Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(51)

“If you don’t get your f*cking hands off of her this very second, I’m going to rip your head off,” Tyler hissed low as he approached.

Paxton let me go and held his arms out to the side, part way to keep me shielded and to also show he didn’t want any trouble. In the past, he would rise to any occasion to fight, but now he was more responsible. I liked the new Pax.

“It’s not like that, Rushing. Kacey and I were just talking. I’m not going to let her go with you until you calm down.”

“Like hell you’re not!”

Stepping out to the side, I rolled my eyes and put myself between them, placing my hands on both of their chests. “Guys, this is ridiculous. The last thing we need is to get kicked out of the hotel.” Tyler put his hand on mine and clasped it firmly with his, carefully scrutinizing Paxton’s movements.

Sighing, I turned to Pax and felt Tyler tense underneath my touch. “Pax, I’ll be fine. You have nothing to worry about.”

Finally, he tore his stare away from Tyler and looked down at me. “All right, I’ll go. Just make sure to text me if you need me.”

I nodded in reply and wished like hell I could get them separated. The tension in the room was unbearable and I wouldn’t be able to stand it much longer. Thankfully, Paxton took the higher road and backed down, turning on his heel and marching off. I was afraid to look at Tyler for fear of what I’d see, because now he would know something was up between me and Paxton.

With that tension added on to the Gabriella situation, I’d say this night was going to be one hell of a fight.

Tyler’s hand tightened around mine and before I could say anything he pulled me down the hall toward our room, the energy around him crackling like fire.

“Tyler, slow down,” I ordered hesitantly. His grip on my hand didn’t hurt, but he wasn’t talking and I didn’t like it.

“You said you didn’t want us to get kicked out of the hotel, so I’m taking this to our room.”

My heart sped out of control and my hands began to sweat. I was so nervous my stomach twisted and turned. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I was still angry with him about Gabriella, but now he was angry with me about Paxton. When we got to the room, he had the key out, ready to unlock the door. My mind was set.

I refused to let him win this fight.





AS SOON AS the door slammed shut, I stood firm with my arms crossed over my chest and my head held high.

“What the f*ck were you doing with Paxton?” he shouted.

“Don’t you dare turn this around on me, Tyler. I wasn’t the one inviting him into my room with only a towel wrapped around my waist. I’m sorry by the way. I didn’t mean to crash your party by showing up to your fight.”

Closing his eyes, he hung his head and chuckled, only it wasn’t a humorous sound. “Of course, you would see it that way.” Lifting his head, he took a step forward, and I countered by taking one back. “When are you going to realize that I want you, and only you?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. You kind of have a hard time showing it when Gabriella’s around. If this is the way it’s going to be, I don’t think I can handle it, Tyler. It’s not easy seeing you with someone you used to be intimate with.”

When I tried to walk off, he reached for my hand and pulled me close, holding me around the waist. “I understand that, Kacey,” he murmured. “But you need to let me explain. I called Gabriella before the fight, and told her to come to my room after.”

“Why?”

He brought his hand up to my face and brushed his thumb across my lips, making me tremble. “Because I knew with her being in my life, it would only cause problems between us. I told her she was my past, and that you were my future. I choose you.”

He closed the distance between us and I melted against him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him in tighter. His lips were warm, his tongue hot and demanding as he tasted me . . . claiming me. However, all too soon he pulled away, holding me in place with his hands on my face, his look hard.

“Now that you know about Gabriella, I think it’s time you tell me about Paxton. You two know each other, don’t you? The way he spoke to you isn’t the way he usually is with the females.”

Swallowing hard, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His jaw tensed and he let his hands slip away from my face and crossed them over his chest, waiting while I bit my lip nervously.

“Yes, we know each other,” I confessed. “Paxton and I grew up together. We’re friends.”

“Friends?” Tyler scoffed. “Let me guess, he was your high school love?” He said it sarcastically, but when all I did was stand there and not answer him, his glare turned from amused to complete stone. “You have got to be f*cking kidding me.”

Reluctantly, I slowly nodded and hung my head. “It was a long time ago, Tyler.”

“Did you f*ck him?” he growled.

I nodded again and kept my eyes on the floor. “Yes, I was seventeen years old at the time. He was different back then.”

“So, basically you’re a hypocrite. I told one of my good friends today that it would be best if we didn’t speak anymore to spare your feelings, but yet I find you in the same situation.”

Abruptly, I lifted my head and snarled. “I am not a hypocrite. Tonight was the first time I’d seen Pax in over a year. It’s not like you and Gabriella, who had a thing just a month ago. Pax and I stopped seeing each other once he started fighting. That was years ago, Tyler, not just a mere few weeks.”