He crosses his arms. “I begged you, Tess. Literally begged you to come back to me. And what did you do?”
“Stop.” I wish I could put my hands against my ears.
“What?” he yells. I jump at his anger.
“You killed me,” he says. “You took my heart and ripped it out. So yeah, you’re right. I turned into a different person.”
“I can’t do this. You shouldn’t be here.” My eyes scan the room.
“Relax, Tess.” His voice is strong and reassuring like a warm blanket. “This is the only place I should be.” He stalks toward me, graceful, like a dark, sleek panther.
Run! flashes like a neon sign in my brain. I back away until I hit a wall.
His warm breath is at my ear. “What do I need to do to get you back?”
My breathing is harsh. Again, he robs me of thinking clearly. He’s too close. His fresh Reed smell makes me almost groan with want.
“Kitten?” It sounds like a caress. I want to tell him he is not allowed to call me that anymore, but what’s the point? Instead I nod my head yes.
“When Robert showed up that morning, I didn’t panic because I was positive my father would send one of his planes and you would be back. When that didn’t happen, it all spiraled out of control for me.”
He looms over me, forcing me to look at him.
“I was like a drug addict without his fix. You were my drug.” His thumb rubs my lips, his eyes fixated on them.
“I had Jax, but you are my soul, my life,” he murmurs so close I can smell his minty breath.
Then he pulls back, his arms caging me in. “Your father wouldn’t let me visit you. Every time you told me that you were coming back, I believed you. When you started lying, the pain was something I never want to go through again. It broke me, Tess.”
I prepare to defend myself, but his eyes stop me. “No. You did and by the time you told me the truth, it was like you took that piece of my soul I had given only to you and sliced it out of me.”
“Reed please…” I don’t even know what I’m asking for.
“Let me finish. I was not mature enough to understand or believe that you would come back.”
A sob escapes me. This time I do cover my ears. He’s making me the bad guy. I can’t be the villain. He grabs my wrists tightly, pinning them on top of my head.
Twisting in his grip, I say, “Let me go, Reed. I had no choice!” I’m frantic. If he touches me, I’m doomed.
“No choice?” His eyes pierce mine. “You had a choice. I told you I would take care of you. All you had to do was come back to your mother. But after two years of listening to your pathetic excuses, I gave you an ultimatum. And you chose your fucking father!” He’s so close, his full lips almost touch mine. “Why, Tess?” His grip punishes my wrists. “Why didn’t you come back to me?” His voice is pleading, almost hoarse.
“You never gave me a chance to explain. I called you, wrote to you. But you never even called back,” I whisper, chest heaving.
His eyes examine my face then move to my breasts. The room that was so large a moment ago has shrunk. The intense attraction that has always been with us has been unleashed at last.
He leans his forehead against mine. “What would have been the point? To make myself suffer even more? Just keep dragging it out?”
“You’re hurting me! And you’re a liar!” I spit out.
He pulls back slightly, then drops my wrist and runs his hand through his curls. “Fine, Tess. I’m the asshole.” He grabs my chin “You’re not a victim. Don’t tell me you’re still pure! I might have betrayed us first, but I’m positive you are no saint.” He sneers.
I’m stunned. Slowly my mind begins to process his words. “You shit!” I push him back hard. But he’s like a tank, barely even moving.
He arches a dark brow at me. Not even stopping to think, I slap him. His head snaps back. I go to hit him again, but he grabs my wrists.
“Watch it, Kitten.” He grits his teeth.
“You selfish ass,” I say, trying not to think about my stinging hand, which he’s holding way too tight. “You don’t deserve to know about my personal life. Get out. Don’t make me call Carlos—he’s not a nice man.” How dare he make himself feel better about betraying me! I should tell him. Watch his smug face crumble with my truth.
Narrowing my eyes on him, I hiss, “Let me go.”
“No, I think I like you like this. I have you right where I need you.”
“Fuck you, Reed. No matter how you twist it, you did this. You didn’t want to wait for me.” I try to free myself, causing his fingers to tighten. “God, you’re such an asshole!” I try to wrestle my hand away. “Admit that you wanted to fuck other girls. That you can’t be faithful! I deserve better.”