Chapter Twenty-One
It might’ve been a stupid question to ask with our bodies still humming from sex, but I couldn’t get it out of my mind—the sight of that guy close enough to Torre to touch him.
Torre pushed up on the bed to sit against the headboard, confusion replacing the hazy pleasure on his face.
“Pete? Why? He doesn’t mean anything to me anymore.”
I found that hard to believe. An ex-lover always remained with you.
“You loved him once, so there must’ve been something redeeming about him, although I couldn’t see what.”
“I thought he was cute and fun to be with. We hung out together, went for walks in the park, had dinner, you know.”
My lips curled. “That doesn’t sound like a lover. It sounds like a golden retriever.”
“Well, that’s what it was. Maybe that’s why when he left me, yeah, it hurt, but it didn’t devastate me. The words hurt, but him leaving me, not so much.”
I didn’t like the thought of Torre hurt, so I scooted over to his side. “What did he say?” My feet tangled with his, and our calves slid together, fitting nicely.
He shrugged but didn’t look at me. “The usual stuff people say when they break up.”
I cupped his chin and gazed into his hurt-filled eyes. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve only heard some really nasty words, and I hope he never said things like that to you.” I thought of Nate telling Press he was just an easy fuck. Of Luca treating me like one. If the ex said anything like that to Torre, it would make me want to hurt him as much as I’d wanted to hurt Nate for saying that to Press.
Torre lifted his chin. “He said I was boring. As boring in bed as I was out, and he shouldn’t have to think of someone else when he was with me. He didn’t want to hang out with my family or be at home if I had all these places I could go to and take him.”
“He called you boring? That badly dressed little weasel?” My hands had clenched into fists. “Maybe you were boring because he boredyou.Trust me, you aren’t boring.”
Torre began to laugh. “Why? Because you’re with me?”
“Exactly.” I leaned over to give him a kiss. “I’m certainly not boring, and I don’t make a habit of being with boring people. It’s obvious that weasel wants you back. You’re successful, gorgeous—and what the hell is so funny?” I snapped when Torre fell on the bed, laughing.
“You.” Torre reached out and pulled me down to lie next to him. “Are you jealous?”
“Jealous?” I let out a shout of laughter. “Of whom? The weasel? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Okay, but you’re getting pretty worked up over someone I told you I have no interest in.” Torre curled around me, and my arm naturally wrapped around to hold him close. “But you know you have nothing to worry about. Why would I?”
Our eyes met.
“What about Matt?” I asked.
Torre sat up and scrambled away from me. “Matt? Matt fromUltimate?” When I nodded, Torre snapped at me. “I’m not the one who fucked him. That was you, remember?” He rose from the bed, got a pair of boxers from the dresser, and put them on.
I opened my mouth, wanting to say,No, I don’t. I don’t remember him or anyone else I’ve been with. Except you.
But I couldn’t. Not out loud.
The devil had remained silent. Until now.Don’t fuck this up.
“Hold on, I’m sorry.” I rolled off the bed and took his arm. “I didn’t mean it like that.” Damned if I didn’t want him again. I kissed his cheek. “I was wrong to say that. I-I have trust issues.” I kissed his lips, his eyes, his hair. I drank in the scent of his skin and threaded the silk of his hair through my fingers.
“Frisco?”
“Hmm?” Continuing downward, I’d reached Torre’s neck and ran my tongue across his collarbone and shoulder. Torre remained unyielding.
“I’m not interested in Matt.”
I tilted my head to the side. “I’m not either.”
