With a Twist by Heather Peters

and threw them across the room.
    "How could you come here after what you've done?"
    To his credit, Shane looked absolutely guileless. “What I've done?” His smile vanished.
    "Don't play me for the fool. At least be honest enough to admit that you took pity on the newly divorced forty year old, and charmed her into your bed. I trusted you. I opened myself up to you, and you just smiled and played along. And in the process, you got laid too, didn't you?"
    Heads turned at her tirade, but she didn't care. She just wanted to be alone. But, it was not to be.
    Shane grabbed her and led her into the empty area where they'd made love on the pool table.
    He fucked me all night on that table.
    He held her arms in a death grip to keep her in place. She wanted to run, to scream to hit him, anything to make her feel better. But she was forced to listen.
    "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about. Yeah, Elena told me it was your birthday, and yes, she asked me to buy you a drink and cheer you up."
    Ava pulled from him but at the same time, missed his touch, his kiss, the way he smelled of spice.
    "Look at me Ava. Look at me,” he shook her arms, and she had no choice but to meet his gaze.
    "But what we did, what we shared, was no act. I wanted you, and I pursued you. What's the difference if it was planned?.
    "Let me go."
    "No. Listen to me, damn it. This is just an excuse to break things off, isn't it? You're so hung up on this age thing a guy like me can't possibly be attracted to you? I'm right, aren't I? Look, I don't care how old you are. Fuck that. You are the most sexual, passionate woman I've ever known. Your body is lush and hot and inviting, and I haven't been able to think of anything else since we've been together."
    "Get out."
    "Not until you hear me out."
    "I've heard enough, Shane."
    "You're not the only one who was hurt.” The boom of his voice stopped her. “My fiancee cheated on me, too. She destroyed me when she left me for an older guy. Her boss, no less. How fucking stereotypical is that? So you're forty and divorced. I'm twenty nine, and was screwed over by a woman I thought loved me. You think you're a failure, try living with the fact that you've been dumped for a fucking forty five year old asshole."
    Ava stood still as a stone. The pain in his voice brought tears to her eyes. Yes, we've both been there. No, don't fall for his empty words. He played you, felt sorry for you.
    Yet, she couldn't move.
    "Yeah, I've had women since Brittany left. I don't have to be cajoled or forced into fucking a woman because I feel sorry for her."
    Did he read my mind?
    "What about you? Maybe you fucked me because I'm young and available. Yeah, maybe you saw a younger guy and you figured, I'll fuck him for a while, have some fun, and move on to the next asshole. Maybe you're one of those cougars. An older woman who prowls for younger guys.
    She stomped her foot. “Shane, that's ridiculous, you're turning this around on me. I can't talk to you now. Just leave me alone."
    He let her go so fast she nearly fell back. “Yeah, I'm going."
    She wrapped her arms around herself. Her voice broke, and she didn't care if he could see her tears. “I trusted you."
    "Don't insult me. If you think so little of me that a little misunderstanding could do this to us, you had no trust to begin with.” He threw out his arms and a scowl marred his gorgeous features. “I came here to tell you I've fallen for you hard. Ava I love you, I want you, forever, you and me. Seems I was mistaken. Goodbye."
    No, he didn't love her. It couldn't be true. Could it?
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Chapter Nine
    After Shane's departure, Ava harnessed just enough energy to run up the stairs to her small apartment and shut the door behind her. She couldn't seem to catch her breath and nausea trampled her like a steam roller. She barely reached the bathroom in time to empty the contents of her stomach.
    Allowing the tears to come, she slid to the floor, her