Page 2 of Tainted Gifts
He winces, and then he jerks me into his arms before I can protest. His lips devour mine, and his delicious taste pours into my mouth, gathering a few chuckles from onlookers. I grip him too tightly as the desire inside me takes over my will to stay away, and I feel the wall against my back. The burn from the eyes watching us doesn’t faze me or him.
All I want is him right now. I need him.
“I’m yours, baby. That hasn’t changed,” he almost whispers against my lips before returning to our incredible, breath-stealing kiss.
Then I finally push back, my whole body folding forward as I grip my aching side.
“What?” he prompts, panic stinging his tone.
“Nothing. Just go, Jase. I can’t do this,” I murmur while keeping my doubled over position.
The pain is almost unbearable, and I’m grateful for the acid-resistant contacts Simone gave me, when a few tears slip free.
“Aria, what’s going on? Where are you hurting?” he murmurs softly while his eyes inspect me, his mind listening in.
Everywhere.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
“Damn it, Aria. Tell me what’s going on,” he adamantly insists, urgency lacing his tone.
Stupid ass.
He takes a step back, and then he shakes his head as if in disbelief.
“If this is because of our breakup, then come back. You know how much I love you. Don’t do this to yourself for no good reason.”
I slowly stand up, my mind forcing the pain aside as my eyes meet his again.
“No good reason? Jase, I trusted you. Over and over you told me I could trust you, but you never trusted me with something as ridiculously mundane as this,” I scoff while barging past him.
“Aria,” he grumbles while grabbing my arm and turning me back around. “If it’s so mundane, then why not just drop it? Why make this so fucking colossal when it’s not necessary? You know I love you, and obviously you love me. So why do this?”
My eyes narrow and teem with fury for his complete oblivion.
“The detail was mundane. The fact you chose to include so many from my family while excluding me, that's colossal. The fact you told me you loved me while refusing to trust me as much as I trusted you… that’s pretty fucking colossal. Yes, I love you, but I’m hoping that will fade.”
Soon.
He winces as my mind’s prompted plead finds his ears, and then he looks away just as a guy awkwardly comes to join us - his eyes careful not to meet ours.
“Commander Ericson, I’m sorry, but it’s time to start the meeting.”
Jase sighs while gripping his head, and then he nods to the man with a begrudged motion before returning his gaze to me.
“We’ll return to this conversation later,” he almost whispers, and I just roll my eyes while walking away.
No need. My mind isn’t changing.
His breath comes out hard enough to find my ears from across the room, but I don’t turn around. I just quietly take the seat beside Simone who laces her fingers with mine the second I sit down.
She gives me an encouraging smile, but her eyes pour out pity.
I hate pity.
Jase straightens his tie as he takes his place behind the podium in the enormous hotel banquet room. I feel sick as I stare at the spellbinding man who broke my heart.
He lips thin as I try to think of something else, anything at all to keep from distracting him right now. I’m sure his head is already killing him, considering it isn’t just my mind he’s overhearing.
