“Kiss me,” I muttered softly.
And she did. I didn’t see stars or anything, but I felt giddy because I knew Blaize would be watching me and this scene play out. Was it a bitch move? Probably. But it was my turn to be one. I was tired of being the one who got the shitty end of the stick. I might want Blaize, but I wasn’t going to look like a fool again when I knew she wanted me, too.
CHAPTER 62
BLAIZE
Itold myself to look away, but I didn’t. The way she kissed the woman wasn’t one of desperation or need. It was deliberate. She was making a scene by kissing this woman in front of me to stir a reaction.
Well, it worked.
The music filtered into white noise, the patrons faded away, and it was just the three of us in my club. All I saw was Kadence’s mouth on hers, and I felt a growing rage in my chest. The woman, Jae, was lucky I didn’t go over there and kick her ass out of my club, banning her from ever stepping foot in here again. I couldn’t do it though because Kadence wasn’t mine. I didn’t own her. Why was I jealous of her moving on? I already told her I wouldn’t have anything to do with her.
Kadence broke the kiss first, pulling Jae’s lip with her. She grinned and my hands flexed at my side. I needed to gain my composure before I caused a scene and hurt someone. My every instinct was yelling at me to cross the room, rip her away from Kadence, and remind everyone who I was and how I took what I wanted.
Fuck.
She wasn’t mine.
Kadence laughed as Jae kissed her neck, and her eyes found mine. For half a second, something flickered across her face. Surprise? Was she surprised to see me watching her or was it the defiance inside her that enjoyed this moment? And then she smiled. She wanted me to see her. I think that hurt more than watching her kiss someone else.
This was a new feeling for me.
I didn’t get jealous. I was thirty-five acting like I was in high school over a woman I forbade myself from chasing. What the fuck was wrong with me? Why was she in my fucking head? I didn’t get to stop her from doing what she wanted when I was the one who chose to keep her at a distance, even if she awoke the dead organ in my chest.
My heart wasn’t destroyed because when I saw her, I felt it spark to life. I felt like Frankenstein's monster being brought to life the moment I saw her. When I lost my wife and daughter, I never thought I would feel this way about anyone else, but the bratty woman made me feel alive for the first time in years.
I signed myself up for this punishment, and now I had to live with the consequences.
I watched her when she pulled away from her, giving Jae a sympathetic look. Jae’s eyes caught mine, and I couldn’t exactly read the look on her face as she listened to Kadence talk. And then Kadence scurried off towards the back rooms.
My feet carried me before rational thought processed what I was doing. There was no point in confronting her. I was letting my emotions speak before anything else. She did that to me. I was a mess when it came to this woman. It seemed the bathroom was the place we did most of our talking.
When I stepped into the women’s restroom, I locked the door. I didn’t want anyone to interrupt this moment. She was leaning over the sink, the water running as she mumbled something to herself. When she heard me, she looked up, a weakglare in her eyes. She looked exhausted, like putting on that little show took so much out of her.
“Don’t,” she said immediately.
“Don’t what?” I asked calmly as I stepped closer to her. “Talk to you? Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Her jaw set tightly. “Don’t act like you get to mar?—”
“I watched you kiss her,” I cut her off, my voice low. I think I succeeded in hiding the jealous tone.
She glared at me, more fire in her eyes this time. “And? You don’t own me or my body, Blaize.”
“I never said I did.” I let the silence stretch for a moment. If I didn’t say anything soon, she would leave. Hell, I didn’t even know what the fuck I wanted to say. “You wanted me to see you. That wasn’t about kissing Jae or anyone else. You wanted to make me jealous.”
She laughed bitterly. “Jealous? Are you jealous, Blaize? Or are you tired of not having control over me? You don’t get to play this fuck ass game.”
“I’m not playing any games,” I said coldly.
Kadence looked at me. “Not playing a game, huh? Prove it then.”
Prove it.
“Kadence, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry isn’t enough,” she deadpanned. You are playing with my heart. You made your choice. You didn’t want me. I am not going to be stuck under your spell. If I want to kiss someone else, I will. If I want them to fuck me, I will let them.” She closed the gap between us, her cheeks red as she continued on. “I am not property. I am not a quick fuck to get your rocks off. I deserve to be loved, and I am not playing mind games with a woman who doesn’t know what she wan?—”
