Tamed (Torn #5)(20)

“I would take that as a compliment if it weren’t for the massive frown on your face.”

“I don’t want shit to get complicated. I know how women work.” He dropped his hand.

I winced at the lack of emotion in his voice. It was like a switch had been flipped. Only seconds before, I’d seen a softer side of him. Now, it was gone.

“I’m not asking you for anything,” I told him, my voice as flat as his. “I thought we had an understanding.”

“We did. We do.” He ran his hands through his hair. “If this goes south, Drake will kick my ass.”

I rolled my eyes. “Who died and made Drake the boss?”

He grinned, but it faded quickly. “I like you, Amber. I don’t want to hurt you. I was serious when I told you that I thought we could be friends.”

“There’s no chance that you’ll hurt me,” I lied. “I don’t expect anything from you, except sex.”

He stared at me for a moment before finally speaking, “All right then. No expectations.”

He leaned forward to kiss me, but I stopped him by pressing my fingers to his lips.

“I do have one question though.”

“What?” he asked against my fingers.

I pulled them away. “Is this it, or what? I mean, is this the last night we’ll be together?”

“Do you want it to be?”

I bit my lip as I thought about how to answer him. “Not really. If you’re not opposed to it, I’d like to continue seeing each other.”

“Like I’d turn down sex with you,” he teased.

“Are we exclusive?” I asked, almost afraid to hear his answer.

His playful manner disappeared, and he was back to studying me. “Exclusive would imply some kind of relationship.”

“No, it wouldn’t. I’ve had an…agreement before with someone else.”

His gaze turned hard. “What do you mean?”

I swallowed roughly at the dark look in his eyes. “There was a guy I met when I started at WVU. We hooked up at a party. Neither of us wanted a relationship, but we had a good time together. We agreed not to screw around with anyone else while we were together, but we weren’t dating or hanging out.”

Adam took a step back as if I’d slapped him, his eyes filled with revulsion. “How often do you do shit like that?”

“What the f*ck does it matter?” I asked as my temper flared.

What right did he have to judge me about who I’d slept with? He’d left the bar with more women than I could count.

“I never took you for a whore. That’s part of the reason I thought you were different,” he growled.

“Who are you to judge me, Adam? I know you’ve slept around. I don’t look down on you for that!”

“How many?” he asked.

“How many what?”

“How many men have you slept with?” he demanded.

I was going to cry. I could feel tears of anger and embarrassment building behind my eyes. I’d never been looked at the way Adam was looking at me right now—like I was complete trash.

“That’s none of your damn business!” I shouted.

I turned away from him and grabbed my purse. I shoved past him and headed for the door. This had turned into an even bigger disaster than I’d expected.

“Where the hell are you going?” he demanded as he grabbed my arm to stop me from leaving.

“I’m going home! Fuck you, Adam. Just f*ck you!”

I tried to jerk my arm away from him, but he wouldn’t release me.

“How many?”

It came out as nothing more than a whisper, but I stopped struggling. Instead, I looked him in the eye, throwing every ounce of rage I had into my glare.

“Three,” I said quietly. “I’ve slept with three men. I thought I loved one, and he ripped my heart out. I walked in on him f*cking someone else. Alex was just for fun because there was no way I would ever open myself up to someone again. And last but not least, you. You are, by far, the biggest mistake of all.”

I jerked my arm free and stormed to the door. I didn’t glance back as I threw the door open and stormed out into the hallway. Tears began to fall as I ran down the steps and outside to where I’d parked my car.

By the time I made it home, I could barely see. I sat in my car for several minutes, trying to get my tears and my breathing under control.

How dare he!

He’d had no right to judge me. I wasn’t perfect, but I sure as hell wasn’t a whore.

“Fuck you, Adam. Fuck you!” I screamed, not caring if anyone was close enough to my car to hear me.

I was done with Adam, totally and completely done. He could burn in hell for all I cared.



I spent the next two days pretending like nothing was wrong. At least, I tried. My argument with Adam kept running through my mind. Every time I thought about it, I felt angry and hurt. Of all the people in the world, Adam was the last guy I’d ever expected to treat me the way he had. I hated how much that stung.

By Wednesday, I was at my limit. I would even avoid Chloe when she tried to talk to me. I was wallowing in self-pity. I didn’t have room for anyone else’s problems. Considering the way Chloe had acted with Drake, I knew she was going to end up coming to me with a problem. As pissy as I was, she wouldn’t want to hear my advice to her.