Page 36 of Piggy

Charlotte

Every step closer feels heavier, like drowning, the ground threatening to crack, taking my allies with it. I lift my gaze slowly, heart thudding, throat dry.

Grayson doesn’t smile. His eyes, those gold flecked hazel eyes, sweep over Ashleigh and Matt with cold calculation. It’s not jealousy. I can tell. He’s sizing them up.

And God, do I feel scrutinized, too.

“Uh,” I stammer, my voice stupidly high. “Hello, Grayson.”

His gaze slices back to me, and I freeze. It’s intense. Possessive. I swear my knees are about to buckle, wanting to kneel in surrender.

This isn’t normal, Charlotte. Remember that. Attraction? That pull? It’s all there for this man, but it shouldn’t be.

He cocks his head. “Oh. Hello, Piggy.” His tone is like a loaded gun.

Ashleigh scoffs. “Piggy? ”

I laugh nervously, rubbing my arm. “It’s, it’s an old nickname.”

I gesture between them. “These are my friends. Matt and Ashleigh.”

Matt, bless his brave little heart, extends a hand.

Grayson doesn’t take it. Just looks at it, disgusted. But then, he grips it and says, “Soft hands, bro.”

Flat. Dismissive. Even bored.

Matt stammers something, retracting fast. Ashleigh folds her arms, unimpressed.

But Grayson’s already forgotten them. He’s locked on me again. His whole world narrowing to the width of my body.

Thump . Bump.

“What’s that?” I ask, startled by the noise.

“Your surprise.” Grayson leans over the bed of the truck and retrieves a small, wiggly creature.

A pig.

A baby pig.

Wee! Wee!

He hands it to me.

My mouth opens. “Oh my gosh! He’s squealing!”

Grayson chuckles low in his throat, a rare and handsome sound. “Left outside the slaughterhouse in a box. Too small for bacon. Just loud. Cute. Scrappy.”

His eyes soften as I cradle it.

“Reminded me of you. ”

For a moment, I melt. But then Ashleigh’s elbow finds my ribs. She leans in and whispers under her breath, “He just compared you to a farm animal.”

Grayson doesn’t even glance at her.

“Look, if you don’t want him,” he says, brushing the piglet’s black fur, “I’ll find another home. Figured you missed taking care of Atticus.”

My heart stings.

“No! I—”

But I trail off.

Because I’m not sure. And that’s the worst part.

Grayson watches me carefully, then returns the piglet to the crate with a gentleness that makes me ache. The gentleness he only shows me.

Abruptly, his hand pinches a lock of my sleek blonde hair, giving it a firm tug. The wig clips pull at my roots painfully.

“What the fuck is this?” he growls.

Shoot! I forgot I was wearing it. I always hide it in my bag before Grayson picks me up.

“Uh. It’s just something Keysha let me borrow.”

His face darkens. “I told you to wear it natural. Who the fuck are you trying to impress? This tattooed soy boy?”

He points at Matt, who looks a bit lost by Grayson’s aggressiveness, making him take the slightest step back.

But Ashleigh, on the other hand, laughs sharply. “Told her? Charlotte, he told you not to wear a damn wig? This man’s a controlling psycho. Say it. Out loud. Come on! ”

Grayson’s fists curl. He still won’t look at her, won’t dignify her, but the fury simmering under his skin radiates off him in waves. I feel it, just like I can feel his soul in our most special moments. Why does this have to be so hard? Why can’t he be... a little less... Grayson?

He lifts my chin with one knuckle, hard and demanding.

“Controlling psycho, huh?” he murmurs. “That what you think, Piggy?”

I choke on my breath.

“Talk, Charlotte,” he says, deep and clipped. “Now.”

My lips tremble. I blink fast. “I don’t know what I think!”

I’m starting to panic.

Calm down, Charlotte. You can do this. You wouldn’t feel this way if something wasn’t terribly wrong. Listen to your instincts.

Ashleigh persists, a pixie angel on Earth. “Yes, you do. Say it. Don’t let a cute pig make you forget. He didn’t give you diamonds, babe.”

Matt nods. “We’re right here. He can’t hurt you. We’re in public.”

Grayson’s head whips toward them. “Shut the fuck up. Both of you. She’s mine, and this is none of your goddamn business.”

For once, Matt jumps in before Ashleigh. “Yours? Whoa! You can’t own a woman.”

Before Grayson kills him, I reach for his jaw and give a soothing caress to pull his attention back to me .

But he’s pissed. “Tell me. Tell me what you said to them behind my back.”

I flinch, the words bursting out.

“Okay! Fine! I can’t stop seeing that video.

I can’t unsee what you did to Meghan. The way you.

.. talked about making me watch. That was really mean.

I can’t explain how jealous that makes me feel.

And the threats. The cruelty. Matt said.

.. Matt said you’re a sexual sadist. It’s more than I thought I was getting into. ”

He doesn’t speak. Doesn’t breathe. His arms fold across his chest, his jaw sharp enough to cut glass.

