Page 80 of Relentless Pursuit

“Is everyone fucking crazy?” Julian shouted. “I don’t know how to explain myself in all of this insanity.”

“You don’t have to.” Kayla turned and headed for the door. “The two of you fucking deserve one another.”

He glared at Connie. “You’re going to pay for this.” He chased Kayla down the hall. “Stop!”

When she ignored him, something inside him snapped. Maybe it was the fear of her walking away and never coming back.

“Kayla.” His tone was deep, dominant, maybe she’d understand that. “Don’t you walk away from me.”Not now, not ever.When he raised his voice, she did as he asked. He took a moment to collect his thoughts and get his shit together. The last thing he wanted to do was act like a Dom. “You’re not leaving.” He softened his voice. “Not until you understand that I would never—”

“Hurt me?” She spun around. “That’s pretty moot at this point. Don’t you think?”

“You can’t possibly think I would even consider her.”

“I don’t know what to think. I saw the two of you together. The things she said are true.”

“Weretrue. I don’t need what I needed before.” He reached for her hand. “I have everything I need.” How many times was he going to have to tell her that?As many times as she needs, you jackass.

“I need to sort it all out.” She backed away. “Walking in on that...” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “You should have told me she tried to kiss you.”

“It was irrelevant.”

“Not to me.” She balled her fists by her sides. “I defended her. I told you she wouldn’t be a problem for me, and the whole time you knew she betrayed me. What am I supposed to do with that?”

“It’s not about her. She’s insignificant.”

“You betrayed me too.”

“I never touched her.” What did she want him to say? He didn’t do relationships. He didn’t know what she wanted from him. He was learning, but he was trying his hardest because she was worth every effort.

“I need to go.”

“No! This is a misunderstanding. You’re blowing it out of proportion. I fucked up, but you’re not giving me a chance to make it right.”

“Let me give it to you in a way you’ll understand.” She stared him down. “Red. My color isred.”

“What?” he whispered.

She’s fucking safewording?Of course she would. That was what he had taught her to do. That was what he’d programmed her to believe they were.

“Okay.” He nodded as he backed down. “Go.”

She was right. That he understood. She’d had enough, and she was letting him know. He’d be a total hypocrite if he tried to force her to stay and listen to him.

Tears spilled down her cheeks faster than she could turn and run from him, leaving him with the horrid image of her pain. Blake passed her in the hall as she made her getaway.

“Why is she in such a hurry?” he asked. “Everything okay?”

“No!” Julian growled, his stomach sick over the devastation in Kayla’s expression. “We have a big fucking problem, and I want it taken care of now.”

“Calm down, dude.”

He stormed back into Blake’s office with his cousin close behind just as Connie was zipping her dress. “I want her out of here.”

“What happened?” Blake asked.

“Kayla walked in on a misunderstanding between us,” Connie explained. “I thought—”

“Save it, you delusional bitch,” Julian yelled doing everything in his power not to take out his full fury on the twit standing before him. “She came in here, knowing Kayla wasn’t far behind, took her clothes off, and dropped to her knees.”

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