Page 51 of Breaking Point
“This is your fault!”
Despite saying the words I’m already heading after her—running more like it. God, she takes long strides for someone of her small height. “Bella, wait!” I call, though she’s already out the door. Cursing under my breath, I call again, “Bella, please stop!”
I make it to her side just in time to wrap my hand around her wrist before she can open her car door. Electricity races up my arm from where I’m touching her smooth skin.
Until she turns on me, fire in her gaze as she shoves me off her. “Don’t touch me!”
I hold up my hands in surrender, my eyes going wide as my heart pounds like a jackhammer. “Bella, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for offending you and I’m sorry for touching you, but please don’t leave.” Licking my suddenly dry lips, I find myself begging, “Please don’t leave.”
She may think it’s because of what Lucy is asking of her but it’s not. And I’m not entirely sure why I’m begging her not to go, but all I know is that she can’t.
I can’tnotsee her again.
God, what has she done to me? Why is my chest constricting and my stomach flipping at the idea of her honey-brown eyes never locking on mine again?
Even as she stands there, shooting daggers at me with them, I hold her gaze because they do something to me that I’m afraid to analyze too closely.
“When you look at me, do you just see another woman to use at your disposal?”
My head rears back as if she slapped me. “No! No, my god, Bella, no, not at all!”
“Then why me?”
My mouth opens, then shuts. That’s a good question, I’m not sure why Lucy picked her but I know why I’m considering it. “Because you’re the only woman that I can be myself around and still manage to breathe.”
Bella pauses, her eyes flashing wide and the flames in them diminishing slightly as she sucks in a sharp gasp.
“I’m not sure why Lucy wants you to do it. I’m sure there is logic to her madness but she only told me her idea right as you walked in. And to be quite frank with you, I cannot stomach the idea of having to do this with some stranger.”
“I’m no more than a stranger.”
“No, you’re not.” She’s never felt like a stranger. On that first day I cursed myself for not remembering her and such a monumental time because she felt familiar, like we had already met.
She licks her lips and, God help me, my gaze zeroes in on it.
“Grayson, I have only known you for a week and in that week—” She shakes her head, stopping herself before her brows risealong with her chin. “Why not use one of your many puck bunnies at your disposal?”
“So they can assault me in my sleep? Violate my privacy again?”
She inhales sharply and I can see it, my words landing. I can see her mind spinning, the cogs in it turning…until a wall slams shut.
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to find someone else to fake it with.”
She turns, opens her car door, and throws her bag on the front passenger seat. Right before she can slam the door, I grip it, her wild brown eyes snapping to mine as I duck my head in her small sedan and invade her space. She sucks in a sharp breath.
“Are you coming back tomorrow?”
I don’t know why the thought of never seeing her again makes unending dread fill my body, but it takes the reins of my mind and tongue.
She frowns. “Grayson?—”
“Please come back,” I find myself pleading.
Her gaze flicks back and forth, searching mine. “I’m not quitting, but I’m also not sticking around for people to guilt-trip me into doing this.”
Something uncoils in my chest and I sigh. “I understand. I’m sorry we sprung this on you.”
“I meant what I said. I hope it works out and you can stay on the team, but you’ll have to find a way to do that without me.”
