Page 8 of Defying Ella
I shook my head. “Dream on, Buttercup. The girls will be arriving first thing in the morning.”
“No,” he spat at me before pulling out his phone. His fingers flew furiously across the keyboard.
I considered my abandoned book and the dying fire. It called to me, but no way was I turning my back on Jared. The tricky sod would pull one over on me if my back were turned.
There is no way on this earth I am sharing air with him for a second longer than needed.
A month was long enough.
Jared’s phone pinged almost instantly. He scrambled to unlock it, his brow furrowed with determination. Any hope in his expression evaporated in the blink of an eye as he read the message.
He swore, glancing up at me from beneath his lashes. He didn’t need to tell me what the message said, I could read it on his face.
Andy messed up.
Which didn’t matter because I arrived first.
I firmed my stance, threw my shoulders back and stared the bastard down.
“When did he give you the lodge?” Jared asked, the words falling off his tongue slowly, with hesitation.
“At the start of the tour.”
He sucked in a deep breath. If it was meant to be calming, he failed. His face slowly reddened, and it had nothing to do with the heat from the fire. The thing had almost died,and my fingers were starting to tingle with the cold he’d let in.
“I need it more than you,” he said, his voice low. The tension around his eyes softened and his lips curled in a far too familiar half-smile.
The bastard had some nerve, trying to fucking charm me.
“You don’t actually think I’d fall for that routine again?” I laughed when his brows drew together. “Oh, Jared. I’m not one of your groupies. You can’t charm me into doing whatever you want anymore.” I glanced up and down his body, forcing a twist of disdain to my expression. “Been there, don’t need another burn.”
I’d had to deal with him picking up a girl in every city, only to toss her aside the next day. Honestly, he was disgusting. I couldn’t figure out how he’d duped me. He’d been sweet, and I thought, unguarded. Obviously, it had all been a front. One that vanished in a puff of smoke the second I ran into him outside the secluded comfort of my flat. I couldn’t reconcile that guy with this – this asshole who thought women were disposable, existing only to serve his whims.
Sometimes it made me feel sick that I’d ever let him touch me, let him make me even consider a relationship for a fraction of a second. I had no interest in being tied down. Enjoying my life for as long as I could with no attachments suited me much better. Yet seven days with him and I’d had traitorous thoughts that would have put it at risk.
“No, I’m certain after a month of you, I need it far more than you,” I grinned, staring up into his green eyes, “and lucky me, I got here first.”
“I’m serious, El.” His hard ass mask slipped, leaving me staring at the man who’d once made me weak. “If you felt anything for me, you’d leave.”
“Wow, does emotional blackmail work on your other flings?” I crossed my arms and let the effects of his imploringeyes bounce off me. Once I might have buckled, but that ship had well and truly sailed.
“It’s not emotional blackmail if it’s genuine.”
I snorted. “Try it on someone who doesn’t know you. You wouldn’t know genuine if it hit you in the face.”
“Els.” He tried again with that imploring look and my weak heart twinged at the sight of it.
“I’m serious too, Jared. I’m not sharing space with you ever again.” I circled my finger, gesturing to the door. “So don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Drive safe.”
I turned, done with his shit. Jared caught my arm. He shuffled in close, invading my space and lowering his head until his forehead almost pressed against mine. I fought to keep my eyes open, to not luxuriate in the sweet press of his skin against mine or the teasingly close heat of his body. Nerve endings swooned beneath his fingers, the sensation dancing up my arm much the way they did the first time.
“I’m not leaving. I can’t.” It was probably my imagination, but he sounded broken.Ridiculous.
I pursed my lips as my gaze roamed his face. It wasn’t fair for him to be that pretty considering the husk of a heart inside of him. Yet those green eyes captivated me, surrounded by thick black lashes. Throw in his hooker lips, plus my apparently weak will, and resistance became an absolute nightmare.
“There’s like twelve bedrooms so I’m sure we could avoid each other foronenight.” A flash of the snow plastering the drive outside filled my mind and my annoyance fizzled, weakened against my will. “Plus it’s probably not safe to drive with the roads icy and snow-covered.”
I wanted to pull the words back the second his shoulders relaxed. I did not need him relaxing and thinking he could sweet talk me into giving him his way. No, no, no.
