3. Just Say The Words

My chest is going to break open. My heart is beating too hard against it. Everyone is staring at me, waiting for my answer, including Dax.

“No. I don’t have any feelings for Dax.”

Somehow, my voice comes out steady and confident, like I’ve rehearsed this beforehand.

I turn to Brenna. She’s watching me with narrowed eyes, trying to find any trace of the lie on my face.

“You don’t have to worry about me, Brenna. Dax is completely yours.”

“I know.” She smirks. “It’s not like you could ever take him from me anyway.”

Dax looks uncomfortable with the entire exchange, but the minute she kisses his neck, he’s grinning at her, grabbing her close and sucking on her lips.

The party resumes like nothing happened. Like I haven’t just been humiliated in the worst way.

I can’t stay here. Not for another minute.

Dax is too busy grinding on Brenna to notice when I slip away from the crowd and down the hallway. I push open the first washroom door I find, and luckily, it’s empty.

The music dulls to a heavy thud through the wall.

I grip the edge of the sink, Brenna’s words echoing in my head.

‘It’s not like you could ever take him from me anyway.’

My hands shake. I press them flat against the cold sink and breathe. In and out. In and out. I refuse to cry over this. Not in here.

The doorknob suddenly rattles. I freeze. Then the lock clicks, and the door swings open.

Cade steps inside and closes it behind him.

“Cade?” I stare at him through the mirror. “This is the ladies’ room.”

“You must’ve missed the sign in front. It’s the boys’ room.”

I open my mouth to argue but realize he might be right. In my haste to leave the party, I didn’t even bother to check the sign on the door.

“Sorry. I’ll leave then.”

I move, attempting to sidestep him, when he suddenly blocks my path.

“What are you doing? Let me go.”

He stares at me. “You came in here to escape from the party, didn’t you? No need to get out so soon.”

He saw it too. He saw what Brenna did to me.

My nostrils flare. “So what? Did you follow me in here to humiliate me further?”

“No,” he says. “What Brenna and her friend did to you was shitty. You didn’t deserve that.”

The insult I’m about to hurl at him dies at the tip of my tongue. I was ready for the mocking smirk from him, not this.

The anger I swallowed in front of Dax comes rushing back.

“That bitch.” The words tear out of my throat. “She already has Dax. She has his ring and his love. All I did was congratulate her. She could’ve just said thanks and moved on, but she just had to rub it in my face and try to humiliate me.”

My jaw clenches, my hands curling at my sides. I’ve taken enough bullshit jabs from that bitch. “I’m going to tell her exactly what I think of her.”

I have every intention of storming out the door to go tell Brenna all the ways I think she doesn’t deserve Dax.

But before I can touch the doorknob, Cade’s hand closes around my arm, not hard, but firm enough to stop me.

“What are you doing? Let me go.”

“No.”

“Let me go, Cade.”

“You’ll only make a fool of yourself.”

“I don’t care.”

“You will tomorrow.” His voice is low against my ear. “And she’ll use it to show everyone she was right about you.”

I want to argue. I can’t, because I know he’s right. Going off on Brenna in front of everyone would only prove her point.

My shoulders drop. I don’t pull away. Cade doesn’t let go. And I’m suddenly too aware of how close he is.

His chest is pressed against my back, and I can feel his warmth seeping right into me.

“Tell me something, Soraya.” Cade’s thumb shifts against my skin. “Do you ever do anything without thinking of Dax?”

My head snaps up. “Of course I do. My life doesn’t revolve around Dax.”

He feels even closer now. I try to take a step back, only to hit the sink.

“Then when was the last time you took care of your own needs? When was the last time you went on a date?”

“That’s none of your business.”

He plants a hand on the counter beside my hip, caging me in, his face drawing closer until I can feel his warm breath on my mouth.

“When was the last time you let someone touch you the way you deserve?”

My pulse stumbles and trips over itself. He’s way too close for comfort.

“The last time you fell apart from nothing but sheer pleasure?”

My whole body tingles. I should be disgusted. I should be furious. The words are crude and unwelcome, and I hate him for saying them.

So what is this slow, molten heat pooling low in my stomach? And why does this washroom suddenly feel like an inferno?

“All you have to do is let go.” His voice drops to a dark, rough whisper. “Let me show you everything you’re missing. Let me make you forget you ever wanted Dax.”

My pulse races. He gives me no chance to misunderstand. The gray heat in his eyes tells me he means every word.

He wants me.

His eyes drop to my lips. “Let me give you the distraction you need. Just say the words.”

I should say no. I should tell him to go to hell and get the hell out of here.

But I don’t.

Because I want him to.

I want him to make it stop. I want to feel something other than sadness and anger tonight.

I want to know how it feels to be wanted this much.

Without breaking eye contact, I breathe, “Okay. Show me what I’m missing.”

And before I can think, I wrap my arm around his neck and crash my lips against his.