Page 29 of Silent Damage

I’m lying on the bed, half-naked, and my arms are beside me, exposing myself.

No—opening myself up to him.

My leg is bent, and the bottom of my asscheek peeks out.

His Adam's apple bobs as his eyes drink me in.

There’s a shiner perfectly positioned right on his cheekbone, and the light catches it.

He needs ice. I could get it for him.

I could take care of him.

I gasp because he moves—crawling up the bed toward me until we’re just inches apart.

He draws a little closer, his lips right against my ear, and whispers, “Put your ass back in your pants, slut.”

My breath hitches, and a cold, stabbing feeling cuts open my heart. The hurt morphs into rage as my trembling arm swings at him, but he backs away just in time.

“I ain’t staying here much longer. When I get a job, I’m out. So, put your fucking clothes on and steer clear of me.”

I growl—the only sound I can make at this moment—grab a glass of water sitting on my bedside table, and throw it at him. He ducks, and it shatters against the wall.

Then he charges out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Fuck him!

Whatever I thought might happen between us is done.

I despise that motherfucker.

Jason

That was close.

Too close.

I should have known being drunk around Gabe would be too hard. My defenses are down. He flashed that thigh, and I wanted to pounce.

Sweat beads on my brow as I dart into the bathroom, locking the door once I’m inside. I stare at my reflection and see the bags beneath my eyes. Cuts litter my face from the fight, and I grimace.

But it’s not just the wounds that concern me the most.

It's the exhaustion in my face.

Being this close to Gabe is taking everything I have to keep my emotions in check. One moment, I want to rage and throw things across the room, and the next—

I splash cool water over my face and continue to study my reflection.

But soon, all I can see in my mind’s eye is a half-naked Gabe looking scrumptious on his bed.

“Don’t do it, Jason. Not him. Anyone but him. You can fuck all of Belmont if you want, but not Gabe. There’s no coming back from that.”

But as soon as the words leave my mouth, he’s back. Staring at me through the mirror with those brown eyes that make my chest ache.

His mouth moves, saying something that I can’t hear.

I wish I could hear it.