Burned by Passion(23)

His face seemed to brighten at her words. “So tell me the right time and place. Because I have to see you again, Kira. I’ve tried to give you time to sort this out.”

“I don’t need time!” she gritted out. “I just need you to leave me the hell alone.”

“Why? Because with me you discovered what it meant to be a woman, a real woman? Because of what we shared?” he asked angrily, hands gripping her shoulders. “Don’t you understand how special that was? How special it still is between us?”

“Well since we’re on the subject why don’t we go over exactly what we shared, Blake? It was sex, just sex,” she said coldly, glaring up at him. “We both have people in our lives who’ll be hurt if they found out how stupid we’ve been.”

“I don’t,” Blake said promptly. “I broke up with Eve soon after the party. It was the logical thing to do. I wanted nothing standing between us once you were ready to give this thing we have a chance.”

“We have nothing, Blake which means you shouldn’t have bothered ending things with Eve,” Kira replied. “Don’t you get it? I mean come on. Really, you and me? I guess I should be flattered that I’ve caught your fancy, but trust me, I’m not going to fall for the same trick twice. I’m fine being a one-time conquest so why don’t you take your logic and stuff it. You’re the last man I’d ever want to be with because you’ll only be a constant reminder of how low I sunk that night!”

Kira could see her words had chilled him but she didn’t care. She had a whole backlog of issues not just with herself but how she felt she was perceived by other people. She hated for Blake to think she was some easy lay he could now cash in on for more of the same.

“I mean seriously, what do want from me?” she added heatedly when he didn’t speak. “I’m supposed to what, oblige you since after all I was such an easy lay the first time right? Well sorry, Blake but my ‘obliging’ days are done with.”

Shaking her head with disgust at herself and him, Kira turned away with her chest heaving in anger. She truly couldn’t imagine why a man like him would be so fixated on someone like her. She knew she was nothing like the women he must’ve dated in the past. He was a son of a billionaire with the social standing that was way beyond anything Kira could lay claim to coming from where she did. Why was he still trying to make a fool of her by placing importance on something they both knew was a huge mistake?


“I’m sorry that’s how you feel,” Blake said expressionlessly, backing away from her to stand against the wall, shoving his hands in his pockets. “For what it’s worth I want you to know that what we shared was special for me and not just in terms of great sex. I guess I was stupid thinking we could make something more out of it. I really felt a connection with you. But I guess you’re right and I was wrong.”

The elevator finally came to a stop and Kira could only stare at him unable to respond or even move. The cold, detached look in his grey eyes made her shiver inside. The doors opened.

“Goodbye, Kira. I promise I’ll never bother you again.”

Kira watched mutely as he shrugged past her and strode calmly out of the elevator. She knew she should be overjoyed by his words, but as her eyes followed his easy stride out of the office building she couldn’t help the intense ache in her heart. She really wished she could believe what he said about things being real and there being a connection. But how could he say that? If he’d really felt that way he wouldn’t have let things happen so fast. How could he ever respect or value her when she couldn’t even do the same herself?





***

Blake was scowling as he unlocked the doors to the Aston Martin, the one luxury he’d allowed himself when it came to personal acquisitions. As he was jerking the door open he heard a female voice call his name. He swiveled round, his eyes expectant – only to close them briefly in disappointment at the sight of not Kira, but Brittany Manson.

“Blake honey! Thank heavens I caught you,” Brittany breathed, coming up to hug him. She kissed his cheek enthusiastically, wrapping him in her expensive smelling perfume.

“Hello Brittany,” he said dryly, concealing his irritation as he extricated himself. He wasn’t surprised to see her; he’d run into her several times since he began working at the Carter Group. Her father and his were business associates, and she was always showing up on some pretext that her father had sent her to discuss something on behalf of the Manson family holdings. On every occasion she always made a point of visiting Blake’s personal office, obviously trying to wiggle an offer of a date from him. So far he hadn’t been biting.

He thought of how women like Brittany had been his type a few times in the past and how he would have at least considered going out with her once or twice just to see how things went. But since Kira, he had no interest in other women.

“Hey! So are you off somewhere? Lunch maybe?” Brittany said in her breathy voice, interrupting his thoughts.

Blake sighed. This was where he’d have to wipe the smile off her pretty Barbie doll face. He’d put too much effort trying to rein in what he truly thought of her and maybe it was time he came clean so she’d know there was no chance for them. But just then from the corner of his eye Blake caught a glimpse of Kira exiting the office building. He saw her headed their way and he could tell she’d already noticed him with Brittany.