Page 73 of Blade

I looked into her eyes. “You let him kiss you.” I growled.

“Why are you always growling at me?”

“Because you infuriate me sometimes.”

She tilted her head, like she was trying to work something out in her mind.

“What?” I asked.

Shaking her head, she stated, “Nothing.”

“Why did you let him kiss you?” I reiterated.

“I let you kiss me,” she challenged. “I asked you to kiss me.” She looked at me with a smile that told me she very much enjoyed it when I kissed her. “Why don’t you kiss me again?” she proposed, and her eyes dropped to my mouth.

“Babe, I’m trying to talk to you.”

“Please kiss me, Blade.” Her eyes darkened with desire.

I had no hope of denying her what she asked for.

I leaned down, gently pressing my lips against hers. She didn’t hesitate to open for me, and tentatively swiped her tongue inside my mouth. My hand fisted in her hair as I deepened the kiss. Pulling her against me, I knew she could feel my cock harden against her. I pulled away regretfully.

“Babe, I want nothing more than to lay you down right here and make you mine.” I groaned, adjusting myself. “Which is why we need to stop. We need to talk about Ryder.”

She released a heavy sigh. “Why? Ryder is one of my oldest and dearest friends. That is all there is to it.”

“You let him kiss you.”

She pulled out of the embrace, and it felt like I couldn’t breathe when she walked away from me again.

“Are you flipping kidding me? I will not turn my back on Ryder. I will not give up my friendship with him,” she complained, throwing her hands in the air again. “Why should I? Because you’re jealous?”

“I don’t share.”

She looked down, kicking her shoe in the dirt.

“Hey, what aren’t you telling me?” Placing a finger under her chin, I lifted her face so I could gaze into her eyes.

“Ryder is my friend. Nothing more. He could never compete with him.”

I could see the emotion in her eyes. I knew she was on the verge. Could I do what I needed to push her over it? I wanted her to talk about me. Talk about us. I wanted to know what she felt for me before my life ended in that car accident ten years ago.

We’ve already established I was an asshole.

“But there is someone?” I asked, holding my breath to wait for her answer. Taking a deep breath, she looked away.

When I picked her up after Grant attacked her, I saw her fear. I saw her panic. She was anxious and wary. It made me angry. I wanted to tear the world down so she never had to feel those things again.

But this?

This sorrow I saw in the depths of her soul?

This heartache and anguish might just break me.

“Tell me,” I prodded gently, not wanting to push too hard, but also needing to hear what she went through.

“I can’t.” She whimpered, turning away again, but not before I saw her eyes filling with tears.

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