Page 51 of Until It Was Real

“You don’t get anything,” I grumble. “We’re more than friends.”

“Just because we had sex doesn’t mean anything changed.”

“Wrong. Everything changed.”

She shakes her head. “Not for me.”

I approach her and she retreats until her back hits the wall. I plant my hands on the wall on either side of her. Her breath quickens, and her eyes flare in response to my proximity.

“Everything changed. I know you feel this connection between us, too.”

“It doesn’t matter what I feel. It’s too risky. You could get me fired. I’m not letting a man ruin my life again.”

“A man ruined your life? Who? How?”

She ducks her chin. “Never mind.”

I pinch her chin and lift until her gaze meets mine. Her green eyes are filled with pain. I can’t bear to see her in pain.

“Tell me everything.”

Chapter 17

“You don’t have the right to know everything about me.” ~ Dakota

Dakota

Rhett’s lost his mind if he thinks I’m going to tell him everything. I don’t owe him an explanation about my life. I don’t owe him anything.

“Havoc,” he pleads and I nearly get lost in those stunning blue eyes. It should be against the law for a man’s eyes to be this captivating. “I don’t want to ruin your life. I want to make it better.”

When I hesitate, he continues, “If we’re going to be in a relationship, you’re going to have to tell me at some point.”

“Relationship?” My brow wrinkles. “We’re not in a relationship.”

“Havoc, I’ve been inside you. I’ve made you come more times than any man before me.”

My cheeks warm. I never should have told him how lacking my earlier sexual encounters have been.

“Sex doesn’t make a relationship.”

“Last night was more than sex and you know it.”

I do? I’m not exactly an expert at understanding the games men and women play. Thus, my living in this outdated suite and working two jobs to pay back debts my previous man racked up.

He caresses my cheek with his thumb. I want to lean into him. Accept the comfort he’s freely giving. But I can’t. I can’t make the same mistakes I’ve made before.

“You hated me two days ago,” I remind him.

“I never hated you.”

“You tried to get me fired, and you threatened to tell Eli about my phone call last night.”

He grimaces. “I never would have told Eli about the phone call, but am I an asshole for threatening to? Yes.”

“At least you understand it was an asshole move.”

“Make no mistake about it, Havoc. I will do everything in my power to keep the people I care for safe. Including making threats and rushing home after they ran away from me.”

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