Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 78521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I thread my fingers through my hair, rub at my forehead to ease the ache that threatens. “Still none of your business.”
“It is! It is because… What if you do the same thing to me?”
What exactly does she know? I’d gladly give her the truth if it’s what she needs so badly, but I can’t. I’m legally bound not to.
“I’m rapidly losing my patience here.”
She whips her hands to her hips. “What happened? What did you do to Addie?”
What did I do to Addie? What about everything Addie did to me? It was a two-way street all those years ago.
I’ve had enough, but I stay measured. I have to. I can’t talk about this, even though it will make us both feel better.
“We’ve been through this.”
“She was never the same afterward. Were you…violent with her?”
I move closer. God, I’m tense. Violent? She actually used the word violent? As if she thinks I could do anything like that?
I need to go to the gym and find a sparring partner. Better yet, I need to fuck Skye Manning until she can’t see straight. I breathe in once more. “Where did you get this information?”
“I…I can’t tell you.”
Count to ten, Braden. For God’s sake, don’t fuck this up.
“I see. Whoever this person is who gave you this information, does he or she have any firsthand knowledge of anything?”
“No.”
I shake my head slowly. “Yet you’re ready to condemn me on hearsay. Be both judge and jury.”
She hangs her head. “No. Not really. But it’s also scary, trusting someone new.”
So it comes down to trust. Of course. Trust is about giving up a little of one’s control.
That I can understand. I inhale and exhale a few more times until my anger is at a more manageable level.
I tilt her chin up. “Even if I told you everything that went on between Addison and me, you would never have the whole truth. There will always be parts of me that I keep completely private, just as there are parts of you that you keep completely private. You can never know the whole truth about anyone.”
“That’s not what I want.”
I laugh then. A big, sarcastic guffaw that rings out through the entire office. I laugh at the absurdity of her words. At their complete dishonesty. “Skye, that’s exactly what you want. You want control over every situation.”
She opens her mouth as if to respond but then shuts it quickly.
“I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but yes, I ended the relationship with Addison. I had my reasons. If that’s not good enough for you, I guess we part ways now.”
I’m shocked at the words as I say them. I don’t want to part ways. I love Skye. But I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me. Who can’t accept a relationship so far in my past that it hardly counts anymore.
“There’s more, Braden.”
“There is no more, Skye. This conversation is over.” I drop my hand.
She shivers. “She…was never the same. Not until her Instagram took off.”
“I said this discussion is over.”
She cowers. Fucking cowers! Who the hell did she talk to? Who fed her these lies? Is she seriously afraid of me? The idea of her fear fills me with rage and equally with sorrow. I don’t want Skye to fear anything.
“Do you fear me now?”
She parts her lips absently, licking them. “I don’t fear you. But should I, Braden? Did Addie?”
No. Addie did not fear me. Addie didn’t fear anything, and she should have. That was a big part of the issue. And I can’t tell Skye any of this. I’m bound not to, but also? I just don’t want to.
“What went on between Addie and me is in the past. We were kids. Neither of us knew what we were doing. What we were getting into.”
“Then why—”
I sigh then, running my fingers through my hair yet again. “Why, Skye? Why? Why did you have to keep digging until my past touches us and what we have? Why do you want to ruin it? I’ve told you before that I won’t talk about this. It has nothing to do with what you and I have.” I turn and stare out the huge window, my eyes heavy-lidded.
If only I could reach into the past and cast out all the horrors. But I wouldn’t be the man I am today—the man Skye professes to love—if I did that.
Skye walks toward me and cups my cheek. Her touch—even in my current emotional state—burns like an intense flame.
“Braden,” she says, “what happened?”
I meet her gaze.
“Did she get hurt?” she asks.
I don’t respond. I can’t respond.
“Why didn’t she use a safe word?”
I swipe my hand over my forehead and then rub at my temples. “I don’t know, Skye, but I wish she had.”
Chapter Two
I had no idea how Addie knew my tastes, but somehow she did. “I need your consent,” I said.