I didn’t think.Didn’t even glance through the peephole.I smiled faintly, expecting Chase, and pulled the door open.
And froze.
Andrew.
Every inch of me went cold.
“What are you doing here?”My voice came out sharp, too sharp, cracking halfway through.
He looked wild.His hair was messed like he’d been dragging his hands through it for hours, his clothes rumpled, his jaw shadowed with days of stubble.But it was his eyes that made my stomach drop, too bright, too wide, too much.
Before I could slam the door, his hand was there, shoving it open, stepping into my space like he belonged.
“Cassidy, what the fuck is going on?”he demanded, his voice low, clipped, almost shaking.“You’re moving?You didn’t even tell me?Aftereverything?”
I stumbled back a step, clutching the edge of a box to keep myself upright.“Get out.Right now.”
His laugh was broken and hollow.“No.No, we’re not doing this.You can’t justleave.You cannot leave me.We are not over, Cassidy.Do you hear me?”
My chest heaved, heart pounding so loud I could barely hear myself speak.“Are you fucking kidding me?Aftereverything...how could you think this could still happen, Andrew?I don't trust you...I don't want this anymore.”I snapped.“Yourwifeispregnant, Andrew.She has yourson.You stood there while she...”My throat tightened, hot tears threatening.“She called me a whore.And maybe she’s right.Maybe that’s all I’ve been to you.But that doesn't matter anymore because I’m done.”
He flinched at that but shook his head violently, stepping closer.“No.God, no, Cassidy, you’re not listening to me.Shedoesn’t matter.I told you that.”His hands flexed at his sides, restless, twitching.“Victoria and I, that’s been dead for our whole relationship.It’s you.It’salwaysbeen you.”
“You lied,” I cried out.My voice shook, but I forced the words past the lump in my throat.His stare was too much, too intense...almost manic.I tried to step back, but he matched it.“You told me there was no one else.No one before.No one during.And then I find out there wereothers, Andrew.There was always someone else.Fuck...I wasthesomeone else.”
His face twisted, like I’d slapped him.“They didn’t matter,” he ground out.“Not until you.Andno onesince you.”He reached for me suddenly, fingers curling around my wrist, pulling me toward him.“You’re it for me, baby.You’re all I think about.You’re all I want.”
I yanked hard, trying to break free, but his grip only tightened.Panic exploded in my chest like shrapnel.I had never seen him like this before, and I had never been more afraid.
“Let go of me.”My voice was sharper now, higher, the edges frayed with fear.“Andrew, let me go, or I swear to God I’ll scream.”
“You wouldn’t,” he growled, his gaze dark and intense, like he couldn’t even fathom a world where I’d choose anyone but him, choose anything but this.“Youloveme.I know you do.Don’t pretend you don’t.I miss you.I miss your mouth.Your laugh.Your body.Jesus, Cass, Ineedyou.”
My breath stuttered, coming too fast, the room spinning, like the panic was about to take over.“You need to leave.Right now.”
He didn’t move.Instead, his hand came up, rough against my jaw, tilting my face toward his.“Tell me you don’t want me,” he said softly, dangerously soft.“Tell me, and I’ll walk out that door.”
For a second, I froze, my lungs locked, my heart hammering hard enough to hurt.
Then I found my voice.“I don’t want you.”
Something shattered in his expression, hurt, anger, obsession, all tangled into something sharp and unsteady.And then he lunged.
His mouth crashed against mine, and his other hand squeezed my hip.Bruising, punishing.I shoved at his chest, twisting, kicking, but he was stronger.
“Stop!Andrew, stop!”I gasped, panic clawing up my throat.
“You don’t mean that, you arelying,” he yelled, his breath hot against my cheek, his belt buckle scraping against my hip.“You’re mine.You’vealwaysbeen mine.You want to play, baby.We can play.”
When I screamed, his palm clamped over my mouth, cutting the sound off.All I could smell was him and the salt and sweat from his hand, pressing into me until it felt like I couldn’t breathe at all.
I thought, in some small, detached corner of my mind,this can’t be happening.
I heard something rip, but I couldn't figure out what it was.Then cool air hit my chest.
I tried to beg him to stop, scream...but his hand was muffling me, and instead it felt like I was choking on my tears and screams.
"You want to play this game with me, baby, play the part.You want to be my whore?"
