The Best of Winter Renshaw - An 8 Book Collection - Winter Renshaw Page 0,245

you just wanted to hurt me to get back at me,” she says, finally grasping the situation. “Don’t you think it was enough that you told me you never wanted to see me again?”

“Not really.”

“Who are you?” she asks, rising and moving to me.

I chuckle, glancing over her shoulder and out the balcony window.

“Stop,” she says. “Stop acting like this. It isn’t who you are. You’re not this guy, this heartless jerk. I see it in your eyes.”

My gaze snaps to hers. “Really, Ayla? And what do you see exactly?”

Her arms fold. “I see someone that was beginning to fall in love with me, and I hurt him so badly his heart turned to ice so that it would never have to feel again.”

“Poetic.” I roll my eyes, taking another sip.

“Don’t do this,” she pleads.

“No clue what you’re talking about,” I say. “I fucked you. Now I’m done fucking you. I’m not doing anything.”

Her lip quivers. Still, I feel zero sympathy.

“You know,” she says. “One of the reasons I didn’t tell you who I was right away was because it was too soon after Damiana. You were hurting. And you found an escape with me. I let you do anything you wanted to me—I let you use me—because I cared for you, and because that’s what you needed at the time.”

“Bryce always liked to play the martyr,” I say. “Must run in the family.”

Ayla buries her face in her hands.

“Stop trying to justify what you did. You knew who I was, you fucked me anyway. Deal with the consequences of your actions.” I toss back the rest of my drink, my hand gripping the glass so hard it could shatter. “Now get out of my hotel room.”

Her mouth gapes for a second.

“Go on. I’m done with you now.” I motion toward the door. My jaw sets, clenching until it throbs with pain.

I don’t see it coming—the slap across my face—until it’s too late. Heat blooms along my cheek and my jaw throbs. Her hazel eyes are wide, like she’s shocked by her own actions, but she says nothing.

“Hit me again,” I say. “I fucking love it.”

“You love it because it’s the only way you feel a damn thing, you cold-hearted bastard.” She turns on her heel to leave, but I hook my hand through her elbow and pull her against me.

“I said, hit me again.” I hold her wrist, my teeth gritting.

She scowls. “No.”

“Why the fuck not?”

“Because I …” her voice trails off and her gaze falls to the carpet.

“Because what?”

“Because I don’t want to hurt you,” she blurts, eyes glassy. And then her shoulders cave, her hands flying to her mouth to cover an escaped cry. “Because ... I love you.”

I cup her chin in my hand, lowering my mouth until our lips graze. Her tears won’t soften me. I’m incapable of pitying the self-centered.

“Then I highly recommend that you stop,” I say, making my words clear as day. I want there to be no mistaking my sentiments in this moment. “Immediately.”

“What if I can’t?”

“Then you’re in for a world of hurt.” I release her chin and let her go, leaving her side and storming toward the balcony.

“Rhett,” she says, following. “If you want to hurt me, if that’s what makes you feel better about all of this, then I understand. I can take it. Believe me, any physical or emotional pain you could inflict on me is nothing compared to the pain I feel when you’re not around.”

Her hand warms my shoulder, and I turn to face her.

“I don’t think you understand,” she says, both of her hands clasped at her chest and eyes pleading, “how much of me ... belongs to you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. We hardly knew each other,” I say. “And don’t flatter yourself. You’re nothing more than a miniscule blip on my timeline.”

“The length of time you’re with someone has nothing to do with how much you love them.”

“Oh, yeah? Is that a scientific fact?” I smirk, pushing past her.

“Did you ever love me?” she asks, head tilted. “When things were good, did you ever look at me and think that maybe you were starting to fall? Just a little?”

Of course I did.

“No,” I lie.

“If you never loved me,” she says, “if I was just some girl you fucked, some blip on your timeline, then why do you want to hurt me so badly?”

“I’m not answering any more of your questions.” I point to the door.

“I’m not leaving,” she says.

“Then get on the bed.”

“What?”

“Take your

readonlinefreenovel.com Copyright 2016 - 2024