Page 37 of Hold On Me

Blinking rapidly to clear the surprise from my face, warmth spreads through my body at his possessive tone. I bite my lip and try to suppress the shiver working its way along my spine from the fire in his eyes and determination in his voice. The relief of him believing me without question fills me with a happiness I wish I could hold onto.

But as stray tears fall, I swipe them away quickly wishing it was that easy for everyone to trust in me. Director Allen didn’t, and there are others just like him. And the fear of not being believed is so strong. Strong enough to keep secrets from the people I love the most in the world. My mom obviously screwed me over in more ways than one, and even though I know the Bradys love me and treat me as their own, there’s still a small, tiny, itty-bitty part of me that thinkswhat if.

“I won’t tell you his name. And you can’t say anything to the director either. You signed a legally binding document. That reaction is why I didn’t tell the Bradys.”

It’s not a complete lie if there’s an element of truth in it, right? Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking with it. The rationalpart of my brain knows they would’ve reacted like this, and worse, but there’s still that little voice etched so deeply by past scars that whispers lies. That plants little seeds of doubt. That makes me scared they’ll believe in the lie that I’m just like her.

His body stiffens as his eyes burn a hole through me. “Fine,” he spits out through gritted teeth, shifting closer to me until our legs are barely touching. “Tell me the full story.”

Even though he’s demanding rather than asking, I feel compelled to oblige. The tone of his voice is doing things to me, and I can’t explain why. I just know I like this possessive, dominant side aimed at me.

“The school relies on donations. We’re not funded by the state. A very rich family donates a lot of money annually and the dad hit on me. Of course I turned him down. For one, he’s married. And he’s definitely not my type.”

His eyes are laser focused on my own, a hint of a question flicking through them as I speak, but I ignore it and carry on. “His wife found out and threatened to withdraw all future funding if I continued to teach.”

The anger radiates from him and I shuffle a little closer so my leg is flush against his. I avoid his eyes and clear my throat. “My boss has never liked me. Apparently he liked my mom a little too much, if you get my drift. A little tidbit of information I only found outafterI was working for him” He turns his lips down in disgust and I laugh softly. “Yep, my thoughts exactly. But don’t worry, it gets better. He suggested the little situation could disappear if I’d be willing to be a bit more like my mom for him. Obviously I said no. So I was asked to leave quietly and quickly, or he’d start feeding people lies.

“You know no one from the school has reached out to me. People I’ve worked with for years, families I’ve had two or more children come through my class… I’ve heard nothing.” The pain from the betrayal of people I thought were my friends—part ofmy circle, my community…my squad—burns in my throat and I blink away the tears forming in my eyes. All those years of collaborating, going to happy hours and baby showers, tutoring and mentoring… In the end, I meant nothing to them. And it leaves me wondering if they were ever really friends at all.

His hand reaches over and clasps mine. It’s a small gesture, but it means a lot. I wait for him to place his hand back on his thigh, but, he squeezes it a little and I force my eyes back to his.

“You did nothing wrong. What I want to know is why the wife blamed you when she should’ve been kicking her husband's arse?”

His accent makes me laugh a little, and when I glance back at him, confusion swarms his face.

“The way you said ass made me laugh. You make it sound so formal for a word that literally means your butt.”

He rolls his eyes and fights a smirk. “There’s the Brady side of you we all know and well… quite frankly put up with.”

I stick my tongue out at him, and his responding chuckle radiates through me, leaving a tingle in places that shouldn’t be tingling.

With a quick clear of my throat, I shift again on the hard floor of the elevator. “The woman always gets the blame. Maybe I was too pretty, so I tempted her husband. It’s my fault he couldn’t keep his eyes or hands to himself. Didn’t you know? Us single women are temptresses, and those poor married men just can’t help themselves. It’s never their fault. I thought they taught all you rich business men these things.”

The bitterness is heavy on my tongue, but I can’t help it. I know he hasn’t done anything wrong, but I’m sick of people with money being able to act any way they want and getting everything their way. With a flick of their cheque books, people look the other way about everything.

“I don’t cheat. I told you this already. At board games, at business, or with women. I have no need to. When I’m with a woman, it’sallabout her. And if I get bored of our situation, I end it before looking elsewhere. I don’t share, so I don’t expect her to either.”

Holy shit.

I expected him to be angry with my dig. To bite back at me sarcastically, like I’m used to with him. I was not prepared for him to tell me, in the sexiest tone of voice I’ve ever heard in my life, he doesn’t share and likes to please his woman.

Fuck.

The image of him above me, his abs on display, his tongue circling my nipples as his fingers play with my clit, sends heat zinging to my core and a blush to my cheeks. “Well, um, that's, um, that’s good to know.”

A small chuckle and another squeeze of my hand brings my eyes to his. He tilts his head and just looks at me. “It should be.”

I pull my lip between my teeth and watch as he grins.

“Why does it bother you so much?”

His questions makes me frown and I wave my hand for him to elaborate, causing another small laugh which makes me happier than it really should.

“What people think? I know your mum was, well…let’s say a right piece of work. But these people know you and Hank. Surely they’d see you’re more like him than anything, maybe with a hint of Brady thrown in too.”

Another flash of those perfectly straight white teeth has me wanting to fan myself. I sit a little straighter and try to clench my thighs together without him realising. But with his hand resting gently in mine, I give it up as a lost cause.

“It’s easy for you to say. You probably grew up with parents who adored you and each other. I bet people around them didn’tknow what their dirty laundry was because, unlike the walking womb I have to call Mom, they didn’t air it in public.”

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