Page 9 of Rebellion

“Of us. Of taking me, of being together. You’re doing everything you can to control me from afar, but—”

I couldn’t even finish my own sentence I was so floored by this revelation. Wow. Gray had controlled every situation, every scene. Not once had he taken that control for himself. He was scared of what would happen if it was ever just the two of us.

He moved back as if I’d pushed him. “I’m not the one being controlling here. You are. ‘Do this for me, Gray.’ ‘Do that for me Gray.’ ‘Watch me have sex with every man on the planet while I grow the fuck up, Gray.’”

What. The. Fucking. Fuck?

I spun on my stupid heel and sashayed my ass away from the asshole I thought was my friend and until ten seconds ago wanted to be my lover.

He was never going to be that to me. Not how we were now. We both needed to change if we ever hoped to find that with each other.

Every step I took, the anger leeched out of me and the sadness crept in. I had to do this. I had to.

“Tate. I accept your offer. I will be there next week, and I’ll be bringing my harem.”

Tate looked between me and the Incredible Hulk ten feet behind me. I dared him with my hands on my hips to be more afraid of Gray than me.

“Well, all righty darlin’. You’ve got yourself a deal.” He held out his hand and we shook.

Before the deal was even sealed Gray walked out of the club. Maybe out of my life.

For a full minute my feet and legs were frozen in place. None of my muscles wanted to move, probably because of the sub-zero chill that had washed over me. Strange that I would be sweating at the same time.

Should I stay, or should I go now? I wanted freedom and independence. I wanted to show Gray I could be the woman he needed me to be. I needed him to want me.

The path to get all that was to do the apprenticeship.

I was in danger of losing Gray forever, with only the slightest chance it would bring him back to me.

It was a risk I had to take. For us both.

I only hoped if I lost the bet, it wouldn’t break me.

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