Page 80 of The Devil We Crave
How so? You’re twice my size.
Unknown
Stop being obtuse. You’re much smarter than this.
Unknown
You had a way out. That’s what safe words are for.
I stare at the screen.
Me
What safe word?!
Unknown
It’s been the same since that first night: thunder.
He can’t be fucking serious.
I look away from the phone to collect my thoughts. The girls are talking about Velvet Villainess, but I’m entirely too wrapped up in the conversation with Achilles to focus. Galina brings usanother round of drinks, and I sip on mine as I glance back to my phone and type out a reply.
Me
As if I knew that?
Unknown
Same as you knew it that first night and 100% chose not to use it?
Me
OMG this is an asinine conversation. Your argument is that I should have remembered the safe word which you set up with ANOTHER GIRL?
Unknown
Would that be the girl you pretended to be when you assaulted me?
My jaw drops.
Me
That’s a gross perversion of what I’m saying and a bad faith argument.
God, I do sound like a law professor.
He doesn’t reply immediately. So I keep going.
Me
You’re telling me, HONESTLY, that if I’d said thunder the other day in the library you’d have stopped.
Unknown
I am. And I would have.
Unknown
