Page 1 of Say You'll Stay

Chapter one

“Michael was right about you!” The words erupt from my lips, fueled by a surge of hot rage that pounds through my veins. My heart hammers frantically as I propel myself towards the door, every step laced with betrayal.

But the lie tastes bitter on my tongue, a desperate attempt to wound June the way he’s wounded me. The sight of me with another man - even if he’s entirely fabricated - has sent him into a tailspin, his normally cool demeanor shattered.

And oh, how I relish the sight of it. After all this time as his “bestie”, always there but never quite enough, I’ve finally been granted this rare glimpse behind the Juniper Deveaux facade.

A week ago, I gave him my heart, my trust, my very self. I let down the walls I’d so carefully constructed after the deception and emotional turmoil of my ex, Ray. And June, damn him, had been there through it all - listening to every rant, every bitter argument, offering his steadfast support.

I truly thought he’d be different, that everything would change now that we were really together. But old habits, it seems, die harder than I ever imagined.

My steps falter, and before I know it, June has me pinned against the dull grey wall, his tall frame caging me in. The surface is cold against my back, a jarring contrast to the heat radiating off his body.

My pulse pounds in my ears as his verdant gaze slices through me, sharp and unforgiving. “What did you say, Cara?” His breath, laced with the scent of peppermint and smoke, ghosts over my face. “I dare you to say that shit again!”

The anger surging through me is a living, breathing thing, hot and relentless. I shouldn’t have lied, I know that. But after catching him flirting with that vapid socialite right in front of me, the need to hurt him, to make him feel even a fraction of the pain tearing me apart, had been impossible to ignore.

There was no Michael, never has been - Juniper Deveaux has been the only man I wanted, the only one I’ve ever truly wanted. But I’m not backing down now, no matter how reckless it is to poke the bear.

“I wasn’t born twice,” I spit out, refusing to break eye contact, “…so I’m not repeating myself.”

A cruel sneer twists his lips, a look so foreign on his face that it’s almost jarring. In this moment, I don’t think he wants to turn me on; no, the shine has left his eyes, pupils dilating as he inhales deeply. His free hand slips between my thighs, fingers searching for proof of my betrayal.

Proof that doesn’t exist.

My breath hitches as he shifts the thin fabric aside, dipping into my folds. I hate how my body responds to his touch, even now - a traitorous reaction that only serves to stoke the fire of his possessiveness.

“Is that where you’ve been, Cara Mia?” His voice is a low, guttural growl, dripping with an ownership that makes my skin crawl. “Offering other men what’s mine?”

I should back down, retreat from this confrontation before it spirals any further. But the reckless part of me, the part that’s still reeling from his blatant flirtation, refuses to be cowed.

“And what if I did, mama’s boy?” I taunt, my voice laced with false bravado. “Would you spank me? Beg me to stay like a good boy?”

Something dangerous flashes in June’s eyes, a primal response that sends a shiver of both fear and inexplicable desire down my spine. I’ve always known how to push his buttons, how to get a rise out of him. But this time, I may have gone too far.

The silence that stretches between us is heavy, suffocating. When June finally speaks, his words are cold, devoid of any warmth. “Get out, Cara. Let me know where you’re staying, and I’ll send your things.”

“June…” His name dies on my lips as his gaze slams into me, a physical force that steals the breath from my lungs.

I want to take it all back, to tell him that he’s the only one for me, no matter how long it took me to realize it. That I was stupid, so goddamn stupid, to deny myself his love for so long out of fear. But the pride lodged in my throat refuses to let the words escape.

Instead, I obey, slipping out from under his grasp and heading for the door. June looks at me, his expression a mixture of want and anguish, but he doesn’t say anything more. Only his body language, tense and closed off, conveys the finality of this moment.

As I storm out of the apartment, disbelief clings to me, suffocating. “I can’t believe you’re asking me to leave,” I spit out, the words a last, futile attempt to change the outcome. But June’s door slams shut, a deafening full stop to our brief saga as more than friends.

The night air bites at my cheeks as I step outside, a stark contrast to the heated intensity of our argument. Wrapping my arms around myself, I try to contain the fury and devastation that threaten to consume me.

How could he let me go so easily, after everything we’ve been through? After I finally let him in, trusted him with the most fragile parts of myself? The very thought twists in my gut, a physical ache that leaves me reeling.

My feet carry me to the familiar duplex, a place that’s always been my refuge. With shaking hands, I push open the door, calling out, “Mama?”

She turns from the kitchen, concern etching her features. “Cara, what happened? You’re shaking.”

Mama envelops me in a hug, the kind that used to make everything better. “Shh, tell me everything,” she murmurs, her voice a soothing balm.

The dam breaks, and I crumble into her arms, spilling every hurtful detail. My body trembles with a cocktail of anger and disbelief. Mama’s hands, warm and steadfast, ground me when I feel like I might shatter.

“Why do I feel so cold, Mommy?” My voice is small, lost, a far cry from the fiery defiance that had consumed me moments ago.

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