew I cared about him or could be worried about him like one human being was supposed to give a damn about another human being, he’d use that to his advantage.

Feeling stupid to have a big, bleeding heart even for my bully, I felt wrung-out and discarded as I headed home.

As soon as I walked instead, my fatigue from the day, from the week, didn’t disappear. Seeing Mai seated in the living room only increased my annoyance.

I wasn’t aware that she was supposed to visit this weekend, and I didn’t care that she was here now. After the last time I talked to her, I wanted nothing to do with her.

“There you are,” Mom said as she stood, frowning at me.

“Hi.” I wouldn’t stoop to be a bratty or rude person. I could say hello. As well as goodbye. Before I could make headway on reaching the stairs to hide in my room, she cleared her throat. “Laura? Mai is visiting.”

No shit, Mom. I can see.“That’s nice.”

“What’s not nice,” Mai said with a scoff as she stood, “is this.”

Holding up her phone, she broadcast more of those gross and perverted videos that people had made of me. It had to be Jason’s frat brothers’ doing. And again, it irked me.

Why?

Why me?

Why choose me to torment?

“This is absolutely disgusting, Laura,” Mom said with a sneer.

“Wait.” I narrowed my eyes. “Do you think I actually did the stuff in those videos?” I asked incredulously.

“They had to have come from somewhere,” she said, the disgust clear in her tone.

“Are youkiddingme?” I gaped at her, then Mai.

“I agree with her,” my sister said, crossing her arms. “Someone had to have had the inspiration and material to post this inappropriate drivel.”

I stormed closer, tempted to lose my thinly held cool, snatch her phone, and throw it against the wall. “When would I have time to lead a double life of a whore?” I laughed once, hysterical. “I go to class. I study. I livehere. I have no life to even attempt to pull off any of that stuff.”

Mom glanced at Mai, like seeking help or patience with me and I was too much to deal with.

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