A Jade's Trick (Lilly Black's Jaded Series Book 1) (56 page)

"That's what I love about you," Cain says.  "You're so strong.  When you left me, I could barely look at you because I knew if I did, I wouldn't be able to let you go.  Then you took off your clothes and pranced out the door naked, and I knew you'd be okay.  I knew you were strong enough, and I had never loved you more than in that moment." 

"You have a funny way of showing it," I say, flat and cold.

"I've shown it by remaining faithful to you, Evan.  I've never been faithful to a woman in my life, but with you, it isn't even an issue.  I have no desire for any other woman, and that never changed for a second while we were apart."

"You knew it wasn't really the end.  I didn't have that luxury."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying..."  I pause to choose my words carefully because on the tip of my tongue is a ticking bomb with the potential to destroy us forever, though at the moment, I can't say that I would give a fuck if it did.  "I'm saying you're not the only man who has ever wanted me."

"Don't try to hurt me like that, Evan.  I know you didn't make good on your threat at the hotel.  The same bodyguards who told me you were drunk at the bar were outside your room all night."

"You think I'm not clever enough to get what I want past them?"

"What have you done?" he asks.

"It's none of your fucking business what I've done.  You threw me away, remember?  You told me that I was just another notch on your bedpost.  How was I supposed to know you were just saying it to chase me off, like returning some rehabilitated animal to the wild?" 

"Evan, I..."  Cain begins, his expression softened as he reaches out to me, but I dodge him.

"I'm not the sort of wild animal to just hole up licking my wounds, Cain."

"What did you do?" he demands, and when I don't answer, he threatens me.  "I'll get the security video from the hotel if I have to."

"You domineering fuck!"

"Tell me what you did, Evan!" he commands, grabbing my shoulders and bracing me.

"I think you know," I hiss.

"I want to hear you say it!" he roars, his brilliant blue eyes judging me, setting my fury ablaze, making me want to hurt him as much as I possibly can.

You're playing with fire, Cain,
my eyes warn, narrowed as a smug grin spreads across my face.

Burn me,
his eyes reply, and so I do.

"That night at the hotel, I offered myself to you.  I offered myself to you, and you rejected me," I say.  "But Matt didn't."

Checkmate, motherfucker!