Page 131 of Their Arrangement

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I should’ve ruined her until she forgot what it felt like to belong to herself. But I didn’t. Because I’m the one who waits. The one who doesn’t cross the line. Not since the funeral. Not since everything I loved bled out and left me hollow.

But now?

Now I was hard. Angry. Ruined from the inside out. So fucking desperate to feel something I could’ve ripped the doors open just to escape the air. Because it still smelled like her.

The elevator opened.

She stepped in like she was built for it.

Tall. Blonde. Tight skirt. Red lips.

I’d had her once.

Or maybe twice.

Her name was... Penny. Or Prue.Somethingwith a P.

Didn’t matter.

She leaned back against the mirrored wall like she belonged there. One foot crossed over the other. Her posture told a story—accessible, practiced, easy.

Her eyes flicked to me.

Curious.

Open.

Inviting.

I stared at her mouth. Imagined grabbing her by the wrist. Turning her around. Pressing her into the corner. Yanking her skirt up. Fucking her fast enough to forget.

I flexed my fists at my sides.

Mybreath hitched.

Do it.

Just fucking do it.

But I didn’t move.

Because the moment I blinked?—

Cloe’s face was there instead. On her knees. Tears in her lashes. Athank youin her throat.

The elevator dinged. Penny—Prue—whoever she was, stepped off without a word. But she looked back. Once.

Not fear. Not judgment. Just expectation. Like she thought I’d follow her. Like she was disappointed that I hadn’t. And I hated that. Hated her. Hated myself more.

Because I could have had her. Used her. Left her. It wouldn’t have mattered. She didn’t ask for anything. Never looked at me like I was a god she didn’t know how to pray to. She never made me feel like kneeling.

But Cloe?

Cloe made mefeel everything.

She made me feel out of control.

Made mewant.

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