Page 55 of Redeemed

Yep, definitely misread her.

Athelia looks up at the guy. “Just to… look at things?”

“Yeah. Like Aaron said, I’m not gonna kill you.”

“Okay.” Her eyes flit to me, and that worried look comes back. “But Haven, you’re still dr—”

“I know what I’m doing,” I cut in. “Colton fucking deserves it, and so do I.”

Athelia is still frowning as Aaron tugs me toward the house, but she doesn’t try to stop us. I wouldn’t let her if she tried, and she knows it. This is my decision, and mine only.

Once we’re in the house, Aaron slides his hand into mine. “So, any particular reason you decided to do this today?”

“He pissed me off, that’s all. Well, pissed me off more than usual.”

He snorts. “I get it. The dude is an ass. You sure this isn’t going to backfire on you? Will he retaliate?”

“He can try. It won’t matter.”

“You sure about that?”

“Yep.”

He can’t push me lower than rock bottom.

With a nonchalant shrug, Aaron leads me over to a pool table. “Have you ever played before?”

“Once or twice. I’m not very good at it.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

“Sure.” He lifts his chin in the direction of two other guys. “You two on one team, the two of us on the other?”

“Sounds good to me,” one of them replies.

We play a couple rounds, and Aaron gives me some pointers on how to aim the cue stick better. He’s patient with me as I figure it out, although I think that’s mostly so he can have his body pressed against mine while I line my shots up. I’d probably be disgusted by him if it wasn’t for our agreement. If I’m going to fuck him, I’m going to have to let him touch me.

You won’t be able to do it,my mind whispers.

The thought stings, even though it’s true. I haven’t been able to let anyone in sexually since Colton fingered me in his family’s rose garden freshman year. All I can manage is blow jobs, and I don’t let anyone touch me while I do it.

I need the control—need to know I can stop at any moment.

But this, with Aaron… I can’t chicken out. I want Colton to see what he’s been missing out on by refusing to forgive me.

After the second round is over, Aaron leads me to a side room in the basement. There’s not much inside besides a bed and an old dresser, although there are some chains attached to the wall in a far corner. The sight of it sends a shiver down my spine.

What on earth could those be for?

“Before you start recording, how are we doing this?” Aaron asks as he closes the door behind us.

I freeze, halfway through propping my phone up on the dresser. “What do you mean?”

“Like, what are you trying to prove to Colton? Are you trying to show him someone can fuck you better than he can? Or are you reminding him of what he’s missing out on? That type of thing.”

“Oh. Um… the second.”

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