A Hurt So Sweet Volume Three (Elite of Eden Falls Prep 3)

He gets up then, walking away from me as I stare behind him.

"We can't do this."

"Because?" I cross my arms over my body, shielding it from his view. Even this small gesture seems to piss him off, and Dex glares at me with contempt-filled eyes.

"Because you're..."

"I'm what?" I glare icily. "Damaged goods?"

"Don't fucking put words in my mouth." He runs a hand through his hair, sighing. "You're not mine to break anymore."

"That's right," I mutter. "I'm nobody's. See? No ring on my finger, no fiancés left."

"Yet you somehow fucked us all," he smirks, pointing to his dick. "Here." Then, he points to his head. "And here."

I shrug carelessly, getting up from my seat and striding to where I left my bag. "Anyway, I brought you some notes. Figured you might want to catch up at them."

Dex stares me down as I hand him the notes and swing the bag over my shoulder.

"I'm going now."

He doesn't try to stop me, making my bottom lip tremble, and I walk to the door and out into the hallway. But before I can make my way outside, Dex is standing before me, blocking my way out.

"Stay," he says, the single word as devastating as it is simple. "Please, can you stay with me?"

I don't think Dexter Booth has uttered the word please once in his life, but I ignore the urge to snap at him, and give him a simple nod instead.

"I'll stay," I agree. "But under one condition."

"What's that?"

It's my turn to smirk, and I do so with pleasure. "You don't make any attempts to fuck me again."

8

Pandora

Dexter takes a step closer to me, gently brushing his fingers through my hair until it's all gathered in his fist.

"You don't want me to fuck you?"

His words are a gentle caress against my skin. I shiver involuntarily, staring at the floor while I shake my head. I lose my confidence so quickly around Dexter Booth. It's as if he can flip a switch that makes me go from feisty and rebellious to meek and timid in a split second.

"No," I finally mutter after a long pause, but even I'm not convinced by my answer.

"Okay." He sounds so sweet, caring. Too bad I know that's far from the truth. "I won't touch you, Pandora. Stay a little while longer, will you?"

I manage to nod, fighting every instinct in my body not to beg him to touch me again. His fingers have left my skin cold and covered in goosebumps. I hate myself for how weak he makes me. That he's turned me into a puppet despite my best intentions to fight him. Something about the boy makes my knees weak. Something about him makes it impossible for me to say no.

"I'll stay." He takes my hand then, gently leading me back into the living room. He pulls up a blanket and some pillows and arranges them on the rug in front of the fireplace, motioning for me to sit down. I follow his instructions, watching silently as he adds more wood to the fire. Finally, he joins me on the rug, keeping a safe distance.

"I need to tell you something," he begins. Alarm bells go off in my head, but it's hard to listen to them.

I feel something happening. A panic attack, again. My body shakes on the inside, but remains frozen on the floor. I hear Dexter speaking, explaining something about his family, but I'm so far away I'm barely aware of the words coming out of his mouth.

"Dexter," I squeak, and he shuts up, staring at me with his brows knitting together.