“Huh?” With a yawn, she stretched both mind and body, feeling warm sunshine on exposed skin. A lot of exposed skin, snuggled and tangled in the sheets next to even more exposed skin. Hard and slightly hairy…warm and wonderful.
Wonderful. Right on.
Kim inhaled the day, knowing it would be one to always remember. Jackson’s scent, that of pure man, pure exertion, and their scent, that of pure sex, enveloped her. They’d finally taken years and years of friendship to the next level. Nothing could be more perfect.
“I said get out.”
Wait. Jackson hadn’t just told her to leave. Had he?
Kim must have misunderstood. Maybe he was talking to the cat they didn’t have. Maybe nosy friends had come to spy on them. Or Veronica just couldn’t take a hint.
But Jackson could not be talking to her like that. “Wha—”
Whiskey eyes burned down on her, his slanted jaw locked. “Get out, I said. This didn’t happen.” As if to prove those sharp, cutting words, Jackson gave her a little shove toward the opposite side of the bed. Away from that gloriously naked body that had thoroughly claimed her last night. Away from him.
Damn you, Kimmy, he’d said, Damn you, you’re mine now.
Damn you, Kimmy, I love you.
Now all he said was, “Out,” and looked away as if he couldn’t stand the sight of her. “You have your internship. I have my ways. It’s over.”
Completely devoid of emotion. Of any sort of compassion.
Kim’s stomach soured as if she’d crested the highest point on a roller coaster and now it was time to plummet. “Uh, yes, this did happen. And it isn’t just over. Not like this.”
She didn’t budge. She refused to.
A cold sweat broke out over her skin as if all the heat had left her body and rushed to her face where she flamed, never more aware of the clothes she didn’t wear. Of the unspeakable things he’d done to her last night…spanked her over and over, teased her into oblivion, taken her anally…
And now…
“No. It. Didn’t.” He growled the words, denying her even a glance. “And. Yes. It. Is.”
What?
She hadn’t been drunk last night, but maybe he had. Maybe he really didn’t remember. That was the only plausible explanation she could dredge up.
Kim tugged the sheet around her, trying to cover the truth, but no amount of thin cotton could change that she was lying to herself. He recalled every fraction of what had transgressed between them all too well. Restraining her. Paddling her. Driving her to near madness with those vibrating clamps. Claiming all of her. And he still wanted her out. Gone from his life.
Tears threatened. Her heart split into shards. “Why are you doing this?”
Why?
Deep down reality rang clear. Hadn’t he warned her? This will ruin us. And he’d meant it. Jackson would not let love into his life, ever. Not even for her.
Nor would he let her turn down the chance of a lifetime to be with him.
His next words proved it. “Why can’t you just listen to me and forget about it?”
But that was never going to happen. They both knew it, which is why he whispered a reluctant, “I’m sorry,” before throwing himself from the bed buck-naked. Her eyes followed tousled hair and hard ass muscles and strong shoulders—shoulders she’d relied on for what seemed like forever—disappearing into the bathroom.
“I’m going to Philly, Jackson. My internship is with the Eagles.”
She swore she saw him hesitate before the door slammed behind him, shutting her out completely. And Kim knew this was no one’s fault but her own.
She’d tempted him beyond reasoning. True to his nature, he’d used her body and nothing more.
God, she was an idiot! Like a fool, she’d counted herself different from his other flings. The countless women, all dismissed in the morning.
Now it was her turn.
She’d convinced herself their friendship made the difference. That for her, Jackson would give love a chance.
But love had no chance with him. His head, filled with immaturely preconceived notions, had long since closed off his heart.
Dragging the sheet with her, wrapping it about her sex-sore body, Kim stormed from the room, blinded by tears. Twice was all the proof she needed. It was over. She might as well face the truth head-on. Philly, here she came.
* * * * *
Cold marble walls surrounded him, hot water rained down, and Jackson clenched fists at his ears, trying to drown it all out.
God, she had an internship with the Eagles! In Philly!
The Eagles, for hell’s sake. He punched at the streaming water, scattering droplets.
It was better just to let her go. For them both. A hundred miles between them was for the best.