Page 119 of Their Naughty Student (Office Intrigue Duet 6)
My hands shot to my hips, my defenses falling into place. “That’s not true.”
He sighed, running his hand through his sleep-mussed hair. “I think it’s fair to say I know where I stand with you, Jamie.”
“No, you don’t.” He couldn’t. I’d never told him.
“It’s always been about Edge,” he stated softly. “All of this. It’s a game, one that was fun while it lasted. I think it’s best if we both accept that.”
I glared at him, decided to go with the truth. “Yes. At first, maybe this was about him.” I took a step closer. “Right up until I met you.”
“Then what? You thought it’d be fun to rotate us out?”
“That’s not fair,” I said softly, pain lancing my insides, causing my eyes to fill with tears. I fought them back. I didn’t want his sympathy, I just needed to apologize.
“You’re right,” he huffed.
I knew he was hurting, could see it on his face. His hurtful comments were to make me feel what I’d made him feel. I understood that.
“Did you fuck him?” His eyes were cool, but his tone wasn’t.
“What?”
Cav took a step closer, his gaze zeroing in on my face. “You heard me. When I left, did you fuck Edge?”
I didn’t like his tone. It made me feel cheap and dirty and what happened between Edge and me was not that.
“That’s what I thought.” He turned back to the door, opened it. “I think it’s best you leave.”
Swallowing hard, I started toward the hallway. Evidently, I wouldn’t be fixing this. For one, I didn’t know how. Just as I was about to give up all hope of making this right, I changed my mind.
I stepped right up into his personal space, slid my hand up to his cheek. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “The last thing I’d ever do is hurt you.” His eyes locked on mine, but he didn’t move. “And you have never been my second choice. Ever.”
I’d promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but the tears formed anyway. I fought them back, swallowed repeatedly, trying to fend off the onslaught of emotion.
“I’m sorry, Cav,” I whispered.
“Damn it, Jamie,” he growled, his arms going around me, pulling me into him.
That did it. The dam broke and tears flooded as his big, warm arms wrapped me in tight. I pressed my cheek to his, holding on, never wanting to let him go.
When he released me, the warmth faded instantly. I furiously brushed the tears away, not wanting him to see me fall apart.
“Where’s Edge?” he asked, leaning his forehead against mine, his palm curling around the back of my neck.
“I left him at the hotel. Asleep.”
He sighed.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” I explained. “I needed to talk to you, to explain. It couldn’t wait until morning. I can’t bear the thought of you being upset with me.”
Cav released me, took a step back, another sigh racing out of him as he moved toward the small dresser beneath the television.
I didn’t know whether to follow or to leave. I’d never been in this position before. In fact, I’d never thought I would be. Leaving one man’s bed to come to see another man? Who in their right mind ended up in that predicament?
I heard him open the small refrigerator, close it. I thought about joining him but stared at the door. This was a mistake. He wasn’t going to forgive me, and I didn’t blame him. I’d been so upset by what Edge had done, thinking he could control all of us because he was insecure. He’d left Cav and me in a bad position last night and emotions had run high. Mine especially.
A sob escaped me when I thought about what I’d said to Cav, remembering the pain in his eyes. It hadn’t been until the words were out that I’d realized how it sounded, as though he was my second choice.
He wasn’t. Neither of them were. I just didn’t know how to do this. Whatever this was.
“Come here,” Cav said, his warm hand curling around my arm.
Unable to resist, overcome with emotion, I allowed him to steer me away from the door. The room wasn’t all that big, so there really wasn’t anywhere to go. But that didn’t matter. The only thing that did was being with him.
“I haven’t figured out where I’m going to live,” he said, as though I needed an explanation.
When he led me to the bed, another sob tore at me.
“Sit,” he commanded, the single word clipped.
I sat on the edge of the mattress.
Cav bent down, removed my shoes. He moved over to the mirrored closet doors, rummaged inside. When he returned, he was carrying a T-shirt. His T-shirt.
After taking my clutch and setting it on the single bedside table, he slipped the shirt over my head, then pulled me to my feet. While I slid my arms into it, he worked my dress down, allowing it to pool at the floor. Then his warm arms settled me into the bed.
