Fever (Breathless #2)(115)

“What the f**k, man? Did you honestly think she would cheat on you? Or is this some f**ked-up response to me sleeping with her that first time we were all together? Because she doesn’t deserve that from you. She accepted something we offered and you’ve been punishing her for that ever since. If you want to blame someone, take a look at yourself. If you’d been honest from the start, that night would have never happened and you would never have to look at her and remember me f**king her.”

Jace flinched at the blunt assessment. But Ash was right. One hundred percent right. It was twisted, but he realized Ash had hit on something Jace hadn’t even realized. He was, in a small way, punishing Bethany for something she hadn’t even orchestrated. He couldn’t stand to see her and Ash together because he was reminded of that night. And even though he’d been able to joke with Ash about it in the office earlier, it was because Bethany hadn’t been there.

“No, I don’t think she’d cheat on me,” Jace said quietly. “And you’re right. She doesn’t deserve this. You don’t deserve this. I couldn’t let you walk away without apologizing. I don’t want this between us anymore.”

“If you don’t want it between us, then you need to deal, Jace. Because Bethany and I are cool. We’re okay with what happened and we’re okay moving forward. She’s still embarrassed as hell over it, which makes what you just did even worse. We’d worked it out. That’s what we were discussing when you barged in acting like an ass**le.”

Jace’s brows drew together. “What do you mean, ‘worked it out’?”

“It means I told her I didn’t want her to be uncomfortable around me and that I wanted us to be friends. I see the way she looks at me when we’re together and how awkward things are. If you and she are going to be together, I thought it was important that we bury the hatchet and that I try to make things as comfortable and as easy between us as possible. That’s what you saw, Jace. Certainly not me making moves on your woman.”

Jace rubbed his temples. “I’m sorry. I f**ked up again. Swear to God, it’s all I do.”

“And why are you down here apologizing to me when it’s Bethany you need to be begging forgiveness from?” Ash demanded.

Jace blew out his breath. “She’s upset.”

“Understandably so.”

“Yeah. Absolutely.”

“So, then why aren’t you up there with her?” Ash persisted. “Tell me you aren’t giving her up. Because I’m telling you right now, you do that and I’ll move in and I won’t be the ass**le you’re being.”

Jace’s nostrils flared. “What the f**k? So you do have feelings for her.”

Ash shook his head. “All I know is that she’s a beautiful, desirable, sweet-as-hell woman. That already places her miles above the women we typically f**k. I’d be perfectly happy to see where a relationship would take us. I already know we’re compatible in bed.”

“Fuck you,” Jace snarled.

Ash smirked. “Then maybe you should get your ass up the elevator and make sure she’s not going to leave your ass.”

Jace averted his gaze. “There was something different this time. She wasn’t so much pissed as she was . . . defeated. It was scary as f**k. She got teary-eyed, but she tried to hide that from me so it wasn’t like she was manipulating me with tears. And she was just so resigned and matter-of-fact. I went too far this time, Ash. Trust has been an issue with us before. My mouth has gotten ahead of my brain more than once and I’ve bit at her, said shit I didn’t mean, and it hurt her. Just like I hurt her a while ago. Not sure she’s going to be so quick to forgive this time.”

“Well, you won’t know until you get your ass up there,” Ash said calmly.

“Are we good?” Jace asked in a quiet voice.

Ash’s shoulders went up and down as he blew out a deep breath. “Yeah, man, we’re good. But swear to God, you won’t get a third time to pull that shit with me.”

Jace nodded and then held up his fist. Ash bumped it. Hard. Jace nearly winced as Ash’s knuckles cracked over his.

“Go make this right with your girl,” Ash said. “Because if you don’t, I will.”

Jace scowled and Ash laughed.

“Knew that would motivate you,” Ash said, amusement heavy in his voice.

Jace punched him in the arm and then turned back to the elevator. “Later, man.”

“Let me know how it goes with Bethany,” Ash said quietly.

“Will do.”

• • •

When Jace entered the bedroom, he saw that Bethany was already in bed. She was curled into a tight ball, her back turned to the center of the bed so she’d face away from him.

She was also wearing pajamas when she always wore nothing to bed. It was one of his rules—the first she’d blatantly broken.

He sighed, knowing damn well he wasn’t going to take her to task for not obeying the no-clothing-to-bed dictate.

He undressed and then slid into bed next to her. He edged closer to her until her back was pressed to his chest and he curled an arm around her body, pulling her even tighter to his body.

She went rigid, tension boiling off her body.

“We need to talk, baby.”