“Hold on. Are you trying to break up with me?” he says.

Ashleigh steps between us, fearless. “Yes! She is breaking up with you. You’re out. No more slapping her around or shoving soap in her mouth like she’s your personal torture toy, you demented, woman-hating psycho.”

Grayson’s eyes flicker, not with rage this time, but surprise.

He forces his way around her like she’s a gnat, takes my hands, voice quieter, more dangerous. “You told them that? About our private life?”

I nod, ashamed.

“That fucking little mouth of yours,” he murmurs. “God, what I would do to you right now — alone.”

My stomach flips. Fear and desire course through my veins.

“Hm. I see what this is,” he continues, clutching my jaw tight. “You needed an audience. Wanted to humiliate me. Let these two losers play your white knight fantasy. ”

He leans in, whispering so only I can hear.

“Bet you thought you’d run that mouth and I’d crawl away like a kicked dog? But I’m your fucking knight. Besides, I don’t get dumped. Especially not by a woman stupid enough to climb into my bed and beg for it. For all of me. This is all of me. And you knew it, Piggy.”

Ashleigh laughs, loud and cruel. “I heard that! Quit messing with her head. She told us she wants to leave you, controlling prick.”

The words hit like bullets, but it’s Grayson’s face that guts me. That flicker of betrayal. The disappointment . Like I just ripped out his highly guarded heart and handed it back to him.

“You did? You want to leave me ?” he asks.

“Sorry,” I whisper, but I am still unsure whether I want to fall into his arms or run away.

Matt puffs his chest and steps forward. “So, are we gonna have a problem, man? Because she just made it clear. It’s over.”

Ashleigh yanks me away from Grayson and lifts her chin. “Yeah, and she’s staying with me tonight. So you’ve got, what, twelve hours to move your shit out of her house.”

Grayson stares.

He’s about to rage out.

He storms past her, and suddenly, he’s towering over me, blocking out the world like he always does .

He shakes his head. “These people lost their goddamn minds. But have you?” he murmurs, low and gravelly.

I don’t answer. Can’t. I’m not strong enough. I’m the pig I hate. The girl too wound up to think straight.

He leans in, slow and deliberate, cheek brushing mine — and God, that scent. That spicy, fresh cologne he puts on when he picks me up, reminding me I’m worth the extra effort.

His hand finds the back of my neck, thumb grazing that tender spot that always turns me limp. My breath hitches.

“Not done. I still love you,” I whisper, all dumb.

He smirks, like he knew I’d crack. Like he’s bored because it was too easy.

“Yeah? You tell them that? Tell Matt you love me? Cause he’s been staring at your tits this whole time.”

I flinch. I didn’t notice.

Then it happens.

Both Grayson’s hands slide up smoothly and cups under my tits. No warning. No hesitation. Just a full, possessive grip that makes my breath catch. My bra lifts as he palms them firmly, rude, like he’s staking a claim.

And then—

he kisses me.

Hard.

Violent.

His mouth crashes into mine like a punishment. Tongue pushing past my lips like he owns the space. My knees wobble. The kiss steals my air and gives me nothing but heat and shame-drenched want.

When he pulls back, his lips drag against my cheek, and he growls in my ear.

“Did you also tell them how you begged for my cock after I slapped that bratty little mouth?”

A pause. His breath scorches.

“Or how you sucked me clean with soap still on your tongue?”

My chest caves. My brain glitches. I freeze, caught between humiliation and the filthy pulse between my legs.

Then, his hands drop.

My tits fall, heavy and jolted from the sudden lack of support.

“You want to be independent? Fine.” His voice is steel. “You want to rewrite our sex life as abuse? Go ahead.”

His voice falters barely, and his eyes flash with something I can’t name.

“But don’t you fucking lie and say you didn’t want this. This is who I am. And you—”

He leans in close.

“You begged for every inch, and I gave it to you.”

“Grayson...” I whisper, chin trembling. “My mind wants me to leave you. But you touch me and... I can’t.”

“No shit,” he says, disinterested, because he’s already two steps ahead .

He looks at Matt. “If I ever see you with her again, I’ll break your fucking teeth against that curb.”

Then at Ashleigh, a flicker of disdain.

Without a doubt, he hates her.

“And you. You wanna play miss hero? I am a sadist. Don’t tempt me to prove it. I’d let five men ruin that mouth if it meant you’d shut the fuck up.”

Ashleigh gapes. Matt steps back, tugging gently on her arm.

Then Grayson grabs my wrist, pulling me to the truck like the fight’s over, like it was never even a question.

And once we’re inside, engine rumbling, doors shut tight, I barely get the words out: “Please, don’t hurt me.”

He turns slowly. “I’m not gonna hurt you, Piggy. Not yet.”

We drive home silent, his jaw tight the whole way. I curse myself, envisioning my impending, painful doom.

And the moment the truck parks—

He lunges.