Page 10 of Wicked Scorn
“None of my business?” he repeats, incredulous. His eyes bore into mine, searching for answers I’m not ready to give. “Everything about you is my business. I’ve always looked out for you.”
“Really, Jeremiah?” I snort in disgust, shaking my head. “You’re sadly misguided.”
“Yes,” he growls, stepping even closer. I can feel the heat radiating off him. “I need to understand why you’re here.”
My words are steady despite the turmoil inside me. “I was forced to transfer. That’s all you need to know.”
“Forced by who?” he presses, frustration clear in his words.
“That’s none of your concern,” I snap, suddenly feeling exposed, vulnerable. “Where are my things? I need to leave.”
“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me the truth,” he says, blocking my path. The tension is suffocating, an insufferable force between us.
“Move,” I say, pushing past my fear. I’m no match for Jeremiah Blackwood’s massive frame when my head doesn’t even reach his shoulders, but I’ll pretend like I don’t notice that fact. “I won’t stay here another second.”
“Oakley,” he starts, but I cut him off.
“Where are my clothes, Jeremiah?” I demand, my tone rising. “I’m leaving.”
“Tell me what happened,” Jeremiah says, barely moving his body to block me from moving. “Oakley,” he starts, but I cut him off the same way he did to me.
“Don’t Oakley me, while I’m here in your room half-naked and with no memory of how I got here.”
He snaps, his words sharp and accusatory. “Do you really think I’d do something to you while you were passed out?”
“I don’t know you anymore, Jeremiah,” I spit out, turning back to face him. “I trusted you once, and you completely let me down. How do I know what you’re capable of?” I gesture toward his hoodie that I’m currently swimming in.
“Oakley, I already told you that I didn’t touch you—” he snarls, his green orbs flashing with anger.
“How comforting,” I retort, rolling my eyes. “What a gentleman you are, Jeremiah. Just let me leave.”
“Don’t tempt me, bunny. I can be the monster you want me so badly to be,” he growls, frustration simmering beneath his calm facade. I’ve seen a protective side of Jeremiah before, but there’s an edge to him now that makes my stomach flip.
Shaking my head, I implore him, “Just tell me where my things are.”
“When did you become so stubborn?” he asks, exasperation creeping into his tone.
“When I learned the hard way that I’m on my own and that trusting people doesn’t get you anywhere,” I reply, my tone softening despite myself. I fidget with the hem of the hoodie, trying to keep my hands steady. My movements feel small and delicate, as if I am trying to subconsciously not entice the monster that could be in the room.
“You’re impossible,” he mutters, running a hand through his shorn hair.
“Maybe I am,” I admit, my eyes searching his face for any sign of understanding. “But can you blame me?”
“Oakley…” he begins, his tone gentler now, almost pleading.
“You can’t just run away because you’re mad at me.” Jeremiah sounds calm, measured, but there’s an edge to it that makes my heart race.
“Run away? You think I’m running away?” I scoff, turning to face him fully. “You’re thekingof the disappearing act. I guess I always did look up to you, so maybe I learned it from you.”
“Bunny, you know I had shit going on with my family and then...” He takes a step closer, and I can feel the tension crackling between us like static electricity. “Things were blurring and then the fight with Royce blew up out of nowhere. The only one who was going to get hurt was you.”
“Don’t call me bunny, I’ve let it slide, but it makes me sick to hear that from you now,” I gesture around the room, my hand shaking slightly. “Whatever twisted game you’re playing isn’t going to make up for the fact that you told me you’d always be here, and you weren’t. You left me just like Royce did. I chose you always.”
“Twisted game?” he repeats, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You think I enjoy this, seeing you like this? You think I wanted to see you hanging all over some prick like he was the best fucking thing you’ve ever seen in your life?”
“Don’t act all high and mighty now,” I snap, my anger flaring up again. If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t feel so dang comfortable speaking up. “You should have done what you did two years ago and left me alone. I don’t need your pity.”
His voice rises, frustration seeping into his words. “You were a mess last night, Oakley. You could barely stand.”
