Page 66 of Twice as Forbidden

“Georgie, wait.”

“Yeah?”

“Will you lay with me for a bit? Until I pass out? It shouldn’t take long.”

His lips tip into a half-smile. I nod, slipping out of the room to change. A minute later, I’m back—barefoot and in something soft, and climbing under the blanket. He turns on the TV and lies on his side.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Did… did you ever love me?”

His question tightens around my heart like a vise. I turn onto my side, my voice barely above a whisper. “I loved what we could have been if we both weren’t so messed up. I’m just like you. But I guess I have daddy issues. My father died when I was really young, and my mom replaced him with a scheming asshole who liked to drink and hit women and kids.”

“I’d fuck him up for you if you want. I’d go right now—”

“It’s in the past. I got out before he could do any real damage. My bigger issues are with my dad. I loved him with my whole heart, and like your mom, he left me too.”

“George—”

“We were good because we needed that connection. But two wrongs don’t make a right. I’ll always be thankful for what we had.”

It’s not the answer he wants, but I can’t lie and say he's the one I'm in love with. My heart lies with a man I betrayed.

“Hey, don’t cry.”

“Sorry.” I didn’t realize I was. I wipe my cheek. “I’m fine. I don’t even know why that made me cry.”

“Because you’re fucking human. And the best person I’ve ever known. And that’s not even adding in the sex.”

I laugh. “Now you’re just blowin’ smoke up my ass. I’m sure there have been many admirers in mighty Noah Blake’s life.”

“Yeah. Well… one, but my dad ended up fucking her.”

“What?” There’s no hiding the jerk of my body at his statement.

“No joke. Caught them in his room. She was naked as hell. Who the fuck knows how long it had been going on. That was my last straw with him. Thank God I left for school shortly after. Can’t imagine what I would have done if I’d been stuck under the same roof any longer. I’m too pretty for jail.” As if his words hadn’t just shaken me to the core, Noah closes his eyes, and within seconds, his breathing deepens as he falls asleep.

“My dad ended up fucking her.”

“My dad ended up fucking her.”

“My dad ended up fucking her.”

His words echo in my ears. My heart races out of control. He’s done this before. I wasn’t his first temptation. He told me we would be done after the summer because he didn’t want any ties. I was a convenience. A body he could toy with. Control. This wasn’t about us or what had been growing between us. It was all a game to him.

How could he?

Noah’s door creaks open, and I look up. Jackson stands in the doorway. His eyes burn into mine for a moment before he turns and leaves without a word.

“Jackson, wait.” I rush out of Noah’s room and follow Jackson into his, slamming his door behind me. “Talk to me.”

“Get out of here.”

“No, not until you talk to me.”

He undoes his tie and tosses it on his bed with calculated ease, then finally looks at me, his eyes colder than I’ve ever seen them. “I’m not sure if I was clear earlier, so let me speak slowly. We. Are. Done. Get the fuck out of my—”

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