Page 148 of Give In

“Congrats on the new job,” I said once we were closed inside.

“Eden—”

“Nice of you to get one for me, too.” Bitterness filled me. “What? You wanted a new job but didn’t want to lose out on office blowjobs, so you orchestrated a way for me to work under you? Pun intended.”

“I took the damn job for us.”

“How so?”

Ignoring my question, a smirk pulled at his lips, but the muscle in his jaw ticked with his anger. “And are you implying I knew you’d go through my private emails, read one about an internship, and then delete it, thereby guaranteeing you were the only student to apply.”

Wincing, guilt hit me harder than it had that night. “I thought you called in a favor after the fact. I didn’t realize you knew about the email.”

“Of course I knew. The only reason it was even there was because I wanted you to see it.” He took a step toward me, but I stepped back. Hurt slashed across his features, but I stayed strong.

My voice shook when I said, “You lied to me. Manipulated me. Kept secrets.”

Huh, sounds just like you.

What’s that saying?

What goes around comes around to kick you in the junk and break your heart.

“Are you expecting me to deny it? I told you from the beginning I was a controlling bastard.” Crossing his arms over his broad chest, he asked, “If I’d told you about the internship, would you have gone for it? Or would you have twisted it into me getting you a job because I wanted office head?”

His words hit like a blow, landing with enough accuracy to steal some of the fire from my temper.

“I did what I had to do to take care of you.” Shoving his fingers through his hair, he added, “But that doesn’t include getting you the job. I recommended you. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not happy we’ll be working together, but I didn’t pull strings.”

Reeling from it all, I stood silent for a minute, trying to get my head on straight.

“Tell me I’m wrong.” Moving into my space, Damien gripped my chin and angled my face up. A challenge burned in his midnight eyes. “Tell me you wouldn’t have turned down the offer. You wouldn’t have twisted it. Tell me I didn’t take care of you, and I’ll move heaven and fucking earth to make it right.”

My answer sat on the tip of my tongue, filling my mouth with the acrid taste of a lie. But even after so many lies so easily spilled, I couldn’t push it out.

Damien read my truth in my silence. His lips crashed down on mine, his tongue pushing in to invade my mouth the same way he’d invaded my life.

Completely.

Destructively.

Leaving me bereft and lost when he pulled away.

He cupped my cheek, his thumb dragging across my bottom lip.

“We’re late for class,” I whispered, blinking back unexpected tears.

“We’ll skip and head to the bookstore to get you one of the shirtless guy books, and then spend the day in bed.”

I shook my head. “It’ll be fine. I’m going to get cleaned up then I’ll be right there.”

His eyes searched mine before he kissed me again, soft and sweet. He dropped his hand and stepped away, albeit grudgingly.

Maybe he’d read my intention before I’d known it was there, because when I got into the hallway, I didn’t turn toward the bathroom or class.

I turned toward the door.

When I was outside, I pulled my phone out.