Page 37 of Dash

He leaned in for a kiss, but in that moment, the forces that had driven me to indulge my desires and forget my grievances retreated. My emotions boarded a rollercoaster ride. The memories of those photos returned to haunt me. The images shattered me again. The old wound ripped open, aggravated by a severe case of self slut-shaming. I’d done the very thing I’d told myself not to do. I’d given in to Dash like the smitten fool I’d always been.

I’d had my break. Now came the pain.

Chapter Ten

Thena

What had I done? I stiffened in Dash’s arms. He noticed. He noticed everything.

His arms fell away from my body and his gaze sought mine. “Thena?”

Taking a big breath, I pushed up from his lap and reached to the floor for my clothes. I did the naked walk of shame, cursing myself for my lack of self-control. He, on the other hand, was fully dressed and in control. As I donned my panties and stuffed my legs into my pajama bottoms, Dash’s stare burned through me, sad and implacable at the same time, resigned but also rebellious.

His disappointment percolated through my veins as painful as poison. I wanted to cry. Instead, I buttoned my top.

“You don’t want me,” he concluded in a flat voice.

I scoffed. “It’s more that I can’t want you.”

He curled his hands into fists. “Why not?”

I pulled my shoulders back. “You know why.”

“Do I?” His stare hardened. “A moment ago, I was on my knees eating your pussy, trying to show you something. Now you’re putting me on ice. Climate change has nothing on you.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen. You have a certain effect on me, and you’re right, I needed the release you gave me.”

“In hindsight, sounds like you would’ve taken it from anybody.”

“Watch what you say,” I snapped. “I regret what happened just now. I shouldn’t have allowed it.”

“I don’t regret shit.” He narrowed his eyes. “What is this turn around about? Are you afraid I can’t protect you?”

I rolled my eyes. “Your hangup, not mine.”

“Then this has to do with that thing you said, about me betraying you, isn’t it?”

I gritted out a firm “What’s the point of rehashing the past?”

“Oh, there’s a point,” he ground out. “There’s a damn good point for rehashing the past. So let’s do it.”

“Dash, I—”

“I know I let you down when Nix died.” He snatched his cane from the floor and settled it across his lap. “I’ve apologized for it a million times.”

“I told you.” Heat ignited my cheeks. “This is not about Nix.”

His eyes darkened until they were almost black. “So you say, but I don’t buy it.”

“Nix’s death wasnotwhat ended us.”

“You’re right.Youended us.” He stood up, planted his feet apart, and settled both hands on his cane’s knob. “I seem to recall you screaming for me to get out of your father’s penthouse. You threw the ring I gave you in my face, and then you had security kick me out.”

“I had to do that.” I raised my chin in the air. “Youmade me do that.”

“Did I?” He shook his head, radiating irritation. “Very well, then answer this: if Nix’s death wasn’t the reason for you breaking up with me, why then did you kick me out of your life on the day of his memorial service?”

“You know what you did.” A tide of anger flooded my brain. “You betrayed me.”

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