Descent (Black Heart Romance presents Heaven & Hell)

exactly why I sent them.
I shake my head. “No. I need my phone back. And see, you like when I have my phone. We both
win if you just let me have it.”
The corners of his lips lift a bit, but his gaze drops. I feel like he’s displeased that I’m asking for
my phone back, and I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal. “Do you remember what I said about
how much I enjoy when you try to manipulate and control the situation?”
I press my lips together in feigned consideration. “I believe it was something like, ‘only I’m
allowed to do that.’”
He nods. “So you do remember.”
“I do. Do you remember how I mentioned this relationship has a power imbalance that’s really
uncomfortable for me? Demands like that only deepen the divide.”
Something I’ve said clicks, I see it in his eyes. His faint irritation is wiped away, replaced with
a sort of patience, like I’m a child not understanding a simple lesson. “This shouldn’t be comfortable,
Hallie. Not right now. It’s brand-new, a dynamic you’re totally unfamiliar with. Of course you’re not
comfortable right now. Stop expecting to be. Do it even though you’re not comfortable. I am not a
comfortable man, but I believe you can adjust to me. You can become very comfortable, but only if
you stop resisting and trying to control everything. I won’t let you, so until you do, we’ll be locked in
a power struggle that won’t be much fun for either of us. You have to let go and trust me.”
Trust is an obscene thing for him to demand from me after all he’s done. “You want trust you
haven’t earned, Calvin. Trust is built over time, I can’t just give it to you.”
“Yes, you can,” he disagrees. “Give it to me on a contingent basis for now if you have to,
however you have to convince yourself to give in and give it a try. Trust is built by watching your
partner come through for you again and again. Consistently seeing them prioritize you and make the
right choices. I understand things began with us in a…” He pauses to look for the word. “Less than
ideal way, but we’re in this now, and it’s a separate thing. You weren’t my girlfriend that night, you
were a stranger. I will still use you whenever and however I please, but now that you’re mine, I
assure you, you can trust me to take very good care of you.”
“It wasn’t just that night, Calvin. You blackmailed me,” I remind him, before glancing around to
make sure no one overheard.
“To get you into the relationship,” he says calmly, as if that was a completely fair thing to do.
“Now you’re in it. If you behave like a woman in a relationship instead of a prisoner with one eye
glued to the door, I won’t need to blackmail you any further.”
I fold my arms over my chest and stare at him. “But do you hear yourself? It’s still an option if I
don’t fall into line.”
“Absolutely,” he says, unflinchingly holding my gaze. “Understand this, sweetheart.” That’s a
twisted endearment to use considering his next words. “You’re mine no matter what. I’m the winning