Page 44 of Jerk

I ignore the sharp spark when I press my finger against her chest, pushing her back until her ass hits the island. “Do not get in the way of my eggs, Hannah.”

“You reek.” Her mouth twists as I grab the pan from her hand, moving to the fridge.

“From the way you’re looking at me, I know I look better than I smell.” With a glance over my shoulder, Hannah runs her hands over her hair, as if she’s trying to straighten it. “And you look like one of those models caught in a candid photo at the after-hours.” I’ve always thought they were hot, but I won’t tell her that.

She blinks. “You really think you can walk back in here after you locked me in a room and just make breakfast like we're having a slumber party?”

“Yeah.” I grab the eggs from the fridge.

“Stop acting like you live here.”

“Hannah, I stayed.” After slamming the carton on the counter, I light the gas stove, the flame coming alive. “Deal with it.”

“No, I’m so through dealing with you.”

“Are you this mad I broke up your love-fest with Vince?” My mind flashes back to him on top of her, my fists still stinging. “I’d be a wingman and call him over for breakfast, but he’s out of commission.”

“No kidding, you almost killed him.”

“I should have.”

“You’repsychotic.”

“You’re an attention-whore.”

“So I deserved that? I deserved assault?”

My hands wrap around her wrists, swinging her around before trapping her between me and the stove. "It's not assault when you want it."

“Fuck you.”

My grip tightens. “You just can’t say no to attention.”

She glances back at the flame, then me, her eyes narrowing. “You’re sick if you thought I want that kind of attention.”

“You were wet as fuck when I touched you.” The heat from the stove should make this hangover worse, but it's only fuelling me. “So, who’s really the sick one?”

She tries to fight against my hold. “Still you.”

“Was it the way he forced you to the fucking ground?” My hand comes to her throat, Vince’s face in my head. Him on top of her, her unmoving body on the ground. “Was it the way he made you scream? Is that what gets you off?”

“No!”

“Was it his hand over your mouth? You like being a tease to assholes like him? Is that it?”

“I don’t want him!”

“Then why thefuckdid you let him touch you?”

Silence takes over, Hannah’s eyes glossing before she looks down. “Sometimes that’s best, Rye.” Her voice softens. “He's stronger. He was determined, and sometimes I get to a place in my head where I accept my fate. I zone out. You don't know what it's like." The bite in her voice returns. "So don't stand here and tell me I wanted it when I didn't, you archaic monkey."

Her words settle in the air. “What the fuck are you saying, Hannah?”

“I don’t know.” She pulls away again.

I pull her closer. “Did you dissociate?”

“You don’t understand. You're a Crown. You're aman.” Her eyes blur. “You don't have to worry about someone taking advantage of your body.”