Page 136 of Spark

“And the conditions of your happiness are what?”

I scoffed. “Your happiness is a one-way street. That’s hardly fair.”

“And what have I repeatedly told you about fair?”

“Stop making me answer my own questions!” I snapped, stopping mid-stride to glare at him. Darren was not impressed.

“Come here,” he ordered sternly, his fingers pointing at his lap.

I dug my heels into the ground and pointed my finger at him. “Nuh-uh. No way! You are not going to punish me for being honest with you. You asked me a question, and I told you the truth!”

“There is a difference between being honest and being disrespectful. You need to learn this. Now, get your little disobedient ass over here now.”

I didn’t move, unable to cope with the fact that I had once again let my anger get the best of me.

“Jaden, if I have to get out of this chair to come and get you, you are going to be very, very sorry.”

“Why can’t you just listen to me for once!?” I shouted at him, feeling my resolve slipping. “You never care about how I feel or what I need! It’s only ever about you!”

“And you think this is the way to get me to listen to you?”

“You don’t seem to respond to anything else I do! It doesn’t matter if I’m good or bad, I NEVER get what I want! I’m just stuck here waiting for you to make the next decision over my life, and it’s bullshit!”

“Get. Over. Here. Now,” he demanded, his voice sharp and dangerous.

“I am not a fucking child, Darren,” I snarled.

Darren rose from his seat, and I felt my heart clench. “But you certainly love acting like one,” he growled and then he was on me.

I moved back and dodged his grip, avoiding his advances as best I could. We bantered back and forth several times, my strikes and kicks blocked by his long arms while I countered his attacks. Even though I was much stronger than before, I still could not best Darren. He’d only been playing with me. He liked it when I fought him, and I had to admit, I was in the mood for another fight.

I eventually felt the side of my face slam into the glass table, Darren’s large hand pressing into the back of my neck as he held me down.

“You’ve gotten better,” he commented, his approval evident. I gritted my teeth. I had nothing to say to him. “I do miss these little rounds between us.”

I could feel his hand lifting up the back of my skirt to expose my bare ass, followed by the first of many very hard strikes.

“Since we’re finally getting a little honesty,” he said, gripping my ass cheeks too tightly for comfort. “let’s purge the inevitable. What did Dominic’s date tell you at the baby shower?”

I felt fear instantly solidify in my gut. No. No, not this.

“What are you talking about?” I tested. He responded with the hardest slap against my ass yet, making me groan as I ground my teeth together, pain electrifying my entire backside.

“Think carefully before you lie to me, princess,” he threatened, his tone accusing and dark. It made my heart burst into overdrive.

“I was just being polite, Darren. She didn’t seem to know anyone. Same as me.” My voice was not convincing. It held too much terror and insecurities.

“So that explains why you tried to refrain from eye contact with each other? Why you kept your lips still and your voices quiet so no one could hear you?”

Goddamn him. He noticed way too much.

“What sort of information did she tell you?”

Ah, fuck! And here comes the official backfire.

I shook my head and tried to play it off, ignoring the pain still flaring in my ass.

“Just that she was from Las Vegas and keeping Dominic company. Nothing of great significance. Our conversation was interrupted before I even got her name.”

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