Cherished (Masters and Mercenaries #7.5)(38)

“I would like to know why she was bothering us in the first place.”

His jaw tightened. “She’s a former submissive of mine. It didn’t work out, but I make it a habit to not talk about my relationships. I would give you the same courtesy.”

Anger welled. He thought he’d seen her overreact? “So you’re lumping me in with the girl who tried to pin a couple of murders on you?”

His face went white. “How do you know about that?”

He thought she didn’t know? “We talk in the club. Everyone knows, Will. Every single person in that club knows that you fell in love with a perfect sub and she turned out to be a crazy bitch who was using you for the man she really loved. It’s a juicy story. You couldn’t expect that no one would tell it.”

His face went blank, but not before she’d seen the startled hurt in his eyes.

Damn her mouth. She never knew when to shut up. But wasn’t she in the right? He was the one who told her it was none of her business.

He nodded. “I’ll see if I can stop the plane.”

He moved past her and she rushed into the study to get away from him. She couldn’t freaking breathe. He hadn’t argued with her. Hadn’t violently protested that her account was wrong. Maybe she was right and he did love that crazy woman.

It was good to have it out. She wasn’t anyone’s rebound girl. She strode into the bedroom because she wasn’t going to watch him leave now that she’d called him out.

She stopped. The bed was covered in rose petals. White ones. Her favorites. And there was a tray of chocolate-covered strawberries. Also her favorites. He’d gone to a lot of trouble for the rebound girl.

She’d been mean. Maybe he’d been mean, too, but now that she thought about it, a story like that getting around would hurt Will’s pride. And to hear it coming from the woman he’d been sleeping with? Yeah, that had to hurt.

Was she going to let him walk away like that? At the very least, she should apologize.

She turned, but he was standing in the doorway, blocking her way.

“I need to get my kit and I’ll go. I can call a cab at the office.”

All of her anger fled and she was left with a sadness that threatened to bring her low. “I’m sorry.”

He held a hand up. “Hey, it’s no problem. I thought I could keep it quiet. You’re right. It’s a juicy story.”

Deflecting. He was good at that. He was also damn good at calming her down, but he was the one who needed soothing. Was he embarrassed? Was that the reason he’d cut her out and tried to hide the meeting? “Please don’t go. You don’t have to go to the wedding with me, but could we talk for a minute?”

“I don’t think there’s anything left to say.”

She’d thought about nothing but herself and her own issues since the horrible night before began. She hadn’t once thought about what he needed. He’d been honest with her, even when it hurt his cause. “I think there is. I’m sorry. I was so mad at you for leaving with her. No. I’m lying. It wasn’t anger, Will. It was blinding jealousy. I was so jealous.”

He didn’t move, but she saw the moment his eyes softened. “You had nothing to be jealous of.”

“She’s beautiful, Will.”

“Maybe on the outside, but I’ll be honest, she was always too thin for my tastes. If you’re looking for someone to tell you you’re beautiful, I believe I’ve done that about a thousand times. Now, I’d like to get out of here with some dignity. The plane needs to take off.”

She wouldn’t see him again if she let him get off the plane. He was right. She did overreact and then she put herself in a corner she couldn’t get out of. Was she going to let that one incident sour everything else? She’d spent the best week of her life with him and then she’d turned on him the minute he did something she didn’t like.

“Please don’t leave. I’m sorry I said what I said.”

“You told me the truth.”

“No. I said something meant to hurt you. Will, I’ve known about what happened since before we started dating. I didn’t think less of you when I heard that story.”

“Sure.” He was obviously tense, every line of his body rigid. He seemed to be simply trying to survive until she let him go.

He’d gotten so good at soothing her. How could she not know how to do the same for him? Affection. He responded to affection and he struggled to reject it.

She stepped up and before he could move away from her, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I don’t think less of you, Will. God, that would be the most hypocritical thing I could do. Did you listen to my dating life? I’ve gotten used by every man I’ve dated up to you. Does that make me a fool? An idiot?”

“No, sweetheart.” His voice had softened. “It makes you a little na?ve and that’s not a bad thing. But we’re talking about two completely different things here.”

“Nope. They’re the same. Why is this a problem? Are you mad that I asked about you?”

He stayed still and after a moment, she felt his hands on her hair. “Gossiping is a spankable offense. It’s in our contract.” He breathed again, his hands tightening. “You really don’t think less of me?”

She turned her face up. “Are you freaking kidding me? Will, think about it for two seconds. Would I have signed that contract if I thought you were some sort of pathetic loser? I knew what had happened to you before I ever agreed to sub for you. I was being a bitch because I was hurt that you chose her over me.”