Page 97 of A Dark Duet

After forty-five minutes, we are pulling into the parking lot at Jaden and Nate’s MMA gym. Jaden slides me away from his body gently before jumping out of the car. He holds his hand out and I slide mine in his.

After saying his goodbyes to Brian, he opens the front passenger door of the Rover and makes sure to buckle me inside. He drives out to the main road and I glance at him and ask, “Where are you taking me?”

“A place I should have taken you a long time ago.”

I sigh. “Let me guess, a bigger apartment.”

He chuckles sarcastically. “I deserve that. No. Not a bigger apartment. I want to ask you about Ethan Carter.”

My eyes widen a bit at the mention of Ethan and my cheeks flame because of the things I agreed to do with him.

“What about him?” I ask, trying to keep an even tone.

“I know I have no right to ask but I want to know. Did you fuck him?”

The nerve to even ask me that when he has fucked God knows how many women.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Everything about you is my business,” he snaps. He looks annoyed and the way his knuckles are turning white on the steering wheel lets me know he is trying to keep his composure.

Deciding not to play games, I answer truthfully. It doesn’t matter. I’m damaged anyway. No one needs to have my baggage in their life. No one wants me and the one person that is my best friend, deserves happiness from the man that loves and adores her. Her damage is because of me and my stupidity. I’m no good for anyone.

“There was an agreement signed that detailed the sexual acts he would do to me and that I would do to him. No emotion. No expectation. No penetration except oral. I was to accompany him to one social event, but one thing led to another, and we had sex. Every materialistic item that was purchased was a gift given to me for his enjoyment. Nothing more.”

“Who called you a whore?” he asks, his lip curling in a sneer.

“Trust me, Jaden. Back home that is what everyone thinks of me except for Giselle. Trust me, you dodged a bullet by kicking me out three years ago. Can’t say I blame you.” I shrug. “The last thing a hardworking guy that has made something of himself needs is to be seen with a trailer trash whore like me.”

He glances at me. “That was a mistake. I shouldn’t have treated you like that and I’m sorry. Don’t ever say that to me because I’ve never thought that about you.”

I snort. “Maybe not to my face but you sure as hell didn’t see me being part of your future. Hell, you didn’t even flinch when you got rid of me. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t ever say it to my face. I’m just a pretty face and body that kept you company.”

“You never had to dance for money while you were with me.”

“So, what was I supposed to do when you kicked me out of your gym and out of your life in front of everyone? How was I supposed to survive and pay for school? You sure as shit moved your massage therapist into the apartment when I left, who happens to be a girl you had a sexual relationship with. If that wasn’t a clear message, then I don’t know what is. Now, you ask me if I fucked Ethan Carter. How about all the women you have fucked for the past three years? You don’t see me questioning your sexual relationships because, frankly, I know where I stand, Jaden. I also don’t care who you fuck. Because you don’t owe me anything. I’m surprised you are not with Janine at the apartment.”

He winces because hearing it all laid out sounds awful. It sounds exactly what it felt like. Betrayal. Abandonment. A guy that cut his girl off emotionally and let her leave, wanting nothing more to do with her. Then moves his ex-fuck into the same apartment with the same furniture in it. It was painful, and it hurts, and I don’t think I have the strength to trust him like that ever again. Physically, I’m attracted to him. I mean, who isn’t. The man is a complete badass and sexy as sin but I’m not good enough for him. I’m damaged goods and if he ever truly found out how deep the damage is, he would drop me off at the nearest street corner.

Every guy I have ever been around that was not a rapist, never wanted me for who I was. They don’t know what I like or what my favorite color is. If I had a dream or what was my favorite flavor of ice cream. The little things. Things that matter. Jaden didn’t even know I had nightmares or that I would sleep in a ball in the corner of a dark room because it was how they would leave me when they were done, it meant it was over.

“I apologize, Brie. For everything I did that caused you pain and it kills me inside that I wasn’t there for you. You know I care about you.” Here comes the pity party.

I sigh and try to make peace with him and acknowledge the good things he has done for me. It wasn’t his fault my mother sucks as a human being or that she let guys rape me. He didn’t have to buy me anything but he did. “I want to thank you for everything you have done for me in the past. I’m not going to sit here and not acknowledge the good things you have done for me.”

“Has Ethan hurt you or made you do something you didn’t agree on?”

“Until now, no. He calls me his little toy.”

Jaden glares at me. “You are nothing of his. He goes near you again and I will rearrange his face. He has been warned. Whatever agreement you had is null and void as of now. You don’t dance at the Equinox anymore. You have to finish your program at school and that is what you should be focusing on.”

“You can’t tell me what I should do and not do. You are not my boyfriend or even a fling. Whatever we had was in the past. If you have a problem with where I work and how I’m doing things, then pull over and I will get the fuck out and save you the trouble. I don’t need anything from you.”

“Fine, but if you think I am going to let you walk away, it’s not going to happen. Giselle is worried about you. I’m worried about you. I know you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in I don’t know how long. I’m trying to help you.”

“Well, I don’t need or want your help,” I snap.

“Tough shit, because you are going to get it. You need help and not the kind that involves a contract in a sex club to pay for school.”

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