Chapter 2: Now You’re Mine: Chapter 2

Hayden’s words wrap around me like a ribbon, silky yet binding.

He watches me for a moment, as if challenging me to jump off the island. I’ve already fucked around and found out. I’m not interested in another lesson.

Before I can think of a response, he walks over to the refrigerator and removes a tray laden with fruit, cheese, and crackers. The bright colors are too cheerful for the tension-filled atmosphere. Like the black and white decor all around us, Hayden and I are complete opposites. While he’s domineering and severe, I’m caring and tender-hearted.

In a perfect world, we’d complement one another.

In a fucked-up world, we’d devastate each other.

He places the food next to me, and I eye it dispassionately. I wasn’t lying when I said it’s difficult for me to eat when I’m stressed. Between losing my father and my recent financial situation, I’m thinner than I’ve ever been in my life. You’d never know it from the way Hayden stares at me.

Like he’s doing now.

After reaching for a cracker and placing a slice of cheese on top, he offers it to me. I shake my head. Vigorously. Everything he does—except being a deceitful asshole—is sexy. I’ll be damned before I let him seduce me with a fucking piece of cheese. Accepting anything from him would feel like an act of surrender.

“I can do it myself.”

“I know.”

“Hayden…” I warn.

“It’s either this,” he says, lifting the food, “or my cock. Your choice.”

My jaw drops. He’s quick to take advantage of my bewildered state and plops the cracker into my mouth. While giving him a death glare, I chew, silently appreciating the sharp flavor coating my tongue.

“Good girl,” he murmurs.

I choke, my eyes widening. After forcing myself to swallow the food, I resume squinting at him. Hayden picks up a strawberry and bites into it slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. Juice drips down his long fingers, and my mouth goes dry at the memory of what he’s done to me with them.

“My eyes are up here,” he says in a lazy drawl.

Caught ogling him, I stiffen and avert my gaze. He’s quick to place a finger under my chin and guide my head back towards him.

“Open for me,” he says. When I part my lips, his pupils contract. “Such a good girl.”

Heat sweeps through me at the praise. Arousal and anger combine, leaving me hot and shaky. I clench my thighs and focus my thoughts on anything except the man in front of me, but he keeps bringing my attention back to him with every touch and every spoken word.

I force myself to remain still until I’ve consumed a fair amount of food, and then I hop down before Hayden can stop me. After racing to the other side and putting the island between us, I shake my head.

“I’m full.”

He sets down the piece of pineapple in his hand and reaches for a napkin to wipe his fingers. “Then it’s time for bed.”

“I’m not sleeping with you.”

His head snaps up. “Care to repeat that?”

“Nope.”

Amusement flickers in his eyes. “I didn’t think so.”

“I’m serious. I need time to think.”

“You can. In my bed. With me.”

I come close to stomping my foot like a petulant child. “You’re not listening to me.”

“I’m definitely hearing you. I’m just denying your suggestion.”

“It isn’t a suggestion or a request or anything that fucking requires permission.”

“Language, Miss Green.”

I let out an honest-to-goodness scream. The sound bounces off the walls and furniture, piercing my eardrums hard enough for me to stop. When I clamp my lips together, Hayden tilts his head.

“Feel better?” he asks, his tone chiding and unfazed.

“Not really.”

“Come here.”

It’s not a request.

I eye him with suspicion. “Why?”

“You look exhausted.”

“I’ve had a pretty exciting day.” I don’t bother hiding my sarcastic undertone. “How often does a girl find out that the man she’s living with is her stalker?”

“How often does a man find a woman he’d destroy the world for?”

I bow my head and release a sigh of defeat while briefly closing my eyes, ignoring the way my heart lurches in my chest. “Stop. I can’t do this with you right now.”

“Come here, Callie.”

His tone is soft and gentle, soothing to my wounded soul. I slap my palms against the island to keep from going to him. To keep from accepting the comfort of a monster.

“I need to be alone,” I say, my voice small and weak. Every time I deny Hayden, it adds another crack to my defense against him. When he’s domineering, I can patch the holes in my armor, but this tender side of him?

It wrecks me.

“Please.” My supplication is a mere whisper, the last of my rebellion a monosyllable of both weakness and desperation.

Hayden stares at me from across the island, so close physically, but very distant emotionally. The chasm between us is a third party, a looming presence in our relationship. Whatever’s left of it.

The beautiful man in front of me swallows hard, right before blowing out a harsh breath. “Very well.”

I don’t ask him what he means. Instead, I take the brief reprieve and edge around the island. And him. Once my feet meet the carpet, I head in the direction of the guest room located a few doors down from Hayden’s bedroom.

My spine tingles the entire way and my senses strain to pick up on any trace of him following me. When I reach the hallway, I stop and chance a look over my shoulder.

Hayden’s exactly where I left him in the kitchen. Tension lines his entire frame. He’s completely still, but that’s not what steals my breath. The man grips the countertop with his head bowed, his body in a position of defeat and utter despair.

I bite the inside of my cheek to refrain from calling him. Or worse, returning to his side. I might care for Hayden, but we won’t resolve this issue between us unless he can see how his behavior hurt me.

It takes every ounce of my willpower to turn back around and take a step. Once I’m in motion, I pick up the pace until I’m in the empty bedroom with the door shut and locked behind me.

A grim smile twists my mouth as I lean heavily against the door. Hayden might get upset because I’ve secured myself inside the room, but he’s left me no choice. I need a moment of peace.

Not that I believe a simple metal mechanism would keep him from getting to me. It certainly didn’t work at my apartment.

With a groan, I slide down until my butt hits the floor. Bringing my knees to my chest, I rest my forehead on them and wrap my arms around my legs. Curled in a tight ball, I let the tears flow.

I cry over my battered heart.

I weep over my broken trust.

I mourn over my bleak future.

How am I supposed to move past Hayden’s lies? Is that even possible? I have no idea. The frightful unknown mixes with agony to create an unbearable anxiety. My sobs grow more desperate. My entire body is nothing more than a collection of skin and bones held firmly together while I feel like I’m falling apart on the inside.

How can one person be responsible for so much pain?

My shuddering causes my spine to rap against the wooden surface behind me, the staccato tapping the soundtrack of my misery. Every tremor and every tear, a manifestation of my bleeding heart which struggles to beat despite me drawing breath.

I can feel Hayden’s presence before I hear him speak. “Baby?”

The term of endearment has my soul wailing. I bite down on my fist until the tang of blood hits my tongue.

I can’t go to him, not when I’m the one who asked for space. But hearing his voice and the concern underlying it? I’m like an addict wanting a drug, knowing it’ll just hurt me.

The charged silence becomes heavier with every second I refuse to speak. My sobs immediately quiet with Hayden standing on the other side of the door. I don’t stifle them for his benefit. I do it for mine.

I won’t give him a reason to break the lock or the remaining shreds of my dignity.

At the sound of his footsteps receding, I release a sigh of relief. I might’ve held my breath when there was a mere three inches between us, but my tears continued to stream down my face. Sometimes, I think they’ll never stop. But like all things, they come to an end.

I lie down on the floor, uncaring about comfort or anything else while chasing the blissful reprieve found in sleep. Closing my eyes, I concentrate on my heartbeat instead of the man down the hall.

Except my brain refuses to cooperate. I might’ve told Hayden he’ll never invade my mind, but I lied.

The man follows me into my dreams.

Turning them into nightmares.