Page 21 of Surviving Slater

"You deserve better than what I can give you."

Facing him with the renewed feeling of pain, I felt the strength to resist him.

Chapter Six

He sawthe change in me—the hesitation replaced by a steely determination.

"Why fight the inevitable?"

I shook my head. "The push and pull is making me dizzy."

"I know we'll be so good together." His eyes slid over me, stoking the heat in my veins. With one look he could make me question everything. I hated that I felt so weak. It made me feel disgusted with myself.

"You think I'm just some puppy dog that's going to follow you around until you decide to throw me a bone?" My anger was in free flow now—no way to stop the flood of it through my body, clouding my judgment. "I gave you a chance and you threw it back in my face."

He shook his head.

"That was different. It was emotional."

I frowned slightly at him. "And this?"

"This will just be physical." His voice was husky.

I wanted him. There was no doubt about it. But I was afraid of letting him in again. What if I couldn't control it and I ended up feeling more for him than I already did? But the pull to him was strong.

My anger faded to seductiveness. I stepped closer. His breath stilled when my finger reached up and I trailed it across his lips. His eyes darkened as they met mine. He wanted me, there was no hiding it.

I smiled at him. It was some consolation that I affected him as much as he affected me. It evened the playing field.

"No." My answer was clear and concise. It wasn't what he'd expected. He looked slightly taken aback. "I'm seeing someone."

He gave me a hallow laugh. I glared at him.

"I like Steven." I felt my stubborn streak rise up.

He continued to smile, which stoked my anger.

"He's an asshole," he said with a dismissive shrug, like what he was saying was a fact and not an opinion.

"How are you any better than him?" I put my hand on my hip as I pinned him with a glare.

"At least you know where you stand with me. There are no lies."

He shrugged his wide shoulders. Granted, I knew Slater better than I knew Steven, but I wouldn't allow him to ruin this for me.

"I'll be going on my third date with Steven this weekend."

His forehead creased when he realized the full impact of the statement.

"Third date," he murmured, and I nodded.

I had once told him about my third-date rule.

"Don't do it," he said, trying to warn me. Gone was the confidence that had been there just moments before. There was a seriousness in him now that I rarely saw.

"You don't get to tell me what I can or can't do."

"He'll hurt you." He looked at me with concern. He had been the only guy I had come close to breaking that rule for.