Page 46 of Truth
I turn to the room, looking from face to face, as a man casting a very large shadow approaches me, his intention clear. He’s going to ask me to leave. I won’t leave without a pound of flesh, and I’m not playing some twisted game of retribution. I’ve never been so angry. Angry for me but mostly angry for King’s attempt to walk away. If I’ve learned anything during this month, it’s that what we have isn’t some switch you can just flip to the Off position. The sooner he realizes it, the better.
“Key, please.”
I shake my head with amusement, pulling my key from my clutch.
“You want my key? Take the fucking thing. Now bring me King.” I toss it to the floor, watching it slide a few feet. I nod for him to pick it up. He looks at me, irritated, leaving it where it lies.
“You need to leave. I’ll escort you out.” He’s massive and I’m sure he could pick me up right over his shoulder, but I’ll come back. Day after day, night after night, until King looks me in the eye and says we are done. He’s being a fucking coward.
“Bring me King!” My voice is a roar. He doesn’t have a fucking clue who he is dealing with. The guard puts his hand on my back to lead me out, but I turn toward him, bringing my knee to his balls, causing him to topple forward. I turn in a circle, looking at the faces, all a mix of fear and shock. Taking a deep breath in, I let this moment sink in. I’ll damn him to hell before he ever pulls some shit like this again.
Silence fills the room. “I’ll repeat myself only once more: I want King.” Looking around the room at the quiet whispers and heads shifting side to side, my attention is called to behind me.
“I’m here.”
IWHIP AROUND TO HISvoice coming from the shadows. I want to scream obscenities until he admits he’s a coward. This whole elaborate setup has been to guard himself, make us even. He wants company in his misery, but I’m already there. I’ve never felt such a primal rage. I could kill him for this but not before I fuck him first. The room is eerily quiet, even with the faint sounds of music filling the space. We stare at each other, our anger feeding off each other’s. I can’t see his face, but I know he’s looking directly at me.
“Is this what you want? To cause a scene? To be humiliated in front of all these people?”
I can see only his silhouette, but his voice carries from where he stands. I’m not surprised at his meanness. I’m not dissuaded either. I was naïve to think I would win him back without a fight.
“Is that how you think ‘this’ ends?” I motion between us. “Stop being a fucking coward, King. You’ll only regret this. Trust me, I know.”
He pushes out of the darkness, finding me quickly. This time I don’t take a step back. He told me once that I didn’t know my own power. I hope he’s prepared for me now that I do.
The guard steps closer to me warily. “Mr. King, should I escort her out?” the giant finally speaks. I look over, shaking my head.
“Doesn’t look like you are capable of that task. Get the fuck out of my face before I fire you.” I can feel his eyes burning into my profile as the man does as he’s told.Such a heavy hand this man has.
I smirk, turning my head to meet King’s rage-filled eyes. “Why are you still here, Ms. Matthews?”
“Ms. Matthews?” I roll my eyes. “You know why I’m here, King. Don’t play dumb. Your note said to be prepared to beg. I assume this is the portion of the evening when I do just that.” The surprise on his face is satisfying. He’s thrown.
He stares for a moment, his eyes angry, calculating, and then he starts to circle me before he stops behind me and leans in to whisper, “I wouldn’t dare play dumb, not with such a cunning little fox, but you know, even the smartest of fox are eaten by the wolf. Is that what you want? To be my dinner? Do you want me to eat you, Drew?” He runs his fingertips down my arm, and a trail of goose bumps erupts. I’m caught off guard by his touch, and I suddenly feel hyperaware of all the eyes on me.
“Don’t treat me like one of your little games. We’re more than a game.” My voice is low. I look to the faces of the people staring, drawn into our showdown, and I feel tawdry. This isn’t how our moment should go. He’s trying to orchestrate our demise.
His sneer is hateful as he walks around to face me again. “We aren’t anything. I fucked you, and now it’s done. Get out of my club.”
My eyes close, unable to look at him. I hear him turn to leave me where I stand when I look up. “Dominic!” My chest heaves from my anger at his stubborn pride. “I’ll never make the same mistake again. You’re mine.”There it is. All my cards on the table.
He turns back but doesn’t look at me. Instead he looks past me, and I follow his gaze to a blonde seated at the bar. My head swivels back to King, and my hands fist at my sides, my nails making permanent indentations in my palms.Who the fuck?I hate the look on his face as he takes in my reaction. It’s satisfaction. No, it’s vengeance. He nods his head at her, but I don’t dare look over my shoulder. I snap my fingers once, and his eyes dart to mine in surprise.
“Tell your whore that her services are no longer needed. I can’t exactly hate her for keeping something I own warm when I discarded it in the first place, but if I see her again, I won’t be as gentle with my words, or my actions.”Don’t test me.
“Youownme? Is that why you’re here to stake some claim on me, Drew? You want the world to know I’m yours? Then by all means. Let everyone see.” Stepping back, he begins to pull his suit belt through the loops to unfasten it, a smug look on his face.
“You want to fuck me in front of all these people?” My question laced with my incredulity .
“Isn’t that what you want?” He motions for me to undress. “Come on, Drew—what lengths are you ready to travel as retribution for ripping out my fucking heart?”His voice raises at the end as he pulls his belt through the loops so fast it cracks out like thunder into the silence, and I jump.Now we’re getting somewhere.
I stand still, taking a moment to look around at the eyes transfixed by our show. I’m sure they feel it—the swell of attraction that always seems to vibrate off us, even now, heightened by our anger. The anger that’s been created by my foolish disregard, turned into some kind of evil plan of retribution. The humiliation, disappointment, heartache, all of it… He wants me to feel it because he can’t admit to wallowing in it.
I’ll play this twisted game of chicken. I see through him, and I need to show him he can trust me with his heart. I focus in on his face, the hurt beneath the anger, the sorrow beneath the pain. He’s gripping his belt in hand, his focus on me. It’s always been on me.
“Forgive me.” My voice is quiet as I reach for the straps on my shoulders. King’s chest heaves as his eyes search mine with an understanding of what I am doing. He watches intently as the strap falls from my shoulder. “Whatever it takes, King. I’ll do it to make you understand that I’m all in.” His head shakes minutely, frown lines appearing around his face. Tilting his head, he narrows his eyes, giving me a sinister look.
“On your knees.” His voice is a command. “Begging is usually done from your knees. If you want me, the price for your forgiveness has doubled.” The hurt he feels saturates his words like a torrential rain. He’s drowning in his own despair, capable of breaking us before we get a second chance, but I’m strong enough to take it, so I lower myself down to my knees, keeping my eyes focused on his. My nipples harden at the attention of hungry eyes on this act of submission. He knows I would never roll over and play submissive for any man, but if this is what he needs, I’m willing. I will go to any length to put back together what I destroyed.
