The Entanglement [Charlie Barber]

Chapter 11: Eye for an Eye

A/N: not a very long chapter, but some things are cleared up and Charlie rips us a new one, so buckle up babies. ;)

One week ago...

Charlie laid on the bed, still trying to catch his breath as he heard you walk out of the room and let the door slam shut. You left him, used and abused, on the hotel bed without even a second thought.

Pain, both mental and emotional, lingered in Charlie's veins. He knew how important aftercare was in this dark world and how damaging it can be when left to fall by the wayside, especially after you tell someone they are "nothing".

He stared at the ceiling, chest rising and falling as he started to find his breath again. The pain of rejection was soon replaced with pure anger as he lifted himself off the bed, shamefully cupping his hands close to his torso trying to keep his cum from dripping all over the bed and floor.

Once in the bathroom, he cleaned himself off alone and without anyone giving him praise or tenderness. He washed his hands and gazed at his own reflection in the mirror. His eyes began to mist over as he clenched his jaw to hold back the tears. He quickly looked away, hating how emotional he was becoming. He turned around and twisted the shower faucet on. He fully undressed himself and stepped into the steaming, hot shower.

He let the water pour over his broad shoulders and back, taking his time to let it comfort him while dipping his head back to cover his hair. He turned slowly to face the stream, running his hands through his hair, still feeling tightness in his chest from frustration. He paused with his head hanging low as the hot water cascaded over the nap of his neck, trickling down the rest of his body. He stayed there for several moments when a sob finally escaped him.

Charlie realized that he showed you this world without really giving you any guidance on how to be a true dominant. He had only been focused on the submissive part, not giving any thought that the tables would turn and he would become the submissive. It all happened so fast, and he had never experienced it from the other side before. Although he did enjoy the act of being a submissive, he learned that he needed boundaries and most importantly required the aftercare.

Maybe he did need a safe word after all, he thought.

It became apparent that he would have to talk to you about it if he was going to continue seeing you in this manner. He'd have to lay his pride down on the table and somehow share his true feelings with you; something he hadn't done since his marriage. He cringed at the thought.

He'd have to be vulnerable, he'd have to be honest, he'd have to open up...

Or...

He could just show you how it felt.

____________________________________________________________________________

You didn't get one ounce of sleep on the hard floor of your apartment. Between how you left things with Charlie after the play and the stress of having to stop by your shared apartment with Ben to retrieve your belongings, a restful mind had abandoned you.

You sat up, pulling your knees into your chest and hugging them as you glanced around the small room. Sadness and rejection was still swimming in your heart and it made you feel less than worthy. Why did he treat you like that? Why did he say that he hated you? And why did you still long for him when he was being such a dick?

You considered that you stumbled head first into the most toxic relationship you'd ever been in.

He hated you??

You obsessed over those words in your head, wondering why he would say it. You must have done something that pissed him off.

Thinking back to the hotel room, you only did what you knew he wanted... degrading him only made him want you more. So that couldn't be why. Was he upset that you didn't sleep over afterwards? That shouldn't constitute him hating you.