My mind spun like a carousel from behind my closed eyes and my head rang with the staccato thrum of my rapid heartbeat as I tried to keep up with Tristan. He was kissing me hard, devouring me with the intoxicating sensation of his flavorful mouth.

An uncanny mix of pleasure and pain knotted in the pit of my stomach. Each flick of his tongue vibrated into my entirety, sending ripples of pleasure shredding through my body. My legs quivered, threatening to buck. His kisses were hungry and needy.

"Tristan." I breathed, dizzy and overwhelmed with twisted desire. What was I doing?

He slid his mouth over to the column on my throat, leaving open-mouthed kisses on my feverish skin. I released a shuddering breath. His hand on my waist snuck underneath my shirt and he cupped my breast, brushing my nipple with his thumb, tugging at it, rolling it. A harsh breath broke loose from my throat and I found myself involuntarily arching into his touch.

He brought his lips to mine again and his tongue dipped into my mouth. I shut my eyes tighter as blood pulsed faster in my veins. My pussy trembled and tightened. If he continued I was going to cum from overstimulation. I could feel my climax building. But I didn't want to cum. I didn't want him to think it was okay to treat me the way he did and get away with it. Maybe it worked for his previous flings, but not me.

Gathering my senses, I tore my mouth away from his and recoiled. "Tristan stop." I rasped, allowing air back into my lungs.

He stopped immediately but didn't let me go. He stood just as he was, one hand inside my shirt, squeezing my breast.

"I can't do this," I told him, shifting my eyes down to his thick erection straining at his pants. "Not right now. This is all too much for me."

"What is?" His breath was harsh, he was breathing heavily, his eyes dark with lust.

I admitted firmly. "You."

He exhaled. "Sienna, we can still-"

"No." I stopped him. "Don't try to convince me to push through with this and have sex with you. I know you just spilled your heart and confessed you wanted me but I'm still hurt. I can't pretend that you didn't just whip me with your belt. I can't pretend that it doesn't...hurt."

There was an agonizingly long pause that accompanied the change of atmosphere that grew so thick it almost hurt to breathe.

Suddenly, he disconnected from me completely, pulling his hands away, and a cold chill hit my skin at his absence. He didn't say a word, he just continued to stare at me with a hint of restrained lust in his eyes.

He wanted this. He wanted me but I couldn't give him what he wanted. I wouldn't. I was in pain. He caused it. He really hurt me and even though a part of me wanted to pick up that belt and hit him back until I didn't feel pain anymore, I didn't indulge. I even still allowed him to touch me but that was it.

When he still didn't say anything to me, I cleared my throat and spoke. "If you'll excuse me." Then I sidestepped him and made a beeline to the bathroom. I didn't even want to think about it. My head banged too much to think. I just needed another shower. I needed to be alone with my thoughts.

Inside my bathroom, I locked the door and briefly leaned back against it. A moment ago I'd felt the adrenaline rush. It filled my veins, spurred me on, and gave me this vicious resilience that made me feel inebriating and out of control, but now that it was gone, the only things I felt were pain and despair. Tears pricked my eyes. It hurt, God, it hurt so much and I wondered if I would ever truly forgive him for this.

Maybe I would. No, I knew I would. I was that gullible. It was my weakness. But who could blame me, he'd confessed a lot tonight, much more than my heart could digest.

I closed my eyes and relived the moment.

I didn't think I would have much effect on him. My ex, Jackson always made me feel like I wasn't sexually appealing enough and although I felt that was partly because he'd been gay all along, deep down, I believed it.

I wasn't as sophisticated and confident as most women. The feminist in me was dead. I had zero class and didn't command heads to turn when I walked into a room. I was just the simple girl who wore thrift clothes around like a loser.

Maybe that was why Tristan chose me; because he thought I was easy to toss around. He already thought I was a gold digger here for his money, he might as well use me for the sex too right?

Who was I kidding?

I sniffled and chuckled bitterly at how stupid I'd been believing he was actually attracted to me. He probably just said all those words so I would let him fuck me again and I would've, I wanted to.

Cheap. That's what you are Sienna.

Of course, he wanted just sex! What else would a ten out of ten extremely rich man want to do with me?

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

I didn't realize I'd been crying until the tears leaked down my cheeks and stained my shirt.

God, I was a mess.

Wiping my nose with my shirt, I walked to my bathtub and turned on the tap. While it filled, I pulled my shirt up over my head and shoved my thong carefully down my legs.

I didn't dare look at myself in the mirror.

When the water filled to my liking, I turned the faucet off and lowered myself into the cold water, hissing sharply when my ass made contact with the marbled flooring. It felt like a million razor cuts all over my ass and back.

I didn't know how long I stayed in the tub but I knew that long moments later, when I finally got out, the burns became less pulsing and more bearable.

Delighted, I wrapped a towel around my body and walked into my bedroom, half expecting Tristan to be gone by now but he was there, sitting at the edge of my bed, head bowed.

He lifted it immediately and his stormy eyes met mine.

Looking at him made the urge to cry return but I quelled it and asked. "Why are you still here?"

He got up and took a few steps toward me. "I got you some ice bag and medications."

My eyes shifted to the tray on my bedside table. "I don't need those." I refused, taking a bold step to turn away and pad over to my drawer. I didn't feel comfortable knowing this piece of furry material wrapped around me was the only article of clothing protecting my vulnerability.

"You have to take them." He said from behind me, and my shoulders tensed when I felt him take another step towards me.

"I don't need them, Tristan, I just want to go to bed."

"You need them for the pain." His tone was firm, irritating me to shits. I hated when he spoke to me like that, as if he was the sensible and smart one whereas I was nothing more than an obstinately disobedient child who never listened.

Peeved, I swiveled round and pinned him a glower. "If you cared so much about my well-being you shouldn't have turned me into your punching bag and whipped me so I wouldn't have needed to worry about any pain." I snapped. "But no, you just had to be you."

He looked at me as though I'd kicked him in the balls with my words but it was the truth, he'd treated me in a degrading manner and he needed to thank his stars I wasn't reporting him to the feds.

"I know what I did, Sienna."

"No, I'm not sure you do." I fired.

He sighed, running his hands through his hair. "What can I do, I'll do anything."

"I don't need you to." I bit, still glowering at him. "Don't do anything, you'll only make how I feel worse. Just go."

He took a step. "Sienna-"

"Please leave Tristan." I cut him, feeling angry and sick all over again. "I can't deal with you right now."

He was silent, looking at me. My eyes darted away from him and settled on my vanity chair he had broken.

One moment passed.

Then two.

He took a step, then another. He started walking again but it wasn't towards the door, it was towards me.

I moved back but he just kept walking until he was standing in front of me, his dreary gaze holding mine. I held my breath. Having him this close to me, smelling him, feeling the heat of his again, made my knees weak. I shifted back, unable to bear the tension that came from standing in his graces. "This isn't where the door is."

"I know." He finally spoke, lifting his hand up and I flinched, closing my eyes, scared he was going to hit me but his hand pushed my hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ear.

I opened my eyes slowly. The way he was looking at me... He lowered his head and kissed my temple.

My eyes grew wide and I blinked rapidly as every cell in my body vibrated from his unexpected timid gesture of tenderness.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning, Sienna." He whispered, and the small amount of actual care I felt linger in his voice stabbed my heart. I wanted to think the worst of him but he made it so damn difficult.

I turned away from him, blinking back the tears I didn't want him to see. "Leave now," I repeated with a quiver in my voice.

His warmth evaded me and I knew he was no longer there.

The door opened.

My heart sank.

The door closed.

I slumped forward and sobbed.