Cheaters Anonymous by Lacey Silks Read Free Book Online Page A

were any other guy in the world talking, I’d call bullshit. But this was Scar, and if there was anything that I knew about him, it was that he would never hurt me. And was he on better terms with Beth now? Scar had always held a grudge against her, claiming that she wasn’t his real mother. He was a product of infidelity: his father’s “straying seed,” as he called himself.
    “You were better off without me. You needed to finish school.” I watched his face twist in pain as if he were fighting an internal torment. “But seeing you tonight, all I want is to have you in my arms again. Nothing else matters, Jules. Only you do. And if I have to suffer for the rest of my life and leave you alone after tonight, I will do so with my head held high, if that’s what makes you happy. But I can’t let you go thinking that I didn’t call because I didn’t care. It was the exact opposite.”
    I could feel my mouth fall open. He stayed away for my benefit? Did he not know that it had only done more harm than good? If we had only reconnected after that night, maybe I wouldn’t have fallen victim to my impulses. No, I couldn’t blame anyone for that other than myself.
    “Scar, I didn’t know.”
    “I thought after a while it’d get better, but no matter how many times I told myself that I’d hurt you, my desire for you only grew. And I know I can’t have you. You’re off limits. There’s no way I’d fuck you over like I did everyone else.”
    His words only ignited a fire inside me. Two years ago, I’d have wanted him to fuck me left, right, and center. I’d have wanted him to take my body and do as he pleased before throwing it away. One night would have been enough… or would it?
    “I’ve been searching for the feel of your skin, taste of your mouth and sound of your moans in each woman I fucked. None came close because I realized that none of them were you. I don’t want to be the guy who slept with you once, and you know I would. But now that I see you, I can’t imagine having you just one time. And I’m not sure how I can make that work. I haven’t been friends with another woman beside you, ever. So do you see the problem I’m running into here? I want you, Jules, but that means I will hurt you, and I can’t do that. I can’t lose you again. And I’m sorry I caused you so much pain.”
    Could we really be just friends? Was it possible to pick up where we’d left off so many years ago? At this point, not having Scar in my life at all felt inconceivable. I knew that the moment I saw him, but didn’t want to admit it. I couldn’t just walk away, and I could no longer hide how much I wanted him. Yet that voice inside me, the one people referred to as conscience or reason, was banging with its fists right into my brain that this was a mistake. The choice I made today could potentially lead me on a destructive path. My pulse sped. After I’d seen him at the hospital, I just wanted to know that he was well. But now, I was not only curious about his life, I wanted to be in his life. I didn’t know how to do that, but leaving tonight was not an option. And instead of a struggling artist, I found the businessman that I had always known was inside of him. I found the man who had more than once saved my life, and was scarred deeper than I expected. He was the epitome of handsome: strong, successful, and so utterly hot. Yeah, staying friends would be impossible no matter how hard I tried.
    “Scar, I can’t lose you either, but I’m not sure we can be just friends.” I lowered my head. “It’s just that, well, I have some issues, and being close to you would definitely not help me resolve them.”
    “Please don’t push me away, Jules. Not now.” The pain in his eyes was as if he’d just witnessed me slashing a bunch of newborn kittens.
    What if I pretend he’s my patient?
    I helped people every day. It seemed to be the only thing I was good at. The hospital was the only place where I could stash