“Give me a second.”
“Take all the time you need.”
Other teams had finished, and I didn’t want to be the last one on display, with everyone watching.
“Okay.”
I stood and fell. I expected Weston to catch me almost immediately like I had with him, but he let me lean and lean. I lost my balance and fell into his arms and chest with a loud grunt as he staggered several steps. We ended up with his arms holding me, his face buried in my neck. Again, like before, we remained rooted in place, only this time Weston’s lips on my neck elicited an unwanted reaction from us both. His semi-hard dick pushed against my ass, and a throb of something unexpected curled low and deep in my belly. Cold, then heat, rushed through me, and my vision swam.
“Jesus, West.” I sprang away from him. “What the hell was that about?” I snapped.
Looking almost as shaken as I felt, Weston pushed the hair off his brow. A flush stained his face. “I-I don’t know what you mean. I caught you.”
“You waited and almost let me fall on my ass. I should’ve known better than to trust you.”
Confusion clouded his eyes. “Wasn’t that the point? To let you know I’d catch you even if you tipped far past midpoint? If I did it right away, the exercise would prove nothing.”
I stormed away from him, heading for the bathroom. God knew, I needed a minute to get my shit together. I splashed cold water on my overheated face and braced my hands on the sink. The door slammed open.
“What’s wrong with you?” Weston approached me.
“Me? What’s wrong with me?” My stomach churned at how turned-on I’d gotten from West’s arms around me. It kept happening, and I didn’t like it, didn’t want it, yet I couldn’t seem to stop it. And since there was no way in hell I’d let him know, I deflected with anger. “I’m the one who should be asking that question. You waited until the last second.”
“No, I didn’t. I was in complete control. I knew what I was doing.”
“That’s bullshit. Everyone else did it before their partner got too close to falling but you.”
“I was following the directive. It’s a trust exercise. I wanted you to feel like you could fall and be off-balance and I’d be there to catch you. Anything else you’re thinking is your imagination.”
“No, it’s not.” I wanted to say,And neither was that hard-on in your pants, but that would be starting something without knowing how to finish. “And while we’re at it, stop standing so close to me.” I scowled.
“I’m not. It’s all in your mind. Like everything else you think about me.”
“I don’t think about you at all. You mean nothing to me.”
He blinked, and I wondered if I’d gone too far. His lip curled, and he splayed his fingers over his chest. “I’m heartbroken.”
“Another lie. You have to have a heart to have it broken.”
He paled, and his lips tightened. “You know, Fleming? I used to think you were a nice guy. Now I see you’re just a bastard.”
Was that a slap in my face about where I came from? That I was a foster child with no idea who my parents were? Anger choked me, and I struck, wanting…needing to hurt him. Like he’d hurt me.
“I see nothing’s changed since we left law school. You’re still the same pretentious, spoiled brat you always were. Money can buy you an education and nice things, but it can’t buy you decency. Something you clearly lack. Now move.”
I pushed past him, and shaking, I stalked down the hall, but footsteps pounded after me. I quickened my pace, but he caught up with me.
“Brenner, wait.”
“Why?” I stood stiff, my body rigid, cold through and through. “So you can insult me further? Does that make you feel better about yourself?”
“I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean it.”
“Wasn’t that one of your strengths?I don’t lie, and I always say what I mean?” I mimicked him. “Good for you, Mr. Truth-teller. You know what? It’s one of my strengths as well. So go to hell, Weston. And I mean it.”
I left him standing there and returned to my chair. Thank God these exercises were almost finished. I checked through the handout and saw there was only one more: the memory game.
Weston slid into his seat a few seconds before Sara took to the podium again. Neither of us looked at the other.
