Page 8 of The Secrets Behind Us

I push Hazel through the door of the staff room, and she stumbles. “What the fuck, Dexter?”

I grab her by the throat and pin her against the wall right inside the room. “Why are you here, Hazel?”

Her body softens under my touch, and she hangs her head with her next words. “Dexter, I wanted to talk with you. I wanted to explain.”

My body heats with every second we touch. Even though it’s been five years, I can’t help but still feel the draw that has always been there. And even though my brain is telling me that I need to get away from her and that I shouldn’t do anything crazy, my body seems to have other ideas.

Hazel's voice draws me back from my thoughts. “Dex. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you that I was returning home. But my mom needs me.”

A faint thought to ask her why her mom needs her runs through my mind, but all I can really concentrate on is the blood rushing to my cock. The longer I stand here listening to her talk, the more her luscious pink lips call to me.

I can’t stand it anymore. I need to feel her again. I lean down and crash my lips to hers. I try really hard not to think about how she feels so good in my arms.

Chapter six

Hazel

“Fuck.” He pushes off the wall and backs away from me. His coffee eyes drill into me as if he might eat me alive. His shoulders drop along with his head, he opens his mouth as if he might say something. I watch as he rubs his hands over his face and looks away. And even though I don’t have any right to feel this way, a stab of pain hits me right in the heart.

“How do you do that? How do you always make me forget myself?” he demands.

I stay silent and still. He's not really wanting an answer to his questions, so I don't answer. How could I even? Every time I'm around him I lose myself; I just want to drown in him.

He paces the room as he asks these questions out loud. His hand juts out and Dexter wraps his hand around my chin, holding it tight. I try to look away, but his fingers dig into my face not allowing me to move. I brace myself for the question that I know is coming.

“Why did you leave, Hazel? And don’t tell me that bullshit you tried to tell me five years ago," he grits out.

My gaze drops as if I've taken a sudden interest in my feet. What do I say? How can I explain any of this to him? No, I can't tell him. Whoever is texting me has already texted me a few times since I've been home. Worry skates down my spine when the idea that me just being this close to him might cause us more problems than we're ready for, but I can't seem to stop. Like a moth to a flame, I'm instantly drawn closer to him. Will he understand if I tell him the truth? My heart and body want to lean into him, trust him but a small voice in the back of my head isn't so sure. Hopefully, I can figure out who this person is that is trying to keep us away from each other. I’m just going to have to convince him, without going into much detail. I steel my spine and look him dead in the eye. “The reason doesn’t matter. I’m back. I’m here to help my family, and for you.”

No matter what my mystery texter thinks.

Dexter drags his hands through his hair and then cages me in with his arms. He leans down with an unreadable look.

A sense of bravado takes over. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for the way I left. I’m sorry that I stayed away for so long. But I’ve always loved you, Dexter. It has always been you from the moment I saw you at eight years old. What will it take for you to forgive me?” My chest heaves from getting the words out in one breath.

He doesn't take his gaze from mine, but he doesn't utter a word. My stomach drops as a thought comes to my mind.

What if he doesn’t forgive me?

“You want my forgiveness?” He whispers, his eyes never leaving mine.

I lick my lips as a tremble sets into my bones. “I want that more than anything.”

“Then tell me, Sugar Lips. Why did you leave me five years ago?” He whispers the words right against my ear and his breath sends a chill down my spine.

My body goes cold. I can’t tell him why. If I do then he will go off and do something crazy and I won’t allow him to get hurt. I don’t know who this mystery texter is, but I won’t let him get anywhere near Dexter if I can help it.

“Can’t we just leave the secrets behind us?” I whisper.

“No. If we get back together, there will be no secrets.”

Turning his back on me, he struts out of the staff room. I can’t help but watch how the muscles on his back ripple through his form fitting shirt or how his ass clenches with every step. I imagine he has the same muscle movements as he pushes into me.

Shit, how is it just being in his vicinity he can melt my body into a puddle like that?

I shake my head; I’m buzzing with energy. Since I’m already here, I might as well get a workout in. I need to. I will be spending time with my mom later at the hospital for her doctor’s appointment. It will be good if I can run off some of this energy that's buzzing through me.

The next hour zips by as I pound my feet on the treadmill. When I’m done, I go over to the mats and stretch out my body.

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