Exquisite Danger Read Online Free PDF Page B

I used to find sexy. Now it just pissed me off for some reason.
    His gaze met mine, and his cocky attitude melted away, revealing the real Stewart. “So, you really like that guy?”
    Feeling unexpectedly guilty and wondering why, I nodded. “I do.”
    “You love him?”
    I bit my lower lip, the feeling of guilt intensifying even as I berated myself for even caring about Stewart’s feelings. “I do.”
    “Is he good to you?”
    “In every way.”
    To my surprise, Stewart smiled. It was a small, tired quirk of his lips, but it shocked me. “Then I’m happy for you, Swan.”
    “You’re not upset?”
    “No, no. I want you to be happy. I…shit I had it all straight in my mind how I wanted this discussion to go, but now, I can’t remember a word.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay, I owe you an apology, and not just for what you think. First, I really didn’t do anything with Sarah. She arranged to have you walk in on us because she figured out my secret. I swear she didn’t touch me anymore than it was necessary to jerk my pants down and shove her hands under my shirt. I let you believe she did more than that because I was pissed at her and wanted to get back at her.”
    “What?” I sagged into a chair near the table, my legs weak. “I don’t understand. Why would you hurt me like that? I didn’t deserve that, and I was feeling shitty enough as it was.”
    His face turned red. “Awww, fuck. I hate admitting what a complete asshole I was, but here it goes. Swan, I’m gay. I used you so my dad would think I’m straight and get off my back about finding a girl. Turns out my dad doesn’t give a shit if I’m straight, gay, or trans as long as I’m happy. I was just an immature shit who thought the world revolved around me.”
    I gaped at him, no doubt looking like a fool while my personal history rewrote itself. My breath filled my lungs in a painful rush. “What? You’re what?”
    “Gay. I like guys.”
    “I know what gay means, you shithead.” I stood up suddenly, anger filling my head. “You used me? You let me fall in love with you?”
    “Oh please,” Stewart rolled his eyes. “Love? Give me a break. I could barely even touch you and you didn’t touch me. We were good friends, and I’m sorry that my actions ruined our friendship, but you never really loved me. We only kissed twice, Swan, and you acted like you were repulsed each time, so I never tried to take the charade any further than that.”
    I pointed a shaking finger at him, furious at the callous way he’d used me, how he’d manipulated me. Damn it, I really believed he’d cared about me, that he found me special, that I was loveable and not a freak. Tears thickened my voice as I yelled, “Well my aversion worked out really well for you, didn’t it? You got a trophy girlfriend you didn’t have to touch, the perfect disguise for a little boy too scared to let his Father know he likes dick. You used me.”
    His mouth opened and closed a couple times before he bowed his head in defeat. “I did, and I’m really sorry. Sarah was right. I do owe her for exposing me when she did. If she hadn’t I’d probably still be stringing you along, and I’d hate myself for it.”
    “You said you loved me. You made me believe you loved me. Yeah, we didn’t make out, but you were kind to me, you said all the right things. You manipulated and lied to me.”
    “I know. I’m not proud of playing you, but I did.”
    I looked to the door that Smoke went through, glad he wasn’t here to witness my humiliation but wishing he was here so he could hold me, so he could take away the pain.
    “At the very least, I thought you were my friend,” I said in a tone that did nothing to hide how hurt I was. “Why would you do that to me?”
    “Because I was a young, self-centered, fucking prick who never considered what I was doing to you. I’ve learned some hard lessons in the past few years. I’ve been in your shoes a little bit,