Page 76 of Perfect Satisfaction
Or tight and flat when frowning, just like he’s doing now.
“Out of curiosity, why bring up S&M? Something you and Basset tried?”
My jaw juts out mulishly.Oh, how I hope you feel the pain of a thousand fires of hell inside when you find out the truth, I think peevishly.
His wink has a bawdy cast. “Is that what caused you two to no longer be together? Didn’t like your ass being lit up with a paddle?”
“I’ll light you up with a damn whip if that’s what it takes to get you to shut up!” I shout.
“Ahh, now I understand. You’re both Doms.”
I tip my head back and address the unmoving ceiling fans. “I’m going to kill him. No, I’ll drain his blood first.”
“Blood play? Wow. Now that’s really cutting edge.”
My head snaps forward and before he can mask it, I recognize terror on his face. I accuse, “You’re fucking with me.”
“You were so pale, bruised... No place is one hundred percent secure.” He ducks his head.
I brave rejection and touch his shoulder. “Thank you. It was just unexpected. I likely wasn’t as hydrated as I should have been.”
His question is quiet. “Is there anything I need to know, Ursula? Am I going to come home and find you passed out on the floor?”
“Nothing for you to worry about. I guess you’re stuck with me.”
He opens his mouth then shuts it. “Fine. Then how about I order out for a steak dinner? Nothing a little red meat—”
Flatly, I interject, “No red meat.”
His jaw slackens. “Excuse me? Did I somehow offend your delicate sensibilities? If I remember correctly, you eat red meat.”
As if the image transfers from his mind to mine, I can feel what he’s remembering. We were fighting for the last bite of the burgers he bought. The not-so-subtle way he convinced me I’d rather have something else in my mouth while he gobbled up the rest of our dinner.
I shake my head. “Not anymore, I don’t. I haven’t in a while.”Because any memories of you are too damn painful.
He shoves his hands in his pockets after he gets to his feet. “Why?”
Reaching for the ice pack, I drag it back onto my arm. I refuse to meet his eyes. “I just started watching what I eat.”
“Right. The next thing you’ll tell me is you’re planning on strutting the catwalk next to Danielle Madison or Liza Hina. Jesus, Ursula. Eat the meat. It will do you a world of good.”
Absolutely wrong thing to say. “I’ve been taking care of myself a long while, Arek. I don’t need your help.”And I sure as fuck don’t need to be compared to your lover.
“Fine.” With that, he storms past me and past the kitchen. I don’t turn around but the next sound I hear is the door slamming to the penthouse.
Wearily, I drag myself to the master bedroom. Maybe with him gone, I can finally doze in that fucking bed we’re forced to share.
Along the way, I curse my father and wish I’d dreamed of kicking him in the nuts with those combat boots while he was still alive.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
A woman is a force to be reckoned with. Women, as a collective, terrify me.
—StellaNova
She’s asleep in “our” bed when I get home,wrapped in the same soft blanket she was tangled in on the couch.
“Christ, Ursula, you terrified me,” I admit in a faint voice. My finger gently rests on the bruise which—I wince as the moonlight amplifies the color—appears worse.
