Powerplay by Cher Carson Read Free Book Online Page B

hear it.”
    He walked to the window, looking out over the angry rush of water rolling in on the frigid beach. “I thought…” He braced his elbow on the window and fisted his hair in his hand. “I thought you still wanted me.” 
    She came up behind him, touching his back tentatively. “I did want you last night. I needed you.”
    He turned to face her. Looking at her made his heart ache. He couldn’t believe he was losing her again. “Why me? If you wanted to get even with your fiancé, why not use some random stranger who didn’t give a shit about you?”
    She pressed her palms into his bare chest. “I didn’t expect it to be like that. I thought we could just have a good time and walk away.”  
    He swallowed against the ache of protest in his throat. “Is that what it was like for you the last time? ‘Cause it sure as hell wasn’t that easy for me.”
    She frowned. “What do you mean?”
    He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “You still don’t get it, do you?” He grabbed her shoulders. “I loved you, Jen. I still do.”
    Her face drained of color as her mouth fell open. “What? What are you talking about?”
    “I tried calling you, texting, emailing. Hell, I showed up at your building so many times the security guard threatened to take out a restraining order if I ever showed my face around there again.”
    A tear slid down her cheek as she shook her head. “I don’t believe you. I think you just thought you felt that way because I was the one woman you couldn’t have anymore. You’re not used to rejection. I don’t believe you loved me, then or now.” She struggled to break free of his grip. “You’re just so used to getting what you want. Well, guess what? You can’t have me.”
    The pain in his chest intensified as his heart refuted her claim. “Baby, don’t say that. It’s not too late for us. We can’t let it be.”
    She pushed against his chest, breaking free of his hold. “Trust me, it is too late. I’m getting married in a few weeks, remember?” She walked back into the kitchen.
    He followed her, knowing this may be his last chance to prove that what he felt for her was real. “You don’t love that guy.”
    She shoved her phone in her purse. “You don’t know how I feel.”
    “You couldn’t have made love to me last night if…”
    “You keep saying that, but it was just sex. We fucked; sure it was great, but so what? Great sex isn’t enough to build a future on, Mark.”
    He slammed his fist down on the granite countertop, savoring the sharp bite of pain shooting up his arm. It was better than the numbness that seemed to be rendering him immobile.
    He couldn’t just stand by and watch her walk out of his life again. He had to find a way to stop her. “I’m willing to bet you don’t even have that with him, do you?”
    She slipped her boots on and fastened the zipper. “My sex life is none of your business.”
    He panicked when he saw her grab her coat and throw it over her arm, preparing to leave. She was just steps away from the door, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop her.
    Except…  He stepped toward her, crowding her against the wall. “Prove to me that I don’t mean anything to you.”
    She glanced at his lips before looking away. “I don’t have to prove anything to you.”
    He watched the rise and fall of her chest. “Fine, prove it to yourself then. If you don’t, you’ll always wonder what might have been between us, Jen.” He thrust his hand into her hair, gripping the back of her neck. “You know you will.”
    “That’s what last night was about for me,” she said quietly, closing her eyes. “Putting the past behind me. Mission accomplished.” She opened her eyes to look at him. “I’m ready to move on now. To get married and…”
    He pressed his fingertips against her lips, silencing her. “Don’t do this. I know you’re just trying to hurt me.”
    “This isn’t about you, Mark. This is about me and what I