Page 79 of The Rivals' Touch

The taut string snaps. I scoot my chair back and leave without another word. He can go to hell.

Zayd pulls me to a stop just outside the big dining room doors. “You’re engaged to him?”

“Why the fuck do you care? You were too busy partying last night!”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he asks, grabbing hold of my wrist when I try to leave.

“Did you fuck anyone last night, Zayd?”

He looks confused, his mouth opening and closing. “What?”

“Answer the question! Did you fuck anyone?”

“You’re engaged to that jerk and ask me if I fucked anyone?”

“You can’t even tell me the truth!” I scoff in disgust and tear my wrist free.

My skin tingles.

“You’re so fucking confusing!” he says, rubbing his hand over his mouth.

“I needed you last night, Zayd!” I flick my eyes between his. “I needed you, but you weren’t here! You were god knows where, fucking god knows who! I needed you!” My voice breaks and tears prick my eyes. “I stared at the wall, Zayd! The fucking wall! But you weren’t there!”

The door behind us opens, and I hurry to wipe the tears with the palm of my hands as Bennett wraps his arm around my waist. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” I spit, tearing free from his hold. I rush up the stairs and hurry along the corridor to my bedroom. The door has barely closed when Bennett bursts through and slams it shut behind him. “What the fuck, Remi?!”

I ignore him and walk over to my bookshelf, picking up the first book I can find: Pride and Prejudice. I throw it at him, hitting him square in the chest. He’s prepared next time and ducks out of the way; the hardcover slams into the door behind him.

“Calm down, baby!” He holds his hands up placatingly by his sides, but I don’t give a shit.

I empty the bookshelf of books and items, throwing them at him, one by one. “I hate you! I fucking hate you!”

When there’s nothing left to throw, he walks up to me and slaps me hard. Placing his hand over my mouth, he growls, “You listen to me! I don’t care if you want me dead! You’re my fiancé, and you will treat me with respect!”

I bite him, causing him to roar in pain, and when I try to escape past him, he bands his arms around my waist and lifts me off the floor. “Bite me one more time,” he whispers, covering my mouth with his hand again, “and I will hurt you!”

My nostrils flare. The minute he lets go of me, I whirl on him. “You’re fucking Cali!”

He chuckles and slides his hands inside the front pockets of his light blue jeans. “You’re fucking Zayd.”

“And Jacob,” I add, because I want to hurt him.

His eyes darken, and before I’ve had a chance to see it coming, his hand flies out and grabs me by my throat. “You’re not to touch another man again. Do you hear me?”

“What are you going to do? You’re at Hedgewood.” Why am I goading him? He’s a fucking rapist!

“You want to play games, sweetheart? This business transaction between our parents means a lot to your dad. How do you think he’ll react if you do anything to jeopardize it?”

Fear slithers down my spine. My father would kill me.

“I’m warning you now. Your pussy belongs to me. It was paid for with my money, and no one else gets to play with it.”

“I will fuck whoever I want as long as you continue fucking Cali!”

He lets go of my throat and drags his thumb over my lips, smearing my lipstick. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. If you ever touch another man, I will kill you! If your father doesn’t kill you first!”

There’s a knock on the door.

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