Page 121 of Paper Doll

I press my palms to his hard chest, shoving hard. “What do you want me to do, get on my knees and suck your dick for saving me?” I scoff bitterly.

He snorts a laugh of amusement, my push not moving him an inch. “I mean, it’s not the worst idea.”

I scowl up at him, bile rising in my throat. “You’re just like him,” I huff.

Something in Wes’ demeanor abruptly shifts, his jaw tensing, eyes suddenly sharper. “Who?” he asks, a low hint of warning in this tone.

I lift my chin, glaring back at him defiantly. “Travis. The only difference is that you can actually force me to cooperate.”

Anger burns bright behind his gray eyes, settling in the deep set of his jaw.

“But you know what neither of you can make me do?” I bite out, wanting to hurt him, make him feel something other than the obnoxious sense of entitlement he always carries around. “You can’t make me actuallywantit.”

I hit my mark. I see it in the twitch of his jaw, the way his eyes harden. Feel it in the promise of destruction burning between us. It should probably frighten me more than it does, but I just… I don’tcareanymore.

Wes just stares back at me for a long moment, the silence hanging between us deafening. Then he chuckles low in his throat, the ragged, dangerous sound of it grating on my nerves like sandpaper.

“You’re right, Ava,” he murmurs, hands dropping to his belt. “Get on your knees.”

My fingernails bite into my palms, a scream working its way up my throat. “I’ll hate you for this,” I rasp.

Wes tilts his head, assessing me coldly. “Then hate me with my cock in your mouth.”

His words are lethal, cutting, but I refuse to flinch, even as his fingers move to pop the button of his jeans and work the zipper down.

My knees hit the floor and all I can do is blink in stunned silence, barely even breathing as he reaches into his boxers to free his huge cock from the confines of his jeans. It’s only semi-hard, but takes it in hand and strokes it to life as he moves in closer, rubbing the tip against my lips before shoving it past them.

The whole world collapses to the harsh feel of him thickening against my tongue, the coldness of the marble floor against my bare knees, the sour tangle of anger and tears in my throat. It’s a replay of the first time he did this, and I’m choking on hatred. Choking onhim.His fingers lace through my hair, holding me in place as he thrusts his hips and starts fucking my mouth. It’s control and cruelty wrapped in soft moans that almost sound like affection.

“Fuck, Ava.”

My name, a curse and a prayer, guttural and raw.

“That feels so fuckinggood.”

Tears leak from the corners of my eyes as I choke and gag around his shaft, the smooth head of his cock punching the back of my throat with every forward thrust.

I hate him.

Hate the Kings.

Hate myself.

I feel that familiar heat curl low in my belly as I grow slick with desire, repulsed by the way even my own body is betraying me in this moment. Maybe they’re right– maybe this is all I am. Awhore, just like my mom.

Wes shudders and spills down my throat, and it’s a thousand kinds of defeat mixed with one sick note of triumph. The salty taste of him slides over my tongue as he releases my hair, pulling out and taking a jerky step backwards, panting and stunned.

The air’s too thick, like everything’s compressed to the edges of this hallway, my heart pounding against my ribs like a deathmarch. I’ve got no energy left to fight. Nothing left to give. Silence creeps in and finds me on my knees, cold and deliberate, an accusation or a promise. Wes tucks his dick away, echoes and shame closing in. My expression hardens, fixing into place as he stands over me, the storm passing with all its wreckage. I’m numb and aching. I’m everything and nothing.

I rise to meet the next wave, wondering if there will be anything left of me once it breaks.

CHAPTER 50

AVA

I’ve never beenthis numb. Everything in my room feels cold and empty, including me. My textbooks are spread out on the bed, the required reading assignments calling to me from the class syllabus, but none of it feels important anymore. Nothing does.

Why bother trying to get good grades?