Page 20 of Cruel King
Why this person revels in seeing me miserable, I have no idea, but no matter what he claims, he’s enjoying this. What I don’t understand and he won’t tell me is what I ever did to make him hate me like he does.
I turn to leave once more, crushed at how this has turned out between us yet again. I want to scream or punch something—no, punch him—but it’s no use. Some people will never like you no matter how nice you are to them. Matthias King just happens to be one of those people with me.
“Whatever you think I did to you, I’m sorry. I’d fix it if I could, but I officially give up, Matthias. I won’t bother you from now on.”
As ridiculous as it sounds, I start crying again. I can’t understand why my emotions are so all over the place when it comes to him, but this time I don’t try to hold back the tears. Maybe it’s the pain in my ankle. Or maybe it’s the thought of having to walk back home in the blizzard that’s still raging outside.
No, it’s neither of those things or anything else but the fact that of all the members of the King family, only this one has ever made me feel like I’m not enough. That I’m merely the help he can dismiss whenever he chooses.
I can barely see the door through my tears as I slowly make my way toward it to get the hell out of this horrible person’s bedroom. Some part of me keeps thinking he’s going to apologize before I leave in a few seconds, but I hear nothing behind me, almost as if he’s not even there.
A few years ago, my father warned me to stay away from the oldest King son. I didn’t understand why because he knew how close I’ve always been to Theo, and he never explained what he meant. He just told me whatever I did to not bother being nice to this one.
I thought my father was being overprotective as usual because I was sure even though everyone, including Theo, said Matthias would never be anything but the cold soul he was that if someone showed him true kindness and friendship that he’d reciprocate. But they were all right and I was the one who didn’t understand.
Matthias King is simply a mean person who enjoys hurting others. Now I can say I’m one of those he’s hurt.
As I reach for the doorknob, I feel something on my shoulder. I look back to see him standing right behind me shaking his head. Did he say something, and I didn’t hear him?
“What?”
Typical for him, he doesn’t answer me. He stares down at me like he wants to say something, though.
“Do you have something terrible you forgot to say to me? I guess this is your last chance since once I leave this room I never plan to even look at you again, much less speak a word to you ever again in my life. So what is it? Want to tell me I’m ugly or nothing compared to those women in those magazines of yours? Now’s your chance because in a second I’m out of here.”
“No, I don’t think that.”
I’m beginning to wonder if he’s being charged by the word, but since the Kings have more money than God, I doubt he’d care about paying for every nasty syllable he wants to utter to me. I stand there waiting, but all he does is stare at me with those deep brown eyes that look cruel and sad at the same time.
But I can’t let myself get wrapped up in feeling bad for him.
“Fine. Great talk. Thanks for being the person everyone says you are. I’ll make a point of telling your brother he was right about you.”
For the second time in our current little standoff, something I say makes him wince, and for a split second, I let myself wonder why he looks so unhappy. Then I come to my senses, thankfully. He doesn’t deserve to have me care about his happiness. Not after all the terrible things he’s said to me today.
“I’m sorry, Ava.”
The words come out like someone’s pulling them from his throat. Is it really that hard to apologize to me after how rotten he’s been today?
“For?”
I don’t want to let him off the hook so easily. Normally, all I need to hear are those words and I’m ready to forgive people for virtually anything. Not with Matthias, though. He’s hurt my feelings too many times just in the past few hours for me to be my usual kind self.
He hesitates for a moment before answering, “Actually, no, I’m not sorry.”
That’s it! I’ve been nice and once again he set me up to knock me down. Now he gets both barrels of my anger.
Spinning around so we’re toe to toe, I point my finger up in his face. “You know what, Matthias? Fuck—”
I never get the chance to say the word you before he leans down and presses his lips to mine in a kiss that takes my breath away. In a flash, it’s like he surrounds me, and I have nowhere to run.
But I don’t want to leave now. I want to feel more of his lips softly touching my lips and his tongue teasing mine.
My head spins as he gently pushes me against the door I couldn’t wait to reach just a minute ago. Now I can’t think of anything but staying in this room with him.
When he lifts his head and looks down at me, I want to ask what’s going on. Or why he’s kissing me if he hates me so much that he can’t stand to have me around. Or a million other questions that would help this make sense.
Yet I don’t. I simply stare up at him in the hopes that he’ll finally say something so I understand him.