AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What, just because I’m blond you think I’m an idiot?”
The way she talked down on herself was really starting to piss me off. “Why do you automatically assume that I think negatively about you?” I was irritated so I didn’t give her a chance to answer. “Whatever answer you make up is wrong because I have never once done or said anything to imply that I think you’re anything but amazing, and as much as I like you and want to make this work, again, it’s getting really old having to remind you of that.”
“Nobody needs to see this.”
“Nobody needs to see what?” I was even more confused now.
“That was what you said when you heard people coming outside the night of the wedding. You wanted me gone because you were embarrassed to be seen with me and had no problem making me feel like a whore then. But please, tell me again that I’m wrong.”
Hell, I was worried that was what she thought, but I’m an idiot because I didn’t clarify this with her yet. “Is that why you keep pushing me away?”
“So you’re not denying that you said that?”
“No, I’m not. But—”
“Yeah, Scotty. That’s why. You’ve done a good job at making me question if I was wrong about it, but you treated me like every other man in my life, and I have absolutely no reason to believe you—”
“Stop talking,” I bellowed, pinching the bridge of my nose.
She snapped her mouth shut so fast that her teeth chattered. But only for a second. “Excuse me?”
“I said, stop talking.” I pushed the table down to its normal position and turned my body to face her. “I should have cleared this up when we talked about it earlier. I said that because I didn’t want anybody to see you in a compromising position. I didn’t want anyone to assume badly about you. It’s a fucked-up truth, but there’s no denying a woman can do the same thing as a man, and he’ll get praise for nailing a chick against a wall, and she’ll get judged for being slutty.”
“That’s my point. You did me against a wall because you thought I was easy.”
I ran my tongue along my teeth. “No. I’ve already explained that, and I’m not going to again because I know you heard me. It had nothing to do with what you think I thought of you. I didn’t even know you, Paris, but I know you’re scared to let me in. I wish you’d give me the chance to prove that you’re safe with me, and not just physically. Your secrets, your fears, you can trust me with everything.”
Her lip quivered, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Yes. And if I’m being completely honest, I’m a possessive bastard. I was the one who put that thoroughly fucked look on your face and I wasn’t about to share that with anyone, because I do not share. You were meant to be mine back then, sugar, you just didn’t know it, and I’m here now to make you believe what I already know.”
I must have gotten through because she changed the subject. “I can’t decide if I want to hide my past from you and hope you never find out, or tell you everything now so you can hurry up and leave before I’m so deep that you walking away will destroy me.”
“And I can’t decide if I should hide the fact that I already know and I don’t care, or if I should let you think when I do find out that it doesn’t matter.”
Her jaw got loose on its hinges. “You know?”
“Remember me asking if you knew what I did for a living?” She nodded. “Right. I get paid to find information on people from what they think is hidden on their computer. I’m so good at what I do that Royal Ace Security hired me to develop a new program for their new cyber security division.”
“That’s how you know. Oh God.” Her face went pale, and her tears dried up as she began breathing heavy. “Oh God.”
I touched her hand and cupped her jaw. “Hey, it’s okay.”
“What do you think you know?”
“Please understand I didn’t dig as much as I could have. All I did so far was take a peek at some of your father’s files. Before I tell you what I found, I want you to know that it doesn’t change the way I feel about you.” Pink began warming her cheeks, but only because she stopped breathing. “Hey, hey, Paris. Breathe.”
A rush of air surged between her lips. “I was young,” she explained. “I didn’t know any better, and I was scared that—”
“It doesn’t matter. I understand, probably more than you know.”
“What did you find? Please, just spit it out.”
“Your father used your body to close deals. He prostituted you for money and power. When you had enough after you saw how easily he discarded your brother when Austin defied him, you made the choice to save yourself, too.”
“The whole time I worked at that company, I never slept with anyone to close a deal.”
I nodded. “Okay, but I didn’t think that.”
