Chapter 2 #2
Reaching out, I rest my hands on his firm shoulders and lean down to whisper in his ear.
“Does it make you angry to think about Cayden fucking me? Or does it make you a little hard, thinking about what you want so badly but can’t have?
” My hands trail from his shoulders to his chest, and I bring my lips to his neck, just close enough to barely graze his skin as I say, “I’ll let you have me one last time.
All you have to do is remove me from the shell company and shred that marriage license. ”
His hands come to my waist, tugging me a bit closer. When I glance down at his lap, I see the hard outline of his cock, and I can’t deny the shiver it sends down my spine.
One of his hands trails up my side and to the back of my head. Grabbing a fist full of my hair, he gently tugs until I’m standing again, then pulls me in until I’m flush with him, his head right at my chest level.
His hands skim my sides as he drinks me in, and even through the fabric of my dress I can clearly feel the roughness of those hands, how those fingers used to dig into my skin, how his palm used to redden my flesh in the most delicious way.
He tilts his head back finally to look at me, heat and hatred battling for dominance in his gaze.
“As tempting as that is,” he says, his voice carefully controlled, “I think I’ll stick to my original offer.” His hands move to my hips, gently squeezing as he says, “So, what will it be, sunshine?”
“I’m not marrying you,” I hiss, pushing at his chest and backing away from him, angry that I even let myself get that close to him in the first place. Like some offer of my body would get him to change his mind. I should have known the sick bastard wouldn’t let me go that easily.
He shrugs. “Then your name is staying on the shell company.”
“You can’t coerce me back into your life.” I storm around to the other side of his desk to put a barrier between us again. “I’ve told you a thousand times that there’s nothing you can do that will make me want to get back together with you.”
He pushes to his feet and leans forward, pressing his palms into his desk, the harsh set of his face at odds with his cool tone. “And I’ve asked you a thousand times why you left in the first place. Five years later and you still can’t give me a goddamn answer.”
“Because it doesn’t matter,” I snap, all the careful control I’ve tried to craft fleeing for the door. “Because I don’t love you, and that should be enough of a reason to not want to be with you.”
I pivot as Blake storms around the desk, getting in my face and pushing close enough that every inhale has my chest brushing against his. He’s trying to intimidate me. To bully me into giving him what he wants, but this is one battle he won’t win.
Squaring my shoulders, I poke a finger into his chest just as he grabs it and says, “That’s a lie.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Blake.” I rip my finger free from his grip but don’t step away. “Not everyone is in love with you.”
“I never said everyone.” He leans in, his front completely pressed to mine now. Cradling my jaw in both of his large hands, he tilts my head back so I’m forced to look at him. “Just you.”
Tugging my face from his hands, I step back. He doesn’t follow, but the clench of his jaw tells me he wants to. It tells me he wants to do a lot more than just crowd me, but I refuse to go down that path again.
“Give me my check and I’ll be out of your hair.” I pick at a fingernail, desperately trying to maintain my mask of indifference and failing miserably.
Every cell in my body hums with the need to step into him, to feel that strong chest pressed against mine again.
To feel his breath on my ear as he whispers sweet words to me.
To smell his deliciously masculine scent of oak and leather.
To taste those full lips as our mouths tangle in a battle of passion and dominance.
But it can never happen. We can never happen.
My chest aches.
“Trace—”
“My check, Blake. Please.” I hold my hand out expectantly.
He watches me, searching my face for any crack in my carefully constructed shield, and I pray he doesn’t find one. When his face hardens and his mouth sets in a grim line, I know my shields have held, but they’re badly dented and scraped by this point, barely holding on by a thread.
When I feel like I can’t possibly withstand his penetrating gaze any longer, he finally turns on his heel, stepping behind his desk again and pulling an envelope from a drawer.
He tosses it onto his desk in my direction without so much as a word before sitting back down and turning his attention back to his laptop.
“Thank you,” I say, barely louder than a whisper as I grab the check.
I don’t look at him again—I can’t—as I turn and head for the door. Only once I’ve pulled it shut behind me do I let my shields down. It takes every ounce of strength I possess not to crumble. To not fall back against that door and completely break.
Mustering as much fake confidence as I can, I head back downstairs and out to my car, tossing a quick goodbye to Emery over my shoulder on the way out.
Slipping into my car, I can feel the pressure behind my eyes and the sting in my nose, my emotions threatening to break free. I’m just about to concede to the aching in my chest when my phone vibrates.
Riley
I miss you already :(
Dammit.
The tears break free, and I swipe at them furiously. I’ve lost the love of my life and now my best friend is leaving yet again, and it hurts. It hurts so damn much.
Me
Stop that. I still have over a week with you
Riley
I know. But that’s how I feel. And my therapist always says I shouldn’t hide what I feel *eye roll emoji*
A laugh escapes, and before I know it, I’m ugly crying and laughing.
Riley’s been seeing a therapist since her entire ordeal last winter, and she’s come such a long way in her healing journey. Maybe I should find my own therapist. Lord knows I’m barely managing all this hurt by myself.
Me
Look at you, actually listening to your therapist for once lol
But seriously, I’m proud of you
Riley
Yeah yeah. Can you come to my tattoo appointment tomorrow? Emmett can’t make it and I want someone else’s opinion on the design
Me
I’ll be there. Love you
Riley
Love you too Trace
I stare at my phone, absorbing Riley’s words and letting them fuel me.
I’ll get through this. I have to. It’s the only possible outcome.
Because the alternative is nothing but more pain for Blake, and I can’t live with myself if that happens.