“W-What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. We just have to stop.”
“I thought... I thought you wanted to—”
“I don’t want you.” I regret the words as soon as I say them. They’re a lie.
I wanted it with every fiber of my being.
But I can’t say those words as they will only cause more confusion to her head and my heart.
Too harshly, I state, “This was a mistake, Raven. I’m the owner of this company.”
She glares at me with a fire in her eyes I’ve never seen. “How many times do I have to tell you I didn’t know that when you had me against the door at Silver,” she snaps.
“That might be true. But you know now,” I bite out. “We need to be better. I don’t know what you were thinking.”
“Me?” she cries, eyes widening. “Excuse me. You seem to forget that you’re the one who always backs me into this position,” she snaps.
Her typically sunny disposition is gone.
Embarrassment, hurt, and anger rise to the surface.
I deserve her ire.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter. You’re right. We shouldn’t have done this.” She blows out a harsh breath. “Again.”
“Raven. I—”
“Don’t,” she bites out. “I don’t want to hear any of your fucking excuses.”
This conversation is difficult with her still on top of me. My hands itch to reach out and touch her.
Fucking hell.
“No excuses. I acted improperly, and for that, I’m sorry.”
She seems to realize she’s still on my lap and springs up like I caught fire and she’s trying to escape the flames.
“You did, but at least you had the strength to end it just in time,” she says, eyes lowering to the floor. “Glad you were able to do what’s best for us both.”
The need to say something to wipe the look of mortification from her beautiful face is intense. This wasn’t one-sided. I wanted her just as badly.
“I’m truly sorry,” I say, trying to meet her gaze.
Her head shakes, and her lips tremble.
“Nope. I don’t want even more apologies. Let’s move on and forget all about this slip in sanity.”
“Raven,” I say, shaking my head. “Don’t. I didn’t mean...”
I can’t finish the sentence. I’m not setting out to embarrass her more than she already is. I’m not a complete knob.
She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, appearing to rein in her emotions. When they open, I see resolve, and it breaks me a little.
“Charles, can we do this?”
I pull my bottom lip into my mouth, trying to determine what she means. When she doesn’t elaborate, I ask, “Do what?”