Can’t Win Me Back

When Jonah reached the bedside, he leaned in slowly, giving Julien an unobstructed view of his tanned skin, well defined abs, and that devastatingly captivating face.

Reclining against the headboard, Julien found himself lost in Jonah's eyes. His breath hitched, and his mind momentarily blanked as Jonah's mesmerizing gaze locked onto him.

What could he do? His heart still betrayed him, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He was a fool-a pathetic fool.

Jonah braced his arms on either side of Julien's head, his dark eyes overflowing with a raw, possessive affection. It was as if he sought to consume Julien-just as he had last night.

"Julien, does it still hurt—"

"Fuck you!"

Julien's bloodshot eyes blazed as he swung his hand, landing a sharp slap across Jonah's face.

The illusion of his frailty shattered. A crimson handprint bloomed on Jonah's cheek in a split second, the flesh puffing up visibly.

But the sting barely registered. Not when the ache in Jonah's chest was already unbearable.

"Jonah, right now, not only do I loathe you, but everything about you every single thing you do disgusts me!"

With all his strength, Julien shoved Jonah away. Shaking, he yelled, "What made you think that you could touch me? What made you think you had the fucking right?"

his entire body locking up. He looked lost for the first time—like a stray dog caught

the bar last night was

to do with you!" Julien cut him off, his voice sharp enough to wound. "Who the

from the floor and hastily put them on. Then, digging into his wallet, he pulled out a

resounding smack, he slapped the money against

show your face in

he turned on his heel and stormed

was silent, broken only by the leaden thud of Jonah's heart, a lonely drumbeat in the vast

door burst open, and Evan rushed inside, panic written all over his face. "Mr. Lovelace took off! You fought so hard to find

motionless, his

spiral into an abyss so deep that it nearly swallowed him whole. He refused to let

hates me," Jonah said, his voice barely more than a

bills one by one. He clenched them tightly, his fingers pressing into

mad? You actually believed the shit he just spewed? Words said out

fit of rage. Does that mean I'd actually

a bitter laugh. "I'd give up everything-my pride, my

looked like a

murmured. "I was the one who refused to see it. I was