Page 26 of Backlash

Sterling smirks and shifts slightly until I can’t find the words to make demands. “Ohhhh—”

His long, strong strokes become quick and powerful, punctuated by the impact of his pelvis on my clitoris. He’s my anchor point. My body shatters around him, safe in the eye of the storm. I am free. I am tethered. I am everything and I am only this. When Sterling arrives a moment later, his eyes roll up to the ceiling, and at last the missing element is found. I dissolve into him, and he into me.

This has always been the easy part.

Sterling’s sweaty forehead presses against mine as we untangle ourselves. He adjusts my robe, covering my body again. “Have dinner with me.”

It’s not a question. I swallow to give myself time to come up with a reason to say no, but I can’t find one that outweighs how much I want to say yes. I gesture down to the robe.“I should change.”

“I like you just the way you are.” He brushes his thumb over my swollen bottom lip.

“You tore off my panties,” I remind him, “and the last time I checked the restaurant had a dress code.”

“Well, when you put it like that.” He releases his hold on me, and, bending down, he gathers the lacy remnants of my panties from the ground before shoving them into his pocket.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to keep those.” Why do I hope he says yes?

He winks at me, turning his smile up until it’s blinding. “Consider it a trophy.”

“If I find them mounted on the wall at your apartment, we’re going to need to talk.”

Sterling twines his hands through mine, leading me down the hall. I’d forgotten for a moment that we never made it inside the suite.

Now that he’s no longer occupying every ounce of my attention with his body, my surroundings remind me. It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve done something as reckless as that, but the flush of shame I expect to heat my cheeks never arrives. I don’t care that I have no business screwing Sterling in the hall of the Eaton. Because I’m already thinking about Sterling’s hands and how much I want them on me again. I’m shaking so badly I can’t get my keycard to work.

“Allow me.” He reaches for it, but I hold it away.

“I’ve got it,” I snap despite all evidence to the contrary. It’s too much. He’s too much. I can’t even think with him this close. Not after that. Not still reeling from how he makes me feel. It takes every ounce of discipline I have to shut the door to the suite in his face with a quick “I’ll be right out.”

If that’s what happens when he catches me outside my door, I can’t risk allowing him inside. We need to talk. He needs to come clean, and I need to hold him accountable. With a locked door between us, I remember that I don’t even have underwear here. I settle for cleaning myself up in the bathroom as best I can. I’m going to have to get some clothes soon, particularly if he’s going to keep shredding mine.

There’s not much I can do without makeup or a hairbrush. My reflection looks as reckless as I feel. My hair is a tousled wildfire, flames swirling uncontrollably around my shoulders. My lips are still swollen with blood from the brutality of his kisses. I ditch the robe and see the imprints from where his fingers dug into my hips. It takes some finessing, but I manage to make my dress look presentable by ditching the torn sash and using a safety pin I find with the complimentary sewing kit provided by the hotel. It’s not exactly dinner at a five-star hotel apparel, but it will have to do. There’s nothing to help my unruly hair, but I find I actually like it like this. I want Sterling to look at me and remember what it felt like to pin me against the wall — to control me. I want him desperate to get me back into bed. I’m going to distract him, so that he lets his guard down. Because tonight — no matter what happens — I’m winning this round. I’ll either get my answers or give him marching orders. Sterling won’t know what hit him.

10

Adair

The Past

The perk of not starting classes again until next term is that no one seems to notice I’ve gone into hiding. At least, not at first. Following my disastrous birthday party, I found myself more than happy to avoid the Valmont campus, along with my friends. My dad’s been in and out of town on business or busy with the latest personal trainer that assures him he’ll walk again someday. Malcolm is busy with his campaign and wedding plans. The only person to show any interest in me is Felix, but now he has stopped making cookies every time I show up. Apparently, this is one heartbreak chocolate chips can’t cure.

Maybe because—despite everything—I won’t let myself fall to pieces. After the way Sterling treated me, I just couldn’t let myself fall apart again. I thought he was different, and the fact he was a grade-A asshole and I failed to notice it falls squarely on my shoulders. Even if he misunderstood what he overheard—and he did—I’m not about to let him treat me like that, drunk or not. In fact, in my experience, a person shows you who they truly are when they’ve been drinking. I have a lifetime of memories to back that up.

I’m on my second binge of The Vampire Diaries when Poppy bursts into my room with Kai. My first sign that she’s up to something is her sly smile and the tight black jumpsuit she’s wearing. Normally, I wouldn’t put the words sexy and jumpsuit together, but this one dips low in the front, showcasing the swell of her cleavage, and hugs her rear so tightly she almost looks like she has an ass. Her shiny, dark hair bounces around her shoulders, setting off her ruby lips. Kai looks more casual but equally cool in a pair of black jeans and a slim-fitted button down, sleeves rolled up. His hair is combed strongly to one side, a swatch of jet black.

I pause the television. “Why do I feel like I’m on a reality TV fashion intervention?”

“Because you are,” Kai says with a grin.

At least I’m not hallucinating.

“You cannot stay in bed forever.” Poppy wastes no time. She marches to the window and pushes open the drapes I’ve refused to open all week.

Twilight streams into the room, and I wince, grabbing a pillow to block it.

“I think she might be a vampire now,” Kai says. “It’s practically dark out and she can’t handle any sun.”

I reach for another pillow and toss it at him, missing entirely. Despite my objections, it feels good to see them. Trust Poppy to know exactly when to force me to come out from my shell.