Page 401 of Power Play

“You stood there and admitted you used the one thing between us that always felt honest to punish me.”

“I did.”

“You made me feel disgusting for still wanting you.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t know shit either!” she screamed. “You don’t know what it did to me when you touched me the way you always did, kissed me like I still belonged to you, and then laughed in my face for believing it. You don’t know what it felt like to stand there while the only man who ever made me feel beautiful used my body to prove I was stupid.”

My stomach twisted. “That wasn’t what I—”

“You don’t get to tell me what it was. You did it to me, so I decide how it felt.”

The echo of my own anger thrown back at me left nowhere to hide.

“I know it was wrong.”

“Did you know when you did it?”

“Yes.”

“Then why?”

“Because I wanted you to hurt like I did!”

“I already did!”

“It wasn’t enough!”

The admission ripped my throat raw. Charm’s entire face broke, but she remained in front of me.

“What would’ve been enough?” she asked. “How much did I have to lose before your pain felt seen? My friends, my family, school, food, or sleep? Did I have to hate myself enough for you to believe I loved you?”

“Don’t put that shit on me.”

“I’m asking where it ends.”

“It ended at my apartment.”

“No, it didn’t. If it had ended there, you wouldn’t be looking at me like this.”

“You don’t know how I’m looking at you.”

“Like you want to devour me and punish me for the craving.”

Heat moved through me so fast it became another form of anger, and Charm saw it.

Her chest rose sharply beneath my jersey. “That’s what you hate most, isn’t it? Your mind can turn me into the enemy, but your body still knows me.”

“Stop.”

“You still want me.”

“I said stop.”

“You searched the stands for me.”

“Shut the fuck up.”