Page 26 of Best Friend's Dirty Ex

But the second he laughs at me, I feel scared and small. “Are you going to make me?”

I don't know what to say to that, and he seems to sense my hesitation and pushes harder, but I push back, still refusing to let him in.

“If you don't leave right now, I'm calling the cops.” It's not an idle threat at all. But I'd be lying if I said I was sure I knew where I'd left my phone. I think it's on my nightstand in my room, but I’m not sure. With a touch of my hand to my pocket I know the phone isn’t there, and that thought scares me.

James seems to notice my motion and his grin grows wider. “How exactly do you plan to do that without your phone?”

His words make me sick and something rises up inside me. Without thinking about it, my hand flies up and slaps him across the face, hard enough that I leave an instant red handprint and scratch marks down his cheek.

“Get out now!” I bellow the words at him, at a volume I've never before produced, and I see this stunned look in his eyes as he backs up a step. There's anger there too, but mostly surprise, and I close the door, locking it quickly.

Even though he's out for now, I know that I need to escape. I need to get away before his anger overflows. I decide to make a risky move. I rush into my room and grab my phone and my keys, shoving them into my pocket before heading toward the front door. I unlock the door, lock the handle, burst out and rush down the hall at top speed.

Sprinting for the front door I exit the building, noticing the doorman isn’t in his usual spot. I can't hear anything over the sound of my pounding heart and running feet, but I imagine he's only a step behind me, ready to take me down and do whatever it is he had planned.

In a blur, I find myself in my car, then parked in front of Troy's place.

Then at Troy's front door.

The door opens.

And I throw myself into his arms, my heart pounding as fear overwhelms me.

“Are you okay?”

I hear the concern in his voice and the floodgates burst. “My narcissistic ex showed up at my front door today and tried to push his way into my apartment. I slapped him hard, screamed at him and ran. And here I am.”

I hope he doesn't ask why I chose to come here because I don't have an answer.

Instead, he tightens his hug around me, pulls me inside, and closes and locks the door behind me. “The workers are going to be here soon. Do you think they can manage without you?”

I nod my head, unable to speak, and he immediately ushers me out the door into his car.

Moments later, we're at Club Red and he hurries me inside. “We’ll be safer here.” He says the words with an arm around my shoulders, and I find myself glancing around at all of the activities happening around us.

I’m instantly drawn to one woman tied up in colorful ropes, her expression filled with ecstasy as a woman lightly runs fingertips over every inch of her exposed flesh while someone else presses a pulsating toy into her depths.

My cheeks burn and my body reacts to a man gazing up adoringly at a woman as she rides him, her ample breasts bouncing like mad as she moves in a rhythm designed for maximum pleasure.

All around us the sights and sounds of men and women finding pleasure leaves me hungry for release and curious to see what else goes on here. But all too soon, Troy has ushered me into a private room. He closes the door behind us and turns to me, pulling me into a tight hug.

My control dissolves. I kiss him, the move desperate, hungry, intense as the adrenaline in my blood mingles with the fear I’ve felt. I feel him start to pull away, but I hold him closer. “Don’t go,” I whisper against his lips and he hesitates.

A moment later, his control seems to snap and his lips press tighter to mine. I feel him pull me closer, squeezing me so tightly it's hard to breathe, and his hand wraps up in my hair, pulling with just enough force to have my heart pounding and my body wanting more.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, little one.” He whispers the words in the space between us and I feel my body start to melt.

I'd slapped my ex.

I'd refused to let him make me a victim again.

I'd stood against him.

All of those thoughts leave me feeling almost giddy and make me wonder if I need more therapy. But still that sense of power thrums in my veins and leaves me hungry for more.

This isn't Troy deciding for us that we're going to sleep together. This is me deciding that I'm going to take what I want. With his consent, of course. I'm going to take my power back, and I'm going to enjoy something... someone.

Without hesitation, I begin to pull my shirt off. Troy is quick to reach around me and free my bra, as if eager to help me. I have no doubt he’d stop if I told him to, and that thought only adds to my sense of power.

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