Page 18 of Checkmate
“Turn around,” he commanded. Her heart leapt at his tone, finding herself complying before she could stop herself.
Who knew he had it in him?
He was usually so respectful, so careful not to push her boundaries. Honestly, it bored her to tears. But this? She liked this.
“What do you think?” She asked, turning back to face him. He shrugged, looking over her again.
“It’s fine.”
Fine?
“O-kay,” she said, elongating the word. “Do you not like PVC?”
“I like it just fine,” he replied. She waited for him to continue, feeling herself getting warm as her ears tinted pink.
The problem couldn’t be her. Could it?
“Do you not like it on me?” She asked, chuckling as though the idea was preposterous. “I mean, obviously it needs some heels. Maybe some—”
“I already said it was fine,” he said, pushing off the sofa. “Is there a problem?”
“Fine?” She repeated, chuckling again. “Just…fine?”
“It’s a perfectly acceptable word, Sophie. I’m going back to work.”
Wait, what?
Sophie stood frozen to her spot as Marcus took a seat back at his desk. He lit another cigarette and turned his attention to whatever the fuck he’d been working on for the past week, Sophie already forgotten.
“Marcus?” Crickets.
He didn’t even look up, tapping his pen against the page as he blew smoke over the trash surrounding him.
“Marcus, is everything okay?”
She was ready to try it on with him, just to see if he still had it in him. He always complimented her and made her feel as though she was incomparable.
“Everything is fine, Sophie,” he replied, taking a drink of whatever alcohol he’d settled on today.
“Stop saying that word!” she screeched, balling her hands into fists. “You’re clearly not fine!”
“What makes you say that?” He asked, turning his head.
“You’ve been in a mood all week. There are three empty bottles of whiskey on the kitchen counter, and I’ve lost count of how many cigarettes you’ve been through.”
She took a breath, pushing her hand through her hair. “You barely talk to me. In fact, you’ve barely spoken more than a handful of words this entire week. And now you’re insulting me.”
“I’m hardly insulting you, Soph,” he said, rubbing his fingers into his temples. “I didn’t say you looked bad—”
“But you didn’t say I looked good either! What happened to you, Marcus? Don’t you want me anymore?”
Marcus laughed. It was a harsh, condescending sound that darkened his features as he turned his head to look at her.
“You’re asking if I still want you? After you have turned me down over and over for… fuck, it’s been so long, I don’t know how long it’s been.”
“It’s not been that long,” she muttered, knowing she was lying. She could pinpoint the day when she stopped sleeping with Marcus.
“And you’re lying to yourself,” he said, spitting his words. “But if you need to fuel your ego, then fine. You look stunning, Sophie. As always. Now get the fuck out of my face. I’m busy.”
