Page 30 of Inked Desires

“He can’t stand me anymore,” he growls.

I sigh and rub my forehead. This is ridiculous. I’m talking to the man I fooled around with, trying to convince him to get back with his husband. I’ve really outdone myself this time.

“That’s not what I saw,” I tell him.“He came here to see you. That man hasn’t moved on.”

He takes another swig from the bottle. I was hoping for a flicker of hope in his eyes after I said that, but he stays cold.

“Maybe he hasn’t, but for me, there’s no going back.”

His voice is resolute, but I don’t buy it. He sounds wounded. Nearly broken. I can’t bear to see him like this. Slowly, I stand up from the couch and take a step closer.

“Is that really what you want?” I press.“You want it to be over?”

He lifts his head. His eyes blaze with determination.

“I signed the divorce papers. Did you? Before you ran from your husband and shoved your tongue down my throat?”

My fingers brush over my ring finger, over the spot where my wedding band used to be. Instead of his name, Jace should’ve just tattooed a ring on me—it would’ve been harder to take off.

“No,” I admit quietly.

He tilts his head, frowning, scrutinizing my face like he’s searching for answers I’ve kept hidden.

“So you’re still married.”

“Legally.”

“Your last name really is Lopez?” he asks sharply, lifting the bottle to his lips again.

“How do you know my last name?” I ask, surprised.

Until now, I’ve only told him my first name. That had been enough for him. He’d never asked for more.

“I heard you on the phone with William,” he says simply.

Of course…

“What’s your real name?” he demands.

I should leave. I shouldn’t reveal too much. The less people know, the less they can spread.

“Andrew Benton,” I say, unable to lie.

“You really lived in Thunder Hawk?” he presses, accusing.

“Until two weeks ago. That’s when I left,” I confirm.

I never really lied. I just tried to hide my broken body from him.

“Does he know where you are?”

I take a deep breath. This conversation is heading into dangerous territory. I should’ve stopped him from steering it toward me.

“No. And it has to stay that way.”

“Is that a threat?” he asks, amused.

I press my lips together. If he knew what would happen to me if Jace ever finds me, he’d understand why I’m reacting like this. But Ares will never understand—because I’ll never tell him. Maybe it’s time I leave. I need to learn from this.