Page 81 of Clashing
“You’remine, Scarlett.” He fumbled with my shorts. “If anyone’s taking you to that show, it’s me.”
His.I wanted to be his and I wanted him to be mine. Some of the fog cleared. This wasn’t going to help me get over him. I couldn’t sleep with him again. He knew what I wanted. I knew what he wanted, and I couldn’t give that to him anymore. Our physical attraction couldn’t distract me. While great for my body, it was terrible for my emotional state.
I pushed his hands away. “Stop.”
His face crumpled, his arms falling to his sides. “Why?”
“I can’t do this with you.” I slid off the bar. “You need to leave.”
“Don’t.” He cupped my face, blazing emotion flickering in his eyes. “Don’t tell me to leave.”
“Ryker.” I retreated from his touch, unwilling to cave. “Go. I can’t do this. I’m going out with Collin on Saturday. This isn’t okay.”
“Scarlett, don’t go out with him.” His hand stretched toward me without making contact and I told myself I imagined the longing in his voice. “I’ll fucking take you to the show.”
“We don’t want the same things.”
“That’s bullshit! You want me and I want you. Stop complicating it. You can’t date someone else.”
Amazing how quickly he could jerk me from horny to pissed off.I swear.No one got under my skin like he did.
“Why not? You didn’t want me!” I threw my arms up. “Now someone else does. You can’t have me do whatever you want and not commit to me. That’s not fair. I told you what I wanted. You’re being an asshole and a hypocrite. You left with a woman last night!”
“I told you,nothinghappened. I didn’t sleep with her, Scarlett. I came here to talk to you, and she showed up and told me her husband hit her. That’s why I left with her, but I made it damn clear we wouldn’t be sleeping together or anything else. She was in a bad place and needed a ride to her hotel. I was beinga friendto her. Nothing else.”
A married friend you go at it like rabbits with.It didn’t matter. He wasn’t mine. “Ryker.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It’s not my business what you do. And it’s not your business what I do. I’m going out with Collin, and you have no say. Now, go home.”
“So your feelings for me are gone? Just like that? I thought they were strong, but you say yes to the first guy who comes your way? Some fucking feelings.”
“Don’t be an asshole,” I hissed. “For your information, I probably would’ve said no if it weren’t for what he planned for us to do. You didn’t want me, Ryker. Did you think no one ever would?”
“I never stopped wanting you, Scarlett.” He flexed his hand. “Not once.”
“You don’t want me like I need to be wanted.” I snatched his arm and pushed him toward the door. “I need someone who wants me for more than sex. I need more, and Collin’s offering that. He’s taking an interest in my interests. There’s nothing wrong with me exploring that.”
“Give me a fucking break, Scar. He doesn’t care about your interests,” he snapped. “I saw the way he looked at you. He’s hoping this stunt will get him in your pants. That’s what he wants. To fuck you.”
Anger boiled through my veins until my hands trembled. He didn’t think of me as more than that and assumed no one else would either. I wastiredof this. Tired of fighting. Tired of defending myself when I didn’t need to.
Ryker came into my life like a lightning storm, beautiful and exciting but dangerous up close.
Thinking about it made me more pissed off. Pissed off and hurt that he didn’t see me as anything but a fuck.
“You’re such a prick!” I shoved him toward the door. “Is it so hard to believe he has a genuine interest in me? I’m not a sex doll. I know you don’t think of me as more than that, but he does. At least he’s showing me some fucking respect, which is more than I can say about you. Stop trying to make me feel bad and get the fuck out.”
“Scarlett.” He didn’t budge no matter how hard I shoved him.
“Goddammit, Ryker.” Tears blurred my vision, and I jabbed my finger at the door. “Get out. I can’t look at you. I’m not nothing, so stop treating me like I am.”
“Scarlett, I’m sorry.” He stepped toward me. “Don’t push me away. I want to talk to you. Hear me out. Let me say what I wanted to say Friday.”
Normally I gave into him. Normally I let things slide. Today, I couldn’t.
“I said get out!” I backed away and wrapped my arms around myself. “I’m not going to fuck you if that’s what you’re thinking. I regreteverdoing it in the first place. That’s all you want from me and you’re not getting it, soleave.”
“Fuck, Scarlett, let me talk. I don’t—”
“Dammit, Ryker, leave!” I turned away, embarrassment heating my face as the tears spilled. “I hate that you’re seeing me like this. I don’t want to hear what you have to say. Leave me alone.”
