“When? I don’t remember that?”
She looked sheepish and her eyes darted back to the coffee maker.
“You had one made, didn’t you?” The words were more a growl than anything else. “And you got the door code. How long have you been sneaking into my place?”
“I haven’t been sneaking…not really,” she said.
“How. Long. Have you had a key?”
“About six months.”
“Jesus Christ. Did you stay here while I was overseas?”
“No, I just popped in once in a while because I missed you.”
“You dumped me on the tarmac as I was leaving for Europe, and would be gone for six weeks.” The words were brisk. “Howdareyou?”
“You know we’re always on again off again.”
“Who came in and slammed the door, Essie?”
She shrugged. But it was an ‘I know but I’m not going to say’ shrug. She grabbed the coffee grinds to fill the basket.
I snatched the bag right out of her hand and hurled it across the kitchen, slamming it into the wall. “I’m not fucking playing with you, Essentia! I have a completely legitimate sexual assault claim on you. I have messages on my phone telling you not to come over, and you did anyway.Andyou decided to give me a blow job without my consent! I ought to call the cops and have your ass hauled out of here.”
“You wouldn’t!”
“Who was here!”
“That stupid drummer of yours.”
My heart plunged into my stomach.
Oh.
No.
Aaron had seen her with her lips on my dick, and me moaning.
“You stupidbitch.”
“Don’t call me that!”
“You just ruined my relationship with Aaron! What the hell else am I supposed to call you? He’s never going to believe a word out of my mouth—especially since he hasn’t texted me in four days!”
The guilt washed over her face, and she turned back to the cabinet for something else. I stalked up to her and slammed the cabinet. “What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“You’ve lied to me how many times already? You think I believe yournothingwhen you won’t look me in the eye? Why hasn’t Aaron called me?”
“I blocked his number.”
“He’s my damn drummer, Essie. Why the fuck would you do that? Even if I wasn’t in a relationship with him why would you do that?”
“He’s a passing fling.” She flipped her hand dismissively. “We just have to work ourselves out. I mean, really Maddox? A guy? God, I hope you didn’t fuck him.”
My fist went right through the cabinet door next to her head. I knew that was an abusive move, but for God’s sake, she’d sexually assaulted me. “Get the fuck out of my house. Get out. Don’t you ever dare show your fucking face around me again. Not ever.”
