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“Are you sure? Because the look on your face says you want to.” Taking a small step in, she turned her face so her cheek was fully exposed. “How about right here? Right where everyone can see it, so they know how big and bad of a man you are.”

“I'm not going to hit you, Berlin.”

Scoffing, she veered her stare. “So you're just going to fuck me then? That's it, give me some good old fashioned dick and call it a night?” Chuckling lightly, she shook her head. “You're just like every other jackass that walks into that club. It's all about pussy and control.” Sitting back down on the bed, she parted her thighs as she ran a single finger up the middle of her chest. “Is this what you want? You want to fuck me? You want to fuck me like the whore I am?”

Running a hand through my hair, I kept my eyes on hers. “I never said you were a whore. I would never call you that.”

“Why not? It's true isn't it? I get paid to have sex, men pay to get what they want from me. You're losing money to have me here, so you must want something in return. Tell me what it is?”

“I already told you before, I don't want shit from you.”

Bouncing her eyes back and forth between mine, her lips folded into a heavy frown. “You're just like Virgo, it's all about the power with both of you.”

I felt my veins burn as the words came out of her mouth. I couldn't stop the rage that came over me. I was nothing like Virgo, we were two different species.

Lunging forward, I wrapped my hand around her throat and yanked her off the bed. Holding her tightly in my grip, I pushed her backwards until she hit the wall.

My face was inches from hers as I bared my teeth. “I'm nothing like that man. I'm nothing like the fucking men you're used to dealing with. I don't ever want to hear you say that shit again. Do you understand? Do you fucking hear me?” My chest had started to rise and fall, filling with rapid bursts of air.

Berlin was staring at me in shock, her voice nothing but audible gasps. She was struggling for air, she was trying to put words into some sort of order in her head so she could get them out, she was trying desperately to understand all of this.

Shaking her head yes, she pinched her lips closed, causing her cheeks to collapse into her mouth.

“Tell me you fucking understand. I want to hear you say it.”

“I understand.” Whimpering out the words, Berlin kept her eyes frozen on mine. “I understand.”

“I'm fucking serious, Berlin, don't ever compare me to that fucking prick or anyone else.”

“Okay, I won't.” Flicking her gaze around my face, she asked, “But if you're not like him or anyone else, then why are you doing this?”

Loosening my grip, I let my hand drop free. I could see the shape of my fingertips in her skin, the small red impressions an ominous addition to her body. Pulling out the small note she had given me from my pocket, I threw it at her face.

“Why don't you tell me.”