Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 113699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
His long, curly hair falls forward as he leans in, his scruffy beard almost brushing my shoulder. Despite years of friendship, he’s never shown interest in exploring anything sexual with me. But right now, he’s looking at me like he might be interested.
“Since when do you commit to women? You barely commit to men,” he adds.
I clench my jaw and bite out a response. “Don’t start that shit.”
“Why not? Everyone wants to know …” His hand lands on my shoulder and gently caresses my arm. “Come on, Lee. We’re friends. I know your track record with both teams, and commitment isn’t in your playbook. Fucking and leaving before things can get serious is more your style.”
I take a step back, putting space between us. The movement is careful, deliberate—trying not to hurt him while making my position clear. “I’m with Salem.”
“Only Salem?” He laughs, but there’s no joy in his laughter, more bitterness and anger than anything. “Sure, you’ve been with women before, but never in a serious way. Never like this.”
“Things change, people change.” I shove around him into the bedroom.
“Do they?” He stalks forward, caging me against the bed banister by using his large-ass size to his advantage. “People and things don’t change that fast. Not that you asked for my opinion, but I feel like this is another one of your games. A way to get your parents off your back momentarily. Are you trying to improve your skill? In need of a challenge? Wait, don’t tell me—the usual girls aren’t doing it for you anymore, so you decide to conquer the campus freak?”
I clench my hands into fists involuntarily, the urge to hit him close to outweighing our many years of friendship. “Don’t fucking call her a freak,” I grit out through my teeth.
“Or what?”
Anger pools in my gut. “Or we will have a problem. Maybe that’s what you want? You act like you’re looking for a fucking fight, and you know I’m always down to throw a few punches. But I’m really holding myself back here because we’re supposed to be friends.” I push back against the desire to act on violence and send Aries’s head spinning.
“We are friends. Why the hell do you think I’m trying to talk you out of whatever stupid mistake you’re making?”
“Talk me out of it? All you’re doing is pissing me off.”
“Because I’m telling you the truth?” he whispers in my ear. His breath is warm on my neck, and I can’t lie to myself … a tiny part of me wants to push back. Kiss him. Let the physical way it would be between us shut off this swirling in my head. But I don’t. I take a deep breath like a fucking adult and narrow my eyes. “What truth? I’m serious about her. Whatever fucked-up shit this is between her and me … I’m going to see it through to the end.”
“Whatever this is?” A cruel laugh bellows out of him. “You can’t even identify what you guys are. I don’t know. Smells like bullshit to me. Like it’s not real. You don’t do relationships, Lee. Not with men, and definitely not with women.”
“Didn’t,” I correct him. “I didn’t do relationships, but the past doesn’t matter.”
“Oh really? As many years as I’ve known you, you’ve never had a serious relationship, and now you just expect me to believe you’ve changed?”
“I don’t expect shit, and best of all, I don’t need your approval. Part of me has to wonder if you really know me as well as you think.”
“Don’t I?” His fingers brush my jaw, his curls falling forward as he leans in a little closer. “All of us have watched you bounce between guys and girls at The Mill. Never once have I seen you commit to anyone. Never seen you lay claim. Never seen you throw a punch because someone else showed interest. Then Salem comes along, and suddenly, you’re off the market?”
I catch his wrist before he can touch me again. “Back off, Aries. You’re drunk.” I grit my teeth, the sting in his words far worse than the pain in my knuckles or my face.
“Better to be drunk than lying. Which is what you’re doing. To her. To everyone.” His eyes narrow suspiciously. “Or maybe, just to yourself.”
The darkness in his tone makes me grip his wrist tighter. “What the fuck is going on?” This attitude and behavior are unlike Aries, making me wonder what is going on with him.
All he does is shrug. “Maybe I’m tired of watching you play games.” He yanks his arm free, muscles flexing. “Tired of pretending I don’t see through your bullshit veil.”
“There’s no veil.” The words come out sharp. “I’m with Salem. That’s all you or anyone else need to know.”
“Right.” He steps back, danger dancing in his eyes like flames in a campfire. “Keep feeding yourself those lies, but we both know the truth. You wouldn’t even know what to do with her if she gave you the chance.”