Page 21 of Clashing
“Don’tsugarme, you asshole. He didn’t do anything!”
“He had his hands on your ass,” Ryker growled. “And he was planning to do a lot more.”
“So was I, idiot. Until you ruined it!”
He took a step toward me. “You were planning to fuck him?”
“Obviously. Thought that was pretty clear.”
“It was clear.” Ryker took another step. “It was clear in the way you touched him, showed him your tits, flirted with him. It was pretty fucking clear.”
“Then why did you interfere?”
He clenched and unclenched his fists, nostrils flaring. Eventually, he hauled me into the bathroom, locked the door behind us, and caged me against it, his chest heaving.Oh, God.Not thinking about him wouldn’t work now. Why did he look so hot when he was angry?
“Listen here, sugar. As long as I’m here, you’re not going to fuck random guys. You don’t know what they’re planning. You don’t know what they might do, if they might take it too far. It’s fucking dangerous, and you’re too sexy for all of them.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? That’s what this is about? You jackass.” I threw all my weight into shoving him. “One time I made a mistake in trusting the wrong person, and you throw it in my face. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
His eyebrows shot up, and he shook his head. “Scarlett, that’s not what I meant.”
“It’s what you said. You think I can’t take care of myself? You think I’m stupid? I’m not, okay? I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve learned, and I can fucking take care of myself, so don’t you dare treat me like a child!”
“You’re certainly acting like one right now. I’m aware you can take of yourself. But as long as I’m here, I’m going to do it too. Get used to it.” The aroma of leather and scotch wafted more potently the closer he drew. “I have to know. What exactly was your plan? Let him fuck you in the bathroom?”
I lifted my chin. “Maybe. So what?”
“No.” He clenched his jaw. “Not fucking happening. Not with him. Not with anyone else.”
“What do you mean,no? You don’t have a say. We aren’t together. We did exactly what you wanted. We fucked, you left, and you’ve been ignoring me all night, so what does it matter to you?”
“I stayed with you, Scarlett. Like I said I would.” He cocked his head. “Is that why you’re pissed? You thought I left after telling you I’d stay?”
“No, genius, I’m pissed at you for throwing out the guy I wanted to sleep with! And you didn’t stay. Not that it matters.” I averted my eyes. “I woke up alone.”
“Sugar.” His tone softened, and he tipped my chin up. “I had to work. I didn’t want to leave you, but I had no choice, and you needed sleep after what happened. Didn’t you see my note?”
My brows furrowed. “Note?”
“I left you a note on the nightstand.”
My shoulders slumped. “There was no note on the nightstand.”
“Maybe it fell?”
I didn’t think to check.For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, embarrassment burned my face. I jerked out of his grasp and shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. The point is, you have no right to tell me who I can sleep with. You certainly can’t threaten them. You gonna attack every guy who walks in the bar?”
“You gonna try to fuck every guy who walks in the bar?” He stood over me, his presence domineering in a way I shouldn’t have found attractive. “Because then the answer’s yes. I’m going to attack every motherfucker who walks through that door.”
“Why? You haven’t looked at me all night! We had our time, and it’s over.”
“It’s not fucking over.” He dipped his head, our faces inches apart. “You want to know why I didn’t look at you all night? Because I couldn’t, Scarlett. One glimpse, and I’d haul you somewhere to bunch up this fucking skirt. Goddammit, can you not dress normally? Do you have to wear clothes like this?” The muscles in his neck strained. “You’re killing me here.”
Unsure what to say, I blinked. Rubbed my thighs and tried to ignore the ache building between them at his confession. “Why would it be so bad to be with me again?”
“I don’t . . . Fuck, shit,” he spat, retreating. “I just can’t.”
“Because of what happened?” Anger didn’t stop tears from stinging my eyes.Donotcry in front of him again.
