Page 39 of Denim & Diamonds

February’s face twisted. “What?”

I nodded. “Mr. Three-Piece-Suit. Told mefucking youwas addicting.”

Her head pulled back. “You spoke to Tobias?”

“Tobias?” I scoffed. “Figures that’s his name.”

“I don’t understand. How did you speak to Tobias?”

“Does it matter how I found out your secret?”

“My secret? Tobias coming was not a secret.”

“Well, you sure as hell didn’t mention it to me, and we spent the entire day together yesterday.”

“That’s because I hadno ideahe was coming.”

“Sure you didn’t.”

“Are you serious right now? You don’t believe me?”

“It doesn’t matter what I believe.”

“It does to me.”

“Why?”

“Because I care about you, you big doofus! And ifyou weren’t so pigheaded, maybe you could see that you care about me, too!” She looked away for a few heartbeats, and then pushed up on her tippy toes and got right in my face. “Why did it upset you when you found out Tobias visited me?”

I gritted my teeth. “You know why.”

“Yes!” She raised her hands into the air and waved them around. “I do know why! But you can’t even admit it to yourself.”

I stared at her, saying nothing.

“How would you feel if I told you I let Tobiastouch me, Brock?”

My face was on fire, and it felt like steam was billowing from my nose and ears.

“No response?” She moved closer. “How would you feel if I told you I let Tobiasfuck methen? Would that make you jealous?”

I closed my eyes, doing my best to hang on to my last shred of control. “Please stop.”

“Not until you tell me you were jealous!”

“Of course I was fucking jealous!”

“Then why don’t you do something about it already?”

My chest heaved up and down. She was so damn beautiful, so damn perfect, so not afraid to call me on my shit. I couldn’t resist her anymore. Cupping her cheeks, I backed her against the wall. I wanted this woman more than anything I’d ever wanted in my life, and it scared me to feel that out of control. So I took a deep breath and attempted to pull together whatever restraint I had before bending to kiss her. Just as my lips were about to connect with hers, she put a hand on my chest.

“Brock…wait.” February’s eyes met mine. “I’ve learned a lot about myself these last two weeks, and I am not going to allow myself to be used by people anymore. I want this as much as you do, maybe more. But not like this. You’re drunk.”

Fuck.She was right. I hung my head. “I’m sorry.”

She smiled sadly. “So am I. But if you ever want to kiss me while sober, just call. I’ll be waiting.”

***

---