Page 22 of Prey Tell
I know better than to speak until I know she’s done. Her eyes go a bit wild before she drops her hands to her side and blows out a long, steadying breath. It’s then that I realize she’s trying to hold back tears.
“Dylan doesn’t—I don’t—” she trails off, her voice breaking. She gulps. “I’ll have a PhD in Human Sexuality in a couple of months, and I feel like a hypocrite because I have no idea what sexuality actuallymeans,” she finishes. Her eyes are glassy as I take in her confession. Why is she telling me this? Why is she always so fuckingforthrightwith me? Does she have any idea how much I admire her for something I wish I could do as easily as she does?
“Jesus, Parker,” I sigh, rubbing my mouth. “I really wish you hadn’t told me that.”
Her eyes go wide as she sniffs. “It should’ve been you that night,” she says quickly. “I wanted it to be you.” Her neck is flushed, and she looks at the ground. She can’t look me in the eye for this.Hmm.“I’ve tried to make it work—with Dylan—but he can’t—and it’s fine, because we’re so compatible in every other way,” she adds, stumbling slightly.Fuck, how much has she had to drink?I want to refute her words, but I know she’s had just the right amount of champagne to tell me everything I know I shouldn’t want to hear.
I shouldn’t want to hear this.
I can’t give Juliet what she wants.
And I need to shut this down before it goes any further.
I place my hands on her arms, hoping I can convey how much this hurts me.
“You should get back to your fiancé, Juliet.”
Maybe it’s the way I used her first name, or the way I’m touching her, but her pupils blow out slightly.
“Youdidn’t answer myquestion,” she counters.
Why are you still trying to take care of me?
I drop my hands from her arms. Under normal circumstances, I’m able to maintain control. Nothing—and I meannothing—can penetrate the hard shell I’ve created for myself.
Except Parker.
For whatever reason, she’s always been exempt from every single rule I’ve ever implemented for myself. Every time I interact with her, she slowly,efficiently, breaks down every wall I’ve ever erected. It always takes me ages to build them back up, too.
“I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to help my best friend’s sister,” I growl.
“Bullshit.”
She’s purposefully provoking me now.
“You think you know me better than I know myself?” I ask, my voice cold.
“Of course not,” she retorts. “You made damn sure I wasn’t around you enough to knowwhoyou are, Ravage. But I know you’re not telling me everything.”
My jaw feathers. “You want to know why?” I ask. The familiar flush of anger rises to the surface of my skin, and everything istoo hot. “Because I wanted you to have the best engagement party money could buy. Because I want you to behappy.”
“Why?” she asks softly. “It almost sounds like you have something to gain from it. Need I mention the Wolverine ice sculptures?”
My lips quirk to the side. Of course I know she’s obsessed with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. I know she likes to read. I know she likes black roses because they remind her of her mom, and mood lighting. Everything about this fucking party isfor her.I was around her everyday for nearly a decade. She thinks she’s changed since she was a teenager, but she hasn’t. Not really. I can still read her like a fucking book.
I run my hand through my hair. “It doesn’t matter, Parker,” I tell her, clenching my teeth together to keep from saying more. “You’re engaged.”
“Admit it, then. You wanted me. The night I wanted you to take my virginity.”
Sighing, I look her right in the eyes—the eyes of a woman who is engaged to another man. Who sleeps in another man’s bed. Who letssomeone elsetouch her. So fuck it. After tonight, it might be another seven months before I see her again. Or longer.
“You caught me. Are you happy now?” I tell her, my voice low and threatening.
She lets out a tiny gasp. “Then why did you say no?”
Fuck. Guess we’re doing this now, then.
“Jesus. You’re relentless.”
