Chapter 16 Harry #2
“You really think you know so much about me, don’t you?
” My spite was clear, but it was well deserved.
“And I thought I knew you. I thought you respected me enough to treat me as an equal. Really, Dom, I…” I bit back my emotions, even though I still glared at him.
“What the actual fuck were you thinking?”
Silence ballooned between us as he stared at me, but I wouldn’t crack first. I wasn’t the one on trial here.
“There was never any respect in this.” He slumped back in the chair as his lips twisted. “I can’t even say there were any good intentions. All of it was wrong.”
There was another pause. The pain leaked out of both of us, and I was scared I was going to say something that revealed too much. Or maybe it was already too late.
“I asked you here to tell you that I want you to stay away from me,” I said, digging my fingers into my thighs. “I don’t want you anywhere near me, my family, or any of my friends. I want you out of my life.”
“Harry…”
“No. This can’t be a surprise. There’s nothing you can do to fix this. Every party, dinner, social event, whatever involves my family, you’re out. You are not to tell anyone what you’ve done. Nothing that could risk my image in any way. Is that clear?”
A rush of anger crossed his face, and he suddenly stood. A beat of shock whipped through me, and I reacted on instinct.
I kept telling myself to hold my ground, but the second he rounded my desk, I shot backwards, jolting out of my chair.
If he even so much as touched me, I would have given in. And I wouldn’t forgive myself for it.
His chest rose as he took a deep breath, and his gaze skipped over me while I tried to keep myself composed.
“You honestly never want to see me again?” he asked, his voice heavy.
“Why are you asking that as if it isn’t obvious?” I replied, clenching my fists at my sides. I needed to keep myself strong, but I had always had to look up at him. I’d forgotten how much I liked how he was taller than me.
I shook my head, biting the inside of my cheek as heat flared in me again.
“Did you think I was just going to turn around and forgive you as soon as you told me you loved me? That I’d be – what?
So overjoyed that it would wipe the slate clean and I’d break up with Molly and jump into your arms?
” I rolled my eyes behind closed lids at the ridiculousness of it, even though I’d already planned to end things with her.
“What you’ve done is unforgivable.”
“And yet,” his voice curled around me, taking on that low timbre that made me shiver in the night. “I can see you still want me.”
“Stop,” I said, glaring at him, but my shudder gave me away.
I watched him move, as if I were outside of my body. I wasn’t trapped behind my desk or a door. I just stood there, torn between hate and love as Dom came closer.
Because I wanted him more than I hated him for what he’d done.
Standing in front of me, I felt the need that burned off his body, responding to mine.
“Come on, Harry.” Dom bent nearer, casually reaching for my tie as he drew me in with the dark desire in his eyes.
“You know what this is. You can feel this running between us,” he said with the same rasp he had after I came in his mouth.
“I’m never going to get rid of you, not when I know how beautiful you sound moaning for me.
” Nerves flipped in my stomach, my heart spasming at the thought of what he could do to me if I let him.
“How can I ever trust you again?” I asked.
“Don’t,” he whispered. “Don’t trust me.” I wished he wasn’t so sincere. I could almost believe him when he looked like that.
He lifted a trembling hand, his fingers tracing my cheekbone as he held me. “Just listen to me when I tell you I love you.”
I shouldn’t have made a sound. Kept my mouth closed, my breaths easy. But the simple brush of his fingers lit me up, and my lips parted. I tilted my head back, turning my chin to lean into him and feel him one more time before he left. That was all.
“Harry,” he said, his voice filled with warning as his fingers twitched against my skin.
I flattened my lips as I caught myself, pulling out of his grasp, but his fingers followed, sparking annoyance at myself for my own weakness.
“I’m not doing this with you again,” I said.
“Are you sure? They say third time’s the charm.”
I forced back my smile. Even though I wanted to laugh. It wasn’t the time for it. I shouldn’t forgive him so easily. I shouldn’t even let him touch me.
I pushed his hand away, but he took his chance, twisting his wrist so our fingers entwined.
Dom kept holding us as he lowered our hands, near enough that all it would take was one move from me and we’d meet exactly where I wanted it.
“You know how good this feels, handsome. You know how fucking right we are for each other.”
I wanted him to stand back. But the louder part of me, the one that made me drag him to my lips two times in a row, wanted him closer.
And Dom answered. The only warning I had was his gaze dipping to my lips before he surged forwards.
But I was so, so ready for him.