Page 56 of Beyond the Cage

Leaving the door open, I take Spartacus over to his little bed. He curls up with his toy and promptly forgets about me.Men, hmph!I hear the door close behind me and I turn to face him.

“Do you know her?”

He nods.

“Did you fuck her?”

He looks me in the eyes and holds my stare. My heart rate increases. Hesitation. He’s fucking hesitating.

CHAPTER 14

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. – Lao-Tzu

It seems like an eternity before he finally nods.

“Please, tell me it was before me.”

He nods again.Yes. Thank, God.

“Do you want to fuck her now?” He grabs my hand and pulls me against him. “Don’t.”

I push at his chest but he only grips me tighter, guiding my hand to his crotch. My fingers meet a full-blown erection.

“Is that a ‘yes’?” He ignores me, sweeping me off my feet and heading for my bedroom. “Put me down. Do I look like I’m in the mood for sex?”

He lays me on the bed horizontally, spreads my legs, and steps between them. When he leans forward, I feel the full effect of his hard-on and it chips away at my resolve. I turn my head to the side to avoid his stare and hear him sigh in exasperation. If he thinks he can mollify me with sex, he better think again.

Then, his lips are on my neck. I gasp at the contact. As they move across my skin, my anger quickly melts away, and I whimper as his kisses become more aggressive. He moves to my lips, his tongue forcefully finding mine. I give in, wrapping my arms around his neck and sliding my fingers through his hair. The frenzy is back. I guess he wants to make up for last night. He pulls back, breathing heavily, staring at me like I’m the first woman he’s seen after a ten-year stint in prison. He curls his fingers in my top and rips it like a piece of paper, right down the middle.Fuck! The man’s an animal!While he drags his T-shirt over his head and drops it carelessly on the floor, I use the opportunity to scramble away from him.

“Wait.”

He continues as if I didn’t speak and begins to unbutton his shorts.

“I want…Ineedto talk to you.”

He sighs and sits on the bed, leaning on the headboard. Looking down at my unfortunate blouse, I shake my head and remove it, tossing it aside. I won’t have any clothes if he keeps this up.

“Cameron…” I take a deep breath. Maybe Chels was right, but I do need to get something off my chest. “About tonight…I overreacted. I’m sorry.” I climb on top of him and stare into his eyes. “It’s just…what would you have done if you’d found some guy pushing up on me?”

He clenches his jaw.

“Exactly. I mean…you’re…you. I know that kinda thing’s gonna happen, but…”

He tilts his head to the side and gently strokes my cheek with his thumb. I desperately try to blink back the tears.

“I don’t want to be hurt again. Jamal…I didn’t feel half of what I feel for you, and I just couldn’t…I don’t think I could handle it. I –”

He cradles my face, halting my rambling.

“Promise me. Promise me you won’t do what he did.” He tries to pull me down to him, but I resist. “Promiseme.”

After he nods, I allow him to tuck my face into his neck, and he strokes my hair until I calm down. A promise is a comfort to a fool, I know. I’m certainly no fool but…I believe him. I trust him. He could have lied to me about the chit but he didn’t.

“You should probably go get ready if we’re still going to the club,” I say while sitting up. He traces my cleavage with his middle finger, indicating he’d rather do something else. “No. You never take me anywhere. I wanna go out.”

“Don’t you two think you should close the door?” Chels’ voice comes from the doorway.

I turn my head and look back at her as she enters, carrying Sparty. “Aren’t you the one who’s always begging to watch?”