Page 58 of Worth Loving You

My jaw fell, my heart sinking and my stomach bottoming out. An icy wave washed over, breaking me out in a thin layer of perspiration. “What?”

“Not gonna even stand here and lie. I thought you were frumpy, basic, and nothing special to look at when we first met. After seeing you today, I know you were just hiding because you’re scared.”

“Scared of what?” I tried to squeak, wanting to sound strong.

I failed.

“I heard what you and your friend were talking about at the furniture store earlier. I know about how you grew up. You were afraid of giving your best and still lacking, so you hid and did your best to blend.”

“W-W-What? Are you s-s-s-some kind of t-therapist now?” I whimpered, my emotions raw from being exposed.

“I’ve lived a pretty hard life, too, Chazzy. I’ve been around. I see things, picked up a few things here and there. You know I’m right.”

“Whatever. I don’t need you analyzing my brain.”

“You need something.”

Scoffing, my shoulders pulled to my ears. “And what would that be?”

He pursed his lips and lifted his brows. “Not my place to say.”

“What kind of mind games are you playing? Just leave me alone.”

He shrugged, fanning his hands out. “Fine by me, just wear some clothes from now on, how about it? I don’t need to worry about seeing you walking around looking like this. It…gives me thoughts,” he added with a smirk.

I blinked rapidly, my muscles tensing. “Th-Thoughts? What kind of…th-thoughts?”

A fire burst in his blue irises, the smirk broadening. “Thoughts of how much louder you would scream if that had been me fucking that ass earlier.”

Shock washed over me, and I was utterly frozen in place. No heartbeat, no breaths, no blinking, my entire system was paused.

“You sure as hell wouldn’t be walking right now, princess,” he snickered, pushing off the counter to pick up a bottle of water behind him.

“You…shouldn’t have thoughts like that.”

“Then stop giving me something to look at.”

Enraged and forgetting all discretion, I propped my hands on my hips and sneered. “What the hell kind of comment was that? Why is it always the women who should watch what they wear, and not the men who should just behave and not be rapists?”

He appeared stunned at my outburst, the water hovering before his mouth, his brows low over his eyes. “Any man who ever touches a woman without consent needs his dick cut off.”

He strolled forward, closing the distance between us. I backed away, only to trap myself against the dining room table. Panting, my heart pumping far too quickly, I grew dizzy, falling to my bottom on the surface.

“When I fuck you, Chazzy, it will be because you came to me. You will have to beg me. Otherwise, all I will ever do is look, think, and fantasize.”

“When? Are you high? I’m with Milo.”

He snorted, taking a quick sip. “You have no idea who you’re with. You’re in over your head here, kitten. That pussy that smells so sweet, it had my mouth watering earlier may not be virginal anymore, but you’re still so innocent and naïve, you have no fucking clue what you’ve gotten yourself in to.”

He strutted past me, watching me out the corner of his eye while drinking his water.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I snapped, getting defensive.

He spun around but kept walking backward. Shrugging his arms out, he scrunched the side of his face. “You may be the main bitch, but you will never be the only bitch. He more than likely is in love with you, but Milo Pampinella will never, ever be monogamous. Get used to empty beds, kitten. The honeymoon phase will be over soon, and ‘trips,’” he stressed, hooking his fingers in the air. “Are going to take him out of town a lot more frequently.”

“You think so, huh?”

Winking, he was practically beaming ear to ear. “Don’t worry, I’ll be here to keep those sheets warm.”