Katia releases my leg. “Good. Channel that anger and put it to good use.”
“I know what you’re trying to do.” I throw another punch that Katia intercepts. “If you’re not going to help, get out of my way.”
Katia releases my arm and rolls her shoulders. “Alright, Princess. Let’s see how quick of a study you are.”
She peels off her jacket.
Her expression is one of schooled boredom as she points at me.
I inhale and, on the count of five, I charge her.
Katia sidesteps me easily, and I sail past her, skidding to a halt a few feet away. When I wheel around, red-hot anger pumps through me.
She’s toying with me, and I hate her for it.
I charge again, but this time, I feign right and land a punch to her right. Without missing a beat, Katia pivots and kicks out her leg. The breath leaves my body as I crash to the floor and pain blossoms behind my eyelids.
Everything hurts.
But it still won’t drive away the images haunting me.
I hate that Elise is everything I’m not and that she gets to be with Mason in public while I have to hide away like some dirty little secret.
You know it’s not up to Mason. It’s just business.
When I open my eyes, Katia is looming over me, her expression blank. “Get up.”
On trembling legs, I push myself up and exhale. “You’re losing your touch. Is that all you got?”
Katia throws her head back and laughs. “You really are pathetic.”
I launch at Katia’s middle. She stops laughing when I wrap both arms around her waist and pull. She shoves me back, and I stagger, the whistling in my ears growing.
Suddenly, all I’m picturing is Katia in Mason’s study.
All I see are her long fingers tracing a path down his bare back. I taste bile as I imagine her throwing her head back and moaning as Mason thrusts in and out of her. I shove the image away and launch myself at Katia again.
“Enough.” Katia throws out a hand to stop me. “You need to learn your limits.”
I growl, my breath coming out in short puffs. “You don’t get to tell me when I’ve had enough. And stop holding back.”
Katia’s eyes bore into me. “No.”
“Come on, isn’t this what you wanted? Now’s your chance. You can hit me right now, and Mason wouldn’t be able to do a thing.”
I try for her middle again, but it’s no use.
I’m never going to beat her.
But I don’t care.
I want to feel anything other than despair and helplessness clawing their way inside of me, making me want to rip my hair out.
What good is it going to do me anyway?
You’re never going to compare to any of them. Not even Miss Deveroux who had the skill and discretion needed to land Mason, and Katia knows how to give him what he wants in the bedroom. What do you have to offer, other than a headache, and throwing their alliance into an uproar?
I don’t realize that I’m attacking Katia until she wraps her arms around me to hold me still.
