The Lover’s Promise (No Exceptions #3)(34)
Author: J.C. Reed

“Is that one of the reasons why you’re moving to Chicago?” I asked breathlessly.

“No. It’s the only reason, Brooke.” His eyes searched mine. “You made it clear enough that you want me out of your life and that’s exactly what I’m giving you,” he said. “I can’t stay with someone who believes I’m capable of killing a human being for money or power. I love you, Brooke. I really do, but there is no point in staying if you think I’m capable of hurting you. I’d rather kill myself than see you hurt. I’d rather go away than make you feel unsafe around me.”

“I didn’t really believe that when I said it,” I whispered.

Somehow it didn’t come out right. It sounded as though I was lying to myself. I probably was.

At the images of me Googling him, and sneaking around his apartment in a desperate search of proof, I felt shame pouring through me at the way I assumed the worst about him and yet hoped for the best. From the look of it, Jett sensed my earlier doubts about him.

His disappointment in me was so apparent, my heart lurched.

“I’m not so sure about that,” he whispered. “You took it into account that I would harm you, and that’s all that matters. You showed me how little trust you had in me. Can you guess how thinking so little of me made me feel?”

His tone sounded hurt, angry and spiteful. He was hurt and I couldn’t blame him, but how could I explain to his stubborn self that there were reasons why I did everything that I did? That a set of events, not necessarily created by him, smudged my trust in him.

“Can you guess how seeing you kiss Tiffany made me feel?” I retorted.

His eyes narrowed on me and the glint of anger increased just a little. I had never seen his eyes ablaze with so much anger—their green color so green it could have poisoned or conquered a soul. Right now he was conquering me with the depth he was regarding me.

Towering over me, his large size intimidating me, my pulse started to race. As Jett regarded me, his irises darkened, matching his mood that I knew was plummeting to new depths. He stepped toward me—so close I could feel his breath on me.

“Let’s just be honest, Brooke,” he whispered.  “Compared to you, I can control myself. Just because Tiffany and I share a history, I would never have fucked her again. Never. And that applies to all other women out there. And do you know why? I didn’t need my needs fulfilled, because I already had everything with you. But you?” He gave me an accusatory glare that made me flinch. “You couldn’t control yourself when you thought I was Check.”

Ouch.

Talk about bitchiness.

I gaped at him in shock.

In the silence, he grabbed his gloves that were lying on the floor next to his bottle of water and walked over to the training mats and the rest of the equipment. His face resembled a mask of ice as he pulled on the gloves, then started lifting free weights, his biceps straining from the effort.

“How dare you!” I said through clenched teeth, feeling anger pouring back into me. “You make it sound like I really slept with another guy.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you could have,” he muttered, continuing to lift the weights. They looked like they weighed a ton, and yet Jett made it look it was barely a fly.

I opened my mouth, then closed it again.

Fuck, he was right.

My drink had been spiked and it really could have been anyone I brought home. But he still had no right to say that. He had no right to be angry when he was the one who started all the problems. It dawned on me that it was going to be a long day. It might even become our biggest fight yet.

“Fuck you.” I crossed my arms over my chest as I stared Jett down. “Maybe that’s exactly what I wanted to happen.”

He stopped in midair, his eyes narrowing at my words, and his face changed into a mask of anger.

“Say that again?”

There was just a hint of danger in his voice, the kind of tone that matched his black tribal tattoo—the one symbolizing power and dominance. The kind of tone that brought a smile to my lips.

Holy mother of pearls.

He was angry. No, make that fuming. He was like a wild lion, ready to pounce on me and swallow me whole.

I raised my chin defiantly and shrugged.

“Fuck you?” I suggested, innocently.

He put the weights down and turned to face me fully with a glower that made my panties wet.

“No, the other stuff that you just said. About what you want,” he prodded. “Say that again.”

I bit my lip at how marvelously sexy he sounded when he was pissed—as if his aura was nothing but the form and power of a nuclear bomb, able to tear off my clothes and burn me. And I wanted to be burned all right, all the way to my core.

“You heard me the first time,” I said with just a hint of a smile. “If there were another guy, I would have done him.” I let the words roll slowly over my tongue. “Real good.”

He cocked his head, his eyes fixed on me. Even from where I stood I could see the waves of jealousy and fury wafting over. It pleased me that I had that effect on him. That he wasn’t so immune to emotions either. That he was as jealous as me. I liked the idea of having the upper hand for a change and being able to pierce through his sturdy armor. That was my last thought before his steps echoed closer, each one of them slow and measured.

In the silence around us I noticed just how quiet he had become. How my skin reacted to his presence and how my heart hammered against my chest so hard that I was sure everyone in the building would hear it. Finally, his hand touched my hair. With a determined pull, he removed the clip and my hair fell down in a cascade of ringlets. He tangled his hand in them and pulled me close until his hot breath was on my lips.

“Just to make one thing clear, you’ll never fuck another guy,” Jett whispered low enough for me to hear it, enough to send a tremble down my spine.

My brows shot up in mock amusement. “And why wouldn’t I do that?”

“Because you’re mine, Brooke,” he whispered. “And I don’t share.”

My heart skipped a beat as I peered into his dark green eyes and I shrank back from the intensity. I tried to laugh, but the sound remained trapped in my throat. He sounded so serious it scared me. I wondered what he’d do if I disobeyed.

“Is that why you were at the club?” I asked breathlessly. “To stalk me? To make sure there wouldn’t be anyone but you?”

“No, far from it.”  His voice sounded hoarse as his eyes bore into mine, penetrating the deepest layers around my being.