Paul pulls his hand away. “Fine. I’m going to shower then.”
I know him well enough to know what that means.
I pause the movie, squinting at him. “Are you going to jack-off in the shower right now?”
“Well, if you’re not going to give me a hand ...” Crossing my arms, I give him a stern look. “Don’t be uptight right now, I’ve had a long day at work. Can you blame me for wanting some relief?”
Some relief?
“Paul, when was the last time we had sex, hm? Or touched each other … or kissed goodnight, for that matter?” I shove myself off the couch, standing in front of him. “I've asked to join you in the shower countless times, I’ve tried to initiate sex or lean into you and you always have an excuse.”
Paul stands in front of me, his eyes darkening. He’s only an inch or two taller than me, but right now his body holds an air of authority that unsettles me.
“And nowI’minitiating it andyou’rethe one with the excuse, so what does that make you, Audrey?”
His hands grab my face, but there’s no love in his touch as he pulls me close to him, forcing my lips against his. It takes a moment to process his actions. I push at his chest but he clutches me against him firmly, his one hand trying to slip into the waistband of my underwear. Tears are falling from my eyes as I push at him again, turning my face away from him.
“No!” I shout , finally having the strength to create space between us.
“I’m giving you what you want,” he huffs out.
“No. You're trying to take something that I don't want to give,” I retort, frowning.
He stops and takes his hands off my body. Stepping back from me, guilt flashes in his eyes, as if he realizes he was crossing a line.
“Audrey …” His voice is soft but my walls stay up.
There have been times in our relationship where he’s been a bit rough with me, or his anger has gotten out of hand, but he’s never been this forceful before.
“Sleep on the couch tonight. I’m going to bed.” I move past him, my hands shaky until I close and lock the bedroom door behind me.
What the fuck was that?
I’m standing in front of the bathroom vanity when Paul gets home from work, giving me a sad smile, he says, “Hi.”
I don’t answer, looking away from him as I continue to brush my hair.
“Audrey, I don’t know what happened last night … I just wanted us to connect since you’ve felt so distant lately. I’m sorry if you felt hurt by me initiating intimacy, I don’t know why you’ve been so against me showing you love lately. I try so hard.”
I bite the inside of my cheek until I taste blood.
Distant? Me? He’s kidding, right?
“I’m sorry if I hurt you, but you hurt me too. I lost out on sex because of you.” He lets out a long sigh as if I stole his favorite toy. “Let me take you to dinner tonight.”
I meet his eyes in the mirror, fighting back the urge to snap at him. “We already have dinner plans with Connor and Noah.”
Of course he forgot.
Paul lets out a disappointed sigh, before loosening his tie.
“I thought that guy lived in Utah. Why would he be with your brother?”
That guy.
I try not to grind my teeth together, as I remind him, “Texas. And I don’t know, I haven’t talked to him in years. My brother is in town for one night, so I don’t care whoelse is there or not, I want to see Connor. That’s my only focus.”
“Do I really have to come? They’re going to talk about hockey the whole time,” Paul groans out as I put my hair in a ponytail.
