Page 95 of Book Boyfriends
“If he were worthy, he would be here. He would do every underhanded thing to get what he wants. That’s what a man does when he loves someone.”
“And I assume you’rethatman.” Fire rages in my veins.
“You have no idea what lengths I would go to”—he prowls closer, causing me to move backward—“in order to get back to the woman I love.”
“Back?” I breathe as my back hits the wall.
“Yes, back,” he snarls. “I would walk through fire, face any foe, and even pretend to care foryou, if it got me back to Cecily.”
“But you?—”
“Pretended.” Smirking, he lets out a dark laugh. “Silly Georgia, so desperate to be loved. You are but a means to an end. I would do anything to break this curse. In no world—either mine or this one—do you compare withher.”
The venom in his confession stirs memories of Will, his caramel smooth voice dripping with pity the last time I spoke to him after Lena’s confession.No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t get Lena out of my system. She’s not just in my bloodstream, but who causes my heart to pump.The memory of whimpering, “What was I?” and his indifferent, “Not her” hits like a knife plunged into my heart alongside James’s admission.
James towers over me, his hand lifted to my cheek. His soft strokes contrast with his icy stare. It’s coolness causing me to shrink inward.
“You are pretty enough, pet, but you don’t compare to any of the women we were forced to leave behind because of your wish. Not Selena. Not Ivy. And certainly not Cecily.”
“You read the books.” My voice is shaky.
“In hopes they would help me find a way to break this curse. They were rather educational.” He mindlessly twirls a lock of my hair around his finger. “Owen believes there are pieces of you in each heroine, and he is not wrong. Though I believe each woman is more aspirational than reflective of you. You pale in comparison to each.”
You’re not her.Will’s words and James’s insult play together like playground bullies taunting me. That somehow all of this is my fault, because I’m not who they want.
But this isn’t about what they want, it’s about what I want.
I swat his hand away. “If that’s true, then why go for me. Even if you’re pretending, none of this makes sense. How would making me fall for you—which I didn’t because you disgust me—how does this help you? How does what you did to Davis help you?”
“First, he is a distraction. You need to pick one of us or figure out how to keep your promise, not get caught up in a romance with a man unwilling to fight for you. Second, if one of my compatriots was meant for you, my hope was that my flirtationwould spur them to act. Jealousy can be quite the motivator. Though it appears that was for not. Neither of them wanted you either.” A serpentine grin tugs at his lips. “Third, I hate to lose.”
Will.Acidic bile crawls up my throat, choking my ability to speak. Charming. Competitive. Manipulative. It’s all Will, wrapped up in my duke. Just like Will, I had no idea who James truly was.
Green eyes locked on me, his arms bracket me, caging me in. “Fourth, I had hoped that while I was trapped here, we could have a little fun. You may never be Cecily, but there is nothing that says you would not be an enjoyable substitute.”
“I am nobody’s fucking substitute.” I slam my hands against his chest and push him away.
“Now, now, my lady, do not be crass.” Hetsks.
“She’s notyourlady!”
We both spin to find Davis striding down the hall. His gaze is stormy, and his hands are balled into tight fists at his sides.
“You came back.” Blinking, I swallow thickly.
“Yeah.” Reaching me, he pulls me against him and glowers at James. “And I heard what you said and you’re fucking wrong about her. She doesn’t pale in comparison to anyone, she’s the goddamn sun.”
Palms up, James steps back, a dismissive expression etched on his features. “Perhaps, I misjudged you, after all.”
“Not as much as Lady Cecily misjudged you.” Letting go of me, he steps up to James, his face inches from his. “You’re not the misunderstood rake, but a selfish bastard. You don’t deserve Lady Cecily, and you certainly do not deserve a woman like Georgia, who assessed your unworthiness and didn’t choose you. In fact, I doubt you deserve anyone, you wannabe Mr. Darcy chucklefuck. YouusedLady Cecily, and you tried to use Georgia, but she saw through your bullshit.”
“I never used Cecily.”
“You did. Let’s not pretend otherwise.” He jabs his index finger into James’s chest. “You claim to love her, but you used her for your revenge and didn’t even have the kindness to allow her to marry someone who actually cared for her. Who doesn’t just see her as a means to an end, but their actual endgame. Women like Cecily and Georgia deserve men who know that. Who think of them first.”
“I…” Mouth dragged down, James’s indignant expression falls.
“Davis,” I say softly, placing my hand on his arm.
