Page 47 of Loving the Tormentor

"This sounds like it's going to cost me money."

Her mouth twists slightly, her eyes dropping to her food and traveling back up. "My violin got damaged in the rain."

He cocks an eyebrow at her. "Aah, that's why I didn't hear you bitch about me not picking you up. You were waiting to tell me it was all my fault your violin got fucked so you could ask for cash again."

"I'm not accusing you of anything. I told you, I understand you were stuck at work. But the result is the same. I can't play. There's water inside, and the wood cracked. It's broken. Actually broken." She scratches her throat, emotions coating her voice. "If I don't replace it, I can kiss SFU goodbye."

"Probably for the best," he mutters quietly before raising his voice again. "How much does this shit cost?"

His girlfriend has been playing the violin for years, and he doesn't know how much a simple one costs? And she thinksI'ma bad person?

"Well, the one…the one I had was about three thousand?—"

"Three fucking thousand dollars, Nyxie? For a toy? Are you out of your fucking mind?"

I roll my eyes, dying to throw something at the window. What’s she doing dating this man? Has she never heard ofbetter alone than in bad company?

"It's not a toy," she snaps back, but her fire dies out when she starts begging again. "Chase, please, hear me out. That one was a gift from Kay for college. And it's not even a professional violin. I'm the only one in my class who had such a shitty instrument, but I don't care anymore. All I need is something to play with. I'll take a beginner's hand-me-down if that's all we can afford, but please,please.I need help."

A sob gets stuck in her throat, and she puts her hand on his resting on the table. "I havenothing. The books for SFU alone burned a hole through my savings. The gas to go back and forth when you don't drive me is killing me. My part-time salary goes into food and everything we need here. My dad takes whatever I rarely have left. It's just the violin. The bow is fine."

When he doesn’t respond, she lets out a shaky breath. "I'm begging you."

"Of course you are. I'm the only one who puts up with you. Why don't you ask Kayla since she's such a good sister to you?"

She shakes her head adamantly. "I can't. Not again. She pays the rent here while I'm in college. I can't ask for more."

"You're such a pain the ass, Nyxie, I swear." He digs into his pocket and pulls out a huge roll of cash. "How much?"

"I saw one online for, like, four hundred…"

Her entire life hangs in the air as he watches her, unblinking. It's only when he huffs and starts counting bills that I see her chest moving again.

"Thank you," she sobs. "I love you. Thank you so much."

I run a hand across my face, shaking my head as if I'm watching the soap of the year. Like those characters aren't real, and I'm just here to judge and enjoy the show.

"Oh,Nyxie." I repeat his nickname for her. "Your conductor is going to eat you alive if you show up with a second-hand beginner's violin."

She runs to put the money in her bag and comes back to him. He moves his chair away from the table, and she's about to give him a hug, but he pushes her away so he can unzip his jeans.

"Take your leggings off," he murmurs, practically detached from the situation.

It could be a blow-up doll; he wouldn't see the difference. But Nyx executes quickly, straddling him as he strokes his dick.

She tries. Bless her fucking heart, she tries to take him. But after a few minutes of him grunting that she's too tight instead of understanding she's not turned on, after her whispering,"wait",or"slowly"every time he tries to push his tip in, and after countless times of him licking his fingers and trying to make her wet with that…she gives up.

Shaking her head, wincing, she pushes away and stands up.

"I can't. I'm sorry. I can't get wet." She turns away, coming to the sink as she pulls up her leggings. For a second, my heart drops, wondering if she can see me. Her eyes squint, and I freeze, then remember I'm sitting in complete darkness.

I smile at her, and even though she can't see me, she wraps her arms around her waist as if she feels like someone’s watching.

Chase throws his head back. "I can't fucking do this with you anymore. You're useless." He gets up, standing a little farther on her left as he leans on the counter. "You should at least offer something else. I take care of you, don't I? But you don't take care of me in exchange?"

She keeps blinking at the window, ignoring him, and I stand up suddenly when I see him approach and slap her on the back of the head.

"I'm fucking talking to you."