but I did.” Ashton brushed away the hair that had fallen in my face. “I told her I couldn’t do it, because even though I felt like you had betrayed me, you were still all I could fucking see.”
He leaned in and kissed the corner of my eye. “These eyes melt me, baby. I’ve never looked into another person’s eyes and felt the pull I feel when I look into yours.” He kissed my lips. “Your smile brightens my day and has ever since the first moment you gave it to me. And no matter how hard I tried to fight it, no matter how I tried to replace it, it never once faded.”
My vision blurred with the tears I tried so hard to fight. I didn’t want to let them fall, because once I did, I wasn’t sure I would be able to stop.
“I just need some distance,” I whispered as I focused on his jaw instead of looking him in the eyes. I knew if I did I would give in to him, and right now that was the last thing I wanted. This all just felt too familiar. I’d spent half my marriage to Jase being replaced by one woman after another. I couldn’t help but fear I had fallen into a repeat of that relationship, and I just needed time to think clearly. And to do that, I couldn’t be in his presence. Ashton Montgomery was to consuming.
“I can give you all the space you need, sweetheart, but I want you to stay here.” Ashton traced my jaw with his fingertip as I looked him in the eye, fully intending to argue. “I’ll sleep in one of the guest rooms.”
“I think I should go home,” I said once again.
“You are home, Kinsley,” he replied before his kissed me softly, cutting me off before I could protest.
When he pulled back, he rolled to the side, walked toward the door, and left the room without even a quick glance back.
I stood in the entryway of my apartment building watching as Ashton waved just before he got into the awaiting car at the curb. Murray closed the door behind him, and within moments the car eased away, leaving me immediately feeling alone without him near.
“Who’s your friend?” I jumped in surprise when the deep voice I’d hoped I’d never hear again spoke from behind me.
I spun around and came face-to-face with Jase.
“You look surprised to see me, babe.” He smirked.
“I, uh. . . .” My heart was racing so fast I felt as if it may beat out of my chest. My hands shook and my body trembled as I tried to back away.
“I think you and I have some lost time to make up for.” Jase grabbed my arm and dragged me through the door and toward the elevator. The halls were quiet, and the lack of security within my building left me little hope of escaping.
The trip up to my apartment felt like an out-of-body experience. My head was spinning and dizziness threatened to knock me off my feet.
Once we stepped inside my apartment, Jase backhanded me so hard across the cheek I felt like my jaw shifted upon impact. I fell to the floor at the side of the couch and hurried toward it for cover before the next strike came. Only it never did.
Instead Jase walk across the living room and took a seat in the chair that faced me. “Did you think it would be that easy to walk away from me?” His voice was eerily calm. He crossed his ankle over his leg and brought it to rest on his knee. “I’ve let you believe for months that you gained your freedom. I sat back and watched as you slowly came out of your shell. It was mesmerizing really, seeing you gain confidence and strength. It made me even happier to know I would get to break you all over again.”
Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to give this bastard even one of them. I fought against them, finding the woman inside me I knew was there.
“And then—” he chuckled sadistically “—you had to take things one step further and spread your legs for the first guy who showed you an ounce of attention.”
He lowered his leg to the floor and leaned over, placing his elbows against his knees. He didn’t smile and he didn’t glare, but the fierce look he gave me was nothing like I’d ever seen before. “It’s time