CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

It was an implicit threat, but it hung between them like a guillotine. My gut twisted into a painful knot as bile seemed to rise up his throat, and he felt the sudden urge to vomit. I needed to get the hell out of here and put as much space between himself and Arlys as he could before this spiraled any further out of control.

"This is not going to work, Arlys," I said as firmly as he could, and even that quavered under the strain. "Whatever it is you're trying to do, it's not going to work. I won't let you use this against me."

My lips had reminded her of a snarl, hissing back at her as she pressed her body even closer, warm puffs of air brushing against his skin. "Oh Brandon," she purred, fingertips running down the center of his chest, "I'm not trying to use anything against you. I just want to remind you of what's real here. You had your little fun with me last night, and now there are consequences. You can't just pretend like it never happened.".

Brandon licked his lips nervously,