Savage Unapologetic(67)

"When are we leaving? I want to have that talk." She inched closer, blanketing my space with her aroma.

Son of a gun. Could she back off a little? Fuck.

"We can talk here," I grunted out as my hand shook a little, trying to control the hunger created by her closeness. Damn her. I need another shot.

Waiting to have "the talk" in the hotel could lead to something ugly, and I'd rather do it here where I could contain myself. By the way my body was reacting to her, I didn't trust myself, not knowing if I wanted to choke her or fuck the living daylights out her, pillaging that tight ass as previously planned. So yeah, my mental state was fifty-fifty.

"How do you suppose we achieve that? I can't keep whispering and shit! This is driving me nuts. I can't sit here and pretend everything's gravy. We have to settle this now. I beg you."

All right. Time to cut to the chase. "I was told there's a room in the back for us to use. We can go there." The throb on the side of my temple pounded again as I took a quick swig of my drink and slammed it down the counterpane. Then I stood and began to stride towards the back entrance.

Her heels made clack-clack sounds with each step she took. And when I reached the brightly lit room, she took another thirty seconds before I secured and locked the door behind her. The last thing we needed was for someone to pop in, like Willa did earlier.

The room wasn't large at all, just enough for their VIP guest to have a quick break before and after the party. The entire room was painted black. Paneled mirrors lined the entire room, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages sat on a table top in the middle of the area. Two red leather sofas. Little decorated plates of fruits and sandwiches. And the loud thumping of EDM music vibrated into the walls, but it was enough to carry on a decent conversation without having to yell.

This should do.

Hands in my pocket, I leaned against the furthest wall before taking a good look at the woman who was about to walk out of my life for good. She was a fidgeting, lip licking mess. Her eyes were pink from unshed tears, boring into my dead ones, silently begging for mercy, for forgiveness.

I'm going to miss her so much, my mind reminded me. Fuck it! Let's get this over with. She'd leave, so I'd best come to terms with it. Damn it all to hell.

"What's the answer, Cara?" My voice was devoid of any emotion, my eyes not backing down from the tumultuous silent battle.

"I love you," she shakily whispered. "There's not enough words to describe just how much, but I can't grant what you're demanding of me. I've worked too hard to get here. An inflated ultimatum to sacrifice my career for your own selfish reasons. If you love me enough, you'd give me this second chance to prove that I'm yours. I'll take extra care when making decisions from now on. I'm ready to grovel, to take whatever punishment you see fit, but don't ask me to quit my passion. It's my life. It means everything to me." She paused, taking a step towards me. "I'm so, so very sorry for putting us in this miserable position. I fucked up, but give me a little credit for telling you that I did; that I've betrayed you in the most horrible way and how I'm willing to work through this, to get past this, so we can rebuild the future we planned together."



       
         
       
        

No matter how many times she apologized, my mind was made up. I couldn't be with someone who fantasized about another man. That was all shades fucked up. Yes, I loved her, and yes, I'd give up my life for her in a heartbeat, but what I wasn't willing to compromise on was this giant of a mindfuck that wouldn't go away until ties were severed. And she chose both.

I guessed, it was my turn to make a monumental decision. There was no way around it. No woman of mine was anyone's whore. Over my dead body. If she wasn't wholeheartedly mine, then she wasn't mine at all. Simple as that.

"I get that you're mad-I fucking do-but please don't fucking flirt with women in front of me. It's sickening. If it's a twisted ploy to hurt me-"

"That won't be a problem anymore," I interjected, straight-faced, emotionless.

She opened her mouth before my words dawned on her. Then she shut it again before I saw her bottom lip wobble. "Don't  …  please don't say it."

Not only had she broken my heart, but she had also managed to throw away the only thing that was beautiful in our lives, tainting our love, and for what? For some quick sexual high that needed to be scratched? Nah, I was done fooling myself.

"I can't wait for you, Cara, not when I know you want him, too. There's no fixing this. I'm done."