Free Provoke by Missy Johnson Page A

were, I was looking for a reason to forgive him.
    Slamming the laptop shut, I threw it on the floor and stretched out on the couch, my arms curled around my stomach. My eyes stared into nothingness as I struggled to hold back another rush of tears. No. No mor e. I refused to waste any more tears. It was time I toughened up and dealt with this like a fucking adult. I had to deal with it myself or call the cops, but for God’s sake, I had to stop dragging it out.
    Did I trust him enough to consider the slightest possibility of an explanation?
    #
    I opened my eyes and groaned, reaching for my neck, which felt like it had been folded in half and packed into a briefcase. I sat up and stretched, my hand fumbling for the lamp on the side table behind me. I switched it on, and—
    “Holy fucking shit!” I literally screamed—a high-pitched, old lady scream.
    Mace was sitting in the armchair opposite the couch, his leg crossed over his knee. He looked tired, as though he hadn’t slept for days. Yeah, because he was too busy fucking unconscious women .
    Stop it, I commanded myself.
    I sat forward, struggling to get back my composure as my heart pounded. My eyes darted to my laptop, which sat strewn on the floor where I’d left it. Thank God I’d closed it.
    “Mace. Shit, you scared me,” I gasped, my breathing still laboured.
    He raised his eyebrows, his hand resting on his chin as his gaze burned into me. “I noticed.” He chuckled, his eyes crinkling in amusement. “How are you feeling?”
    “Better,” I fibbed. Bullshit . I was feeling worse than I had all day.
    “You look like shit,” he commented, raising an eyebrow.
    “Gee, thanks,” I snapped. “Why are you here? Didn’t you get my message?” I’d told him I was sick.
    “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” He cocked his head and sat forward, his hands now joined in his lap. “Did you go to my house yesterday?”
    Why the hell had I gone all domestic cleaner on him?? I’d done his washing, for fucks sake, and I thought he’d never know I’d been there? Was I insane?
    Shit. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I could feel my face heating up as I struggled to keep myself calm, when all I wanted to do was let him have it. I wanted answers. Now I definitely looked as though I was hiding something.
    “Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. I needed to get some work done and my laptop died. I didn’t think you’d mind me using yours. I, uh, didn’t think it would be a problem.”
    He stiffened, managing a sharp nod. “No, it’s fine.” His eyes fell on my new laptop lying on the floor. “Here, I’ll have a look at it—”
    “No!” I practically screamed, launching myself at the laptop . Fuck, Leeta. Get a grip. “That’s a new one. The old one is in the bin,” I stammered, hugging the Mac to my chest. He nodded slowly. I almost felt the need to race outside and show him I wasn’t lying.
    “Well, anyway, I brought you over some food. I thought you might be hungry.” An awkward silence followed. He stared at me, and I avoided eye contact. I couldn’t even look at him. All I could see were the faces of those girls, just lying there.
    Please just leave. Please, please, please.
    “I might go to bed, try and sleep this off. You don’t mind, do you? I’ll call you later, okay?” For a moment I thought he was going to argue, but then he simply nodded.
    We both stood up. He walked over to me and attempted to kiss me. I freaked out and backed away. Way to go, Leets. You’re doing an awesome job at being inconspicuous.
    “Leet, what the hell is up with you?” he asked, running a hand through his hair. His forehead creased as he waited for me to answer. He towered over me, his presence enough to make me weak at the knees. The worst thing was I didn’t know if that was lust, or the fact that he might be a rapist.
    “Nothing. I just don’t want you catching whatever this is,” I mumbled weakly. God, I was such a bad liar. How was it that I managed to