No One But You

...I stopped the car at the end of the shops driveway and turned to Stacy. Can you just let go of your notion that Im missing out on life? I dont feel like I am.

Okay. But heres the thing, Levi. I want

Just stop. I love you.

To my utter shock, Stacy grabbed both my wrists, his powerful grip tight enough to bruise. His gaze bored into mine, freezing me cold. You stop, Levi. Listen, just this once. Youre so afraid Ill be pissed if I see you get a hard-on for some other guy, you run from me when I want to talk about it. Do you think in five years Ive never seen another man that gave me a little tingle? It happens to everyone, lover. Its not something to be ashamed of.

My voice didnt want to work. Im not you.

No, youre not. Ive never cheated on you, Levi. He looked at me for the longest moments of my life, his eyes gone black with some emotion I had no name for.

I knew. I knew.

I heard what the bartender said the other night. You need to know that if it ever happens and you trick some guy, you dont need to keep it from me. I expect you to first, be safe, and second, to tell me so we can be more careful.

Ice water tossed in my face would not have chilled me more than his words.

What the fuck is going on here, Stacy? Ive never cheated on you. Never. And Im not starting now.

Levi, weve been together a long time and, as a couple, weve enjoyed unprotected sex for quite a while now. Do I need to be concerned?

A fine trembling seized my body. This conversation was out of control, the potential for disaster increasing by the second. My stomach clenched in on itself until I fought back the dry heaves. The world spiraled around me, going black at the edges. I broke free of his hands.

I love you. I never cheat on you. Yet you sit there and ask me if its possible I could have given you the clapor something worse? Maybe I should be the one worrying. And you have to do it here? You motherfucker! I have to go in there and work! I choked, unable to breathe. I never

Stacys arms came around me. I shoved him away, holding him at bay. The words came as I managed a deep breath. Horrible words I couldnt stop from pouring out of me in my anger and pain that he didnt know me well enough to believe how much I loved him.

Why dont you go get a fucking blood test since you cant trust me? Now you listen to me. You decide whether you love me enough to have me hang around because if Ive gotten a little old for you, you should tell me. Ill step aside so you can go find yourself another sixteen-year-old!

He drew back as if Id struck him, which I had. Id lashed out, hitting him with the most damaging words I owned. Hed been falsely accused of having sex with a sixteen-year-old boy when he was twenty. The boy had liedStacy hadnt touched himbut the accusation had almost ruined Stacys life. The pain remained, and I, who loved him so much, knew the wound lingered in him, unhealed at its deepest point.

And I used it against him.

I reached for him, and this time he batted my hands away.

Im sorry, Stace. Im so sorry. I didnt mean that.

You said it, so you did mean it. Now get out of the car. I cant be with you right now.

My stomach roiled. Stacy, please, we need to go back home and talk this out.

He refused to look at me. The cold rage in his voice didnt completely disguise the hurt. No, we dont. Going home wont fix this, Levi. I need some time alone. Im sure Danny or Luke will give you a lift back to the house to get your pickup. Do us both a favor and find someplace else to sleep tonight...

Passion's Victory (The Victory Series)	Shining Victory (The Victory Series)	Open Roads	Store Credit/Gift Certificate - $15.00	A Wicked Caress