all in a fucking twist, lady? I’m not giving you a diamond ring or anything. It’s just a space you can use to teach yoga. You told me that was your dream. You wanted to open a yoga studio. So, here.” He pointed to the mats. “You can start here. Stop saying you’re leaving and take what I’m giving you. Leaving is a cop-out. You have no reason to leave. You don’t have to spend one cent, so the money issue is bullshit now.”
Jessica looked at him, her eyes wide and her mouth agape. Slade stood waiting for her to say something, his arms crossed over his broad chest, legs shoulder-width apart.
Jessica’s eyes welled with tears and her chin quivered. “Gym looks great. Catch ya later, Slay.”
She turned on her heel and practically ran toward the door.
What the fuck? Slade thought. That was so not the reaction he’d expected when he had planned this. He took two long strides and reached for her wrist, causing her to spin around and slam into his body. “What is your goddamn problem, Jessica?”
“Nothing.” She trembled under his firm grip.
“Bullshit.”
“Pardon?”
He took a final step closer. Their bodies were now pressed together. “Bullshit.” He repeated it slowly and deliberately.
He could tell that her breathing was becoming ragged and he felt her thumping heartbeat against his chest. “Please,” she whispered, “let me go.”
“No. Not until you tell me what the hell is going on in that brain of yours.”
“Slade.” It was a plea more than anything else.
He didn’t speak. The silence was tense, and she spoke first. “I was coming to say goodbye and that I hope we could remain friends.”
“We’ve never been just friends. But regardless, friends can help friends.”
“This is too…” She looked at the yoga area, a few tears slipping from the corners of her eyes. “It’s too friendly.”
“The problem is that you’re fucking delusional, Jessica. You want to be just friends. But I think you know we’re well past being friends.”
“We decided that—”
“No. You wanted to be just friends. Well, lady, that ship sailed the moment I tasted your sweet pussy yesterday.”
Jessica gasped and her cheeks flamed. She tried to twist out of his grasp and walk away.
Slade growled. “That’s it. I’m done playing nice. One minute you’re here, the next you’re gone.” He reached for her forearm again and pulled her to the cage. He opened the menacing heavy door, pulled her inside with him, and slammed the door shut. The noise echoed through the empty gym.
He stalked toward her. “I’m so sick of it, Jessica. All this bullshit about you leaving. We’re hashing this shit out right now. We end up together or apart, but we end with a resolution tonight! And just friends isn’t a goddamn option!” She backed away as he came toward her, but he didn’t stop. “I can’t be your friend. So if you don’t want to be more, then it’s over. You stop coming around, you stop fucking with my mind. You stop saying we’re friends. You. Just. Stop.”
“What?” Her face looked desolate. “I haven’t led you on. Not once since we broke up!” She used the palms of her hands to wipe away the tears, which were now coming down full force. “Okay, well, maybe last night, but that was your fault for what you did to me at my house. But otherwise I’ve stayed away. You’ve chased, but I’ve stayed away!” She was gasping between tears.
Seeing her cry made his chest tighten; he never wanted to see her cry again. But hell, he was royally pissed off.
“I cannot be your friend. Fuck, Jessica. I never get angry. Do you get that? I don’t. Even when I fight, I don’t get angry. But you…” He continued to come toward her. “You, Jessica, make me so fucking mad. I feel like I’m losing my mind. Every time you say that fucking f-word I want to shake you. And by f-word I mean friends.”
“But why? I thought we were—”
“Do not fucking even think of saying that word, Jessica.” A deep snarl came out, something he couldn’t help. “Your short fucking dresses.” He leaned down and with the tip of a finger grazed the bottom hem of her dress. She took another step back and hit the fence. He continued to approach, his hands gripping the fence on either side of her body, and leaned in, his blue eyes smoldering. He reached for her bottom lip and traced it with his index finger. “These plump lips.” His