Page 42 of Sun-Kissed Fangs
“That’s how it’s supposed to happen.” Harper tried a casual shrug, but the movement felt stiff. “You have safe words so you can let your partner know if there’s something you don’t like. You’re not supposed to like punishments.”
“That isnothow safe words work. They’re meant to ensure everything happens safely and consensually, no matter the context.”
Harper rolled her eyes. “Okay, calm down, will you? You’re making it sound like Kieran committed a crime or something.”
“Hedid. Safe words should not be disrespected like that. They aren’t toys to have fun with, and they should never be taken away as a means of punishment. If Kieran did that, then heassaultedyou, Harper.”
Harper almost dismissed the accusation again but stopped herself. Stopped herself fromdefendinghim, something she’d been doing for months. She’d just done it internally rather than with an audience present.
But lying to yourself was easy. There were no people around to pick apart your arguments.
Kieran was great in the beginning. Patient, careful, and protective to the point where it got annoying. But after a while, he changed. Started making demands rather than requests, responding to her comments with snarls rather than laughter.
He’d liked being rough with her, too; something Harper had far from minded. The light, dizzying feeling those moments could produce was wonderful enough that she’d let Kieran do things she wouldn’t normally have allowed. He was the one with all the experience, after all.
But there was a difference between liking rough sex and only being able to get off if your partner acted like they wanted you to stop. Especially if you insisted on keeping that part of the relationship secret, under the guise of wanting privacy.
He’d made her believe it was normal. And he’d made sure she didn’t talk to anyone so she couldn’t find out how much of a filthy liarhe really was.
Harper shot up from the chair. She didn’t even bother picking up the money from the vanity, only pausing to grab her jacket before rushing towards the door.
Maya grabbed her hand, making her stop.
“Harper, wait—”
Harper wrenched free. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
Tears had risen in her eyes. Becauseof coursethey had. Harper hated crying in front of people, and sherefusedto cry in front of Maya. They’d fallen into a routine, one of friendly flirting and shared laughter, and it didn’t involve that worried tone Maya was using.
Worrying about her was useless. Not only did she behave in the dumbest ways possible, but she kept being a problem. Kept starting fights, kept falling for the wrong people, kept beingstupid. If she wasn’t that last thing, she wouldn’t have been blind to Kieran’s behavior until a third party pointed out how messed up it was.
She hurried outside through the back door. It didn’t slam shut, as someone caught it before it could close and then fell in right behind her.
Harper gritted her teeth. “Go away, Maya.”
“I’m not doing that.” She sped up until they were side by side. “You’re not walking to your car by yourself.”
Harper kept her eyes on the corner of the lot. The streetlight above it had shattered, so only a faint outline of her car could be seen.
“How strange. I seem to be experiencing déjà vu,” Harper said. “Once again, I’m being followed across the parking lot by someone I explicitly told to get away from me. You and Kieran might be more alike than I thought.”
The comment was as mean as it was unfair. But it was effective. Maya stopped, letting Harper walk ahead on her own, even though her absence only lasted for a brief moment.
“I’m not like Kieran.” Maya went against that statement by falling in next to Harper again. “I get that you’re upset, but him manipulating you isn’t your fault.”
Then whose fault is it?Kieran might be the prime scapegoat for this, but he hadn’t made her maintain a relationship that required blinders for it to be working. And she’d happily worn hers, staying with a man who was worse than any other asshole she’d been with, just because he’dbrieflymade her feel safe.
She started walking faster. “You don’t know anything about how I’m feeling.”
“I know you’re blaming yourself when you shouldn’t be. Kieran lied to you. You’re not in the wrong for believing someone you thought you could trust.”
Harper dug her nails into her palms. Not only did Maya sound understanding of all fucking things, but she was also ignoring that Harper didn’t want a goddamn pep talk.
It wasn’t surprising, actually. She had a gift for being attracted to people who started out charming and then revealed themselves to be monsters. Maya might be as bad as Kieran, just in a different font.
“I don’t need you tocomfortme.” They’d made it to her car. Harper pulled out her keys, unlocking it. “I also don’t want company right now. Repeating myself isn’t making me want to change my mind.”
“Harper—”
