Page 91 of Seductive Scoundrel

Breathe, Mia.

“I’m sorry for the lies. Believe it or not, none of them were intended to hurt you. And thank you for…” I pause, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment. “For taking care of my Kyle situation.”

“Your Kyle situation. That’s an interesting way to put it.”

His words drip with sarcasm, tearing my insides apart – but I deserve it. I was incredibly stupid to let Kyle video us, then even more stupid for not deleting the videos myself.

“Fine, thank you for deleting the sex video I made with my ex before it was released, which would have caused my family massive amounts of embarrassment.” I manage to say the words without vomiting, although I’m close.

“I really like your family and it definitely would have hurt them. The screengrabs were…” His voice trails off as my jaw drops.

“You saw it?” I cry. It is bad enough he knows and paid – literally – to bury my mistake, but I can’t believe he would actually watch me with another man.

“No. Just a few still images to confirm it was you and that we were deleting the right homemade porn. I had to verify. Unfortunately. I’d hate for your family to suffer because of your poor decisions. They’re good people.”

“Yes, they are,” I agree, swallowing his scathing words like a jagged pill. “Thank you again.”

“You might want to give the senator a heads up that his wife was the one who stole that video.”

The floor drops out from beneath me, and I reach a hand forward to steady myself on the wall. “Veronica did this?”

Dean casually shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “I’m guessing she found them on her husband’s phone. Can’t imagine she was too thrilled.”

Judgment fills his eyes, and I want nothing more than to take it away. “It’s not what you think. Kyle and I were together before Veronica, well, stole him.”

He stands there stone-faced while I share the sordid details of my relationship with Kyle and my supposed best friend’s betrayal. “Kyle swore he deleted them,” I finish, my dignity now lying in a puddle at my feet.

“It would appear the senator lied to you.”

“Yes, it would,” I choke out. “If there’s any way I can pay you back, please let me know.”

“Pay me back?” he repeats, tapping a forefinger against his chin.

“What do you want me to say? I made a mistake. A gigantic, idiotic mistake. If I could go back in time and undo it, I would. If I could have fixed it myself, I would have. If I could take back the lies I told you or things I didn’t tell you – I would. I love you, Dean. I absolutely, unequivocally, love you.”

Tears begin to cloud my eyes as we stand there, my painful admission hanging between us as I wait for him to speak.

Finally, he nods – once.

And then I lose it. “Haven’t you ever made a sex tape before?” I hiss, feeling the overwhelming need to knock Mr. High and Mighty down a notch. I just bared my freaking soul, and all he can do is nod.

“No, never. The only dick pics I’ve ever sent were to you.”

A look flashes in his eyes reminding me of better days. Days when we were happy and in love. A single, painful look before he quickly blinks the emotion away. But it tells me that I meant the world to him and he’s hurting as badly as I am. He’s just better at hiding it.

My temper fades and my heart thumps painfully against my sternum. If he loves me even half as much as I love him, surely he can’t live without me either.

Dean opens his mouth, and I pray he’s about to forgive me. But the look disappears along with whatever he was about to say. Instead, his lips press together and we stand there with two elephants in the room – his and mine – neither of us speaking.

“Dean,” I finally mumble, “I –”

“You’re welcome,” he says, cutting me off.

“I’m welcome?”

“You thanked me for saving your family from humiliation. You’re welcome.”

“That’s it?” I ask, taken aback by his cold remark.

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