“What in the hell is your deal? For the past month you’ve been playing with me, and now this?” he thundered. “I knew something was up, but didn’t expect such a sucker punch. You weren’t looking at me with disgust in your eyes while I was devouring you on the kitchen island.”
As he said this, he took a step closer, and Elena’s heart pounded. She had to go on the offensive, and fast.
“You have no clue who I am, do you?” she snapped, poking him hard in the chest.
That question seemed to take him aback for a moment. He traced her face with his eyes, but no comprehension set in.
“Dammit, Elena, if I had slept with you before, I’d remember,” he said. “I’ve had more than a few relationships — I’ll admit that — but I don’t forget the women I take to bed. What in the hell have I done to piss you off so badly?”
He wasn’t letting her get around him in the bathroom, but thankfully, he wasn’t touching her either. She couldn’t handle that right now. His statement crushed her more than she could have imagined it would.
No, he hadn’t slept with her. He’d screwed her. And then tossed her aside and forgotten all about her.
“You Knights just take and take and when you’re finished doing that, you leave a wake behind you a mile long without once ever looking back. So, this might not have been the best plan in the world, but I wanted to make you feel something like loss — at least once in your life. You’re selfish and hurtful and you deserve to want something that you can’t have.” Elena pushed against him, trying to get past.
Tyler grabbed both her wrists with one hand and held them above her head as he thrust her against the wall.
“Explain now.”
His voice was now deadly calm, which was far worse than if he were yelling.
Her voice trembled slightly, but she spoke in a rush. “We knew each other once, Tyler, but I don’t expect you to have any comprehension of that ...”
“When did I know you?” She could see the wheels spinning but nothing was hitting home.
“It doesn’t matter, but there was a time I cared about you, and you so quickly and easily forgot about me. And then we saw each other again you might as well have thrown me to the wolves. Wait! That’s exactly what you did. The person I once knew — I had thought was kind and he was my whole world. And then I watched you through the years, seeing all your exploits in the papers. You don’t care about anyone but yourself. That’s how your family operates. You’re just like your father. He must have taught you well!”
Thunder was raging in Tyler’s eyes as she continued speaking, but they narrowed dangerously when she brought up his dad. That might not have been the best move on her part. Anger had made her lash out. Fear made her say foolish things. And right now she was feeling both of those emotions.
“First of all, you will tell me how we know each other. If I’ve somehow wronged you, I deserve to know why,” he said, the anger in his voice barely contained. He paused for a moment. “And I am nothing like the evil bastard who gave me life. I won’t tolerate being compared to that man.”
She should stop. She knew she should stop, but so many emotions were rushing through her and she couldn’t seem to keep her damn mouth shut.
“Really? I disagree. I’ve studied you for years.” She started choking on her words, and stopped before reminding him of their onetime friendship. He didn’t know who she was and there was no reason to bring that up.
“I want to know who you are right now.” He was so commanding, she almost told him. But somehow she stopped herself.
“It doesn’t matter, Tyler. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be with you,” she told him.
“I know more about you than you think?”
“You don’t know anything,” she said, far less calmly than he had.
“Want to test it?”
“I want you to unhand me, unless you make a habit of forcing yourself on women,” she said.
Tyler instantly released her and took a step back.
“Believe me, I don’t need to force myself on anyone,” he said before moving to the bathroom door and holding it wide open. “You can get the hell out of my house.”
The coldness of his voice sent a shudder down her spine. Elena didn’t say anything further; she just skirted around him and ran to his kitchen to find her slacks and shoes.
She grabbed them, put them on quickly, and left through his front door, shivers racking her body.
Now what was she supposed to do? He’d driven her there, and she had no idea where she was. She walked to the end of his driveway, which took her a good ten minutes, and when she reached the gate, a cab sat there waiting.
It looked as if Tyler had sent more than one woman from his house this way if he could get a cab there that fast. She scrambled inside, gave the man her address, and used every power within her to keep herself from crying.
She’d been downgraded. Last time he’d screwed her, he’d at least offered her a limo ride home. Now, she was delegated to a stinky cab. It was her choice this time, though.
She’d done what she’d set out to do. It was just too damn bad that she felt like crap about it. Revenge had seemed so satisfying when she’d thought it up initially. Now, it just left her feeling hollow and more alone than she’d ever felt before.
Chapter Fifteen
Who in the hell does she think she is?”
Tyler’s two brothers looked on in fascination. They’d been nearly silent for the past half an hour as he ranted on and on about Elena and her scheme. He couldn’t stop himself.