"Wells?" I called him by his last name, the one he liked coming from my lips.
He was standing in the kitchen bare chested, his hands gripping the wooden counter hard and he looked positively furious. Shit.
"I'm sorry," I said to him quietly and meant it.
Fuck. I loved this guy so much. He had been my rock for six solid years. We had built something strong together and yes, there had been women now and then whom we had brought back to our bed after some wild, drunken night but it had only happened a few times and we both had participated in the act. It had been done through mutual consent and the understanding was there that it was nothing but casual.
There was no room for a third in our relationship. That was the deal. Jasper was mine and I was his.
"Do you want her?" he shot at me without wasting words, his dark eyes full of anger and accusation.
I couldn't lie to him. He had loved me through thick and thin and deserved better. But I hated myself for hurting him.
"Jasper-"
"Answer the fucking question, Cole," he barked, the knuckles of his fingers turning white.
My jaw clenched while I battled all the emotions deep inside trying to claw their way to the top. "I...I'm..." I sucked in a painful breath, rubbed my face with my palms and tried again. "I'm in love with her, Wells."
Time stood still for a minute. I could not believe I had said those words out loud to my partner. The one I promised to never betray as long as I lived and breathed. My vision grew blurry with tears because of my colossal mistake. Fuck, why did I do that? Why did I tell him that?
If he had said those same words to me about another man or woman, I would have flipped.
"You don't love me anymore?" he asked me slowly and his voice broke a little.
Horror filled me at his misconception. "No!" I burst out and then shook my head desperately. "That's not what this is. I...I do love you. You're everything to me," I insisted, walking towards him to hold him or kiss him. Fucking show him that me falling for Skye did not lessen my feelings for this man but he just stepped away before I could touch him.
"Apparently, not everything," he muttered darkly.
"Jasper, I didn't ask for this okay!" I burst out, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I didn't ask for her to get under my skin until I couldn't think straight. I never meant for it to happen."
His laughter was short and forced. Bitter. "Did you try to stop it? Where did you meet her, Cole?"
"At work. We just talked. I wasn't having an affair with her."
Jasper shook his head, turning away from me. " At work," he repeated in a monotone. "Your new job? You started that two weeks ago. At any point in time when you realised you were catching feelings for her did you think to leave this job?"
I remained silent. Of course I did not. At first it was just because I loved every project I took up and half-assed jobs were not my style but soon it became all about Skye. Looking forward to seeing her every day.
Jasper turned back to me, his eyes bloodshot as he studied my guilt-ridden expression. I swallowed hard once more. I could not begin to explain how sorry I was. Not for loving Skye. But for having hurt him.
He scowled at me for what seemed like ages. Please don't leave me, I silently begged him even though he had every right to do so if that was what he wanted. I deserved it.
He moved closer to me, both of us breathing heavily and his hand came up to my jaw, his grip firm and unyielding.
"You didn't answer my question," he breathed, narrowing his gaze at me in a way that made my heart flip. "Do. You. Want. Her?"
I stared at him in shock. I had just told him I was in love with another person and he was asking me if I wanted her. Of course I fucking wanted her. I wanted her right here with me every single day for the rest of my life, loving her, taking away her pain. Making her feel for me as much as I felt for her. But I didn't want to lose Jasper in the process. God, I was a selfish motherfucker.
He must have seen the answer in my eyes because he nodded as if to himself and began running his fingers through my hair possessively. Lovingly.
"You trust me, right?" he murmured as he continued to hold my gaze. "You know I would do anything for you?"
I still felt dazed due to this sudden change in his attitude. Why wasn't he yelling at me? Raging? Hurling insults and accusations and telling me to get the fuck out of his life?
"Yes," I managed to whisper.
He smiled slightly. "Cole. I would prefer you to be honest with me and spend time with this chick right here in our own home instead of creeping behind my back and feeling like you have to lie to me to protect me. Okay?"
I couldn't believe what he was saying. What? No, seriously, what?
"You're...you're okay with this, then?" I dared to ask, hope blooming inside my chest followed by something like dread. It could not be this easy. I could not be this lucky.
Jasper let out a breath, his expression serious and nodded after a moment. "Yes. Just don't ever lie to me. About anything. If
