Page 61 of Tempting Eden

Was he right?Not anymore.

“Eden?” Jack’s voice.

I broke away from Gray’s smothering kiss. Jack stood just outside the elevator. Disbelief in his eyes at first and then anger and then, worst of all, pain.

Gray sat up and sputtered as I scooted away from him.

Jack advanced like a hurricane, all fury. In one smooth movement, he lifted Gray from the couch and slammed him onto the floor. Gray gasped for breath as Jack settled on top of him, his fists swinging in a torrent of violence.

Gray struggled and tried to hold his hands up in defense. Jack swung through them, roaring with rage as he rained down blow after blow. When Gray finally found his breath, he let out a piercing scream.

The sound shook me out of my disbelief. I jumped to my feet. “Jack, stop.”

He either didn’t hear me or ignored me.

Sick thuds echoed around the room as Jack swung and connected with Gray’s face again and again.

“Don’t you ever touch her, you sick bastard!” Another blow, and Gray’s blood shot out across the shiny wood floors.

“Jack!” I screamed and tried to grab his arm. “Stop, you’ll kill him!”

He reared back, his bloody fist poised to do even more damage.

“Jack,” I cried and tried to hold his wrist. “Please.”

He froze as Gray covered his face and groaned.

Inhaling a deep breath, Jack lowered his fists and got to his feet. I stumbled back and fell onto the couch.

Gray turned to his side and curled up in the fetal position, air whistling through his broken nose.

Jack turned his hands over and stared at his bloody fists, the look on his face changing from one of anger to horror.

It gutted me. “I’m sorry. Please—”

“You.” He rubbed his ribs at the spot where I knew the thick black bars were inked into his skin. “You took me back to that place.”

Tears welled, obscuring him from my vision until I blinked and they rolled down my cheeks. “No. I wasn’t going to do it. Not this time.” I got to my feet and stood in front of him, parts of me dying under his withering gaze.

“Notthis time?”

“You have to understand—”

“I understand it all. You, Gray, the games you play. I thought—” He laughed, the sound hollow and harsh. “—I thought you were this strong, amazing woman. But really you were just a trick looking to score.”

I took his hand. “That’s not true. Not anymore.”

“You broke me down to violence.” He pulled away. “Took me somewhere I vowed never to go again. All so you couldclose a deal.”

“It’s not like that.” My voice broke.

He shook his head slowly, then turned on his heel and walked to the elevator.

I felt the pain that flowed through him because it reverberated in me. “Jack, please, don’t go. Please. Just let me explain.”

What have I done?

He didn’t say a word as the elevator closed, and I lost sight of him.

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