Page 151 of Brutal
I stop in front of it.
Feel him behind me.
Closer.
Closer.
“You said I don’t understand,” I say.
“You don’t.”
“Then explain it.”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
I turn. “Everything with you is ‘it doesn’t work that way,’” I say. “You decide. You control. You lock things down and expect me to just accept it?”
“Yes.”
A laugh escapes me. “Not happening.”
His hand comes up fast. And I’m pinned back against the door. The chain rattles. Metal against metal. The lock shifts behind me.
“You keep pushing,” he says.
“So do you.”
“I push to keep you alive.”
“And I push because I want the truth.”
“You’re not ready for it.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
His hand tightens just slightly around my throat.
Enough.
Always just enough.
“You think this is a game,” he says.
“I think you don’t trust me.”
“I trust you,” he says quietly. “I shouldn’t, but I do.”
“Then stop shutting me out.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“Then show me.”
The words leave before I can stop them.
We both feel it.
He drops his gaze to my mouth again.
