Standby (Open Skies Book 4) by Becca Jameson (popular e readers .TXT) 📕

If I could catch him doing that, I could turn him in. Not that lucky. He was staying over. He told me to meet him in his room as soon as we were at the hotel. Didn’t even pretend like it was a date. No mention of dinner. Just meet me in my room and let’s fuck. I was pissed by then. So, when I showed up, I told him so.”

She drew in a breath and continued, not wanting to break her momentum. “He was already drinking when I arrived. I hadn’t even changed clothes. I wanted to tell him in private that it wasn’t going to work out and go back to my room. He had showered and was wearing nothing but a towel. As soon as the door shut, his hands went to my blouse. I batted them away and stepped out of his grasp. He groaned. ‘What’s the matter, baby? Time’s a-ticking. Get your clothes off.’” She said all this in a sing-songy drunk voice.

Jake sucked in a sharp breath but didn’t say a word.

Shayla tucked her feet under her and fisted her hands. “I batted at him every time he reached for me and told him I didn’t want to be in a relationship that was based on nothing but sex. He dropped onto the bed dramatically and leaned against the headboard, his towel barely covering his junk. He pouted and said he was sorry. That he hardly ever got to see me and didn’t want to waste time in the bar. Couldn’t I see his point of view? Didn’t I realize how much he liked me? How special I was?”

Shayla flattened a palm to her forehead. “Ugh. It’s maddening to think about how fucking stupid I was.”

“Stop saying that. You’re not stupid, sweetheart. He was playing you.”

“I know. I know. It’s just hard. Shit.” She took a few moments to compose herself and then continued. “At first he was mad and told me I was a tease, but then he switched gears and begged me to forgive him. He had a dozen excuses about how he was tired. His week had been stressful. Blah blah blah. I softened. We talked for a while. And then I let the asshole fuck me again.” She winced.

“It’s okay…”

“It’s not fucking okay,” she said, leaning back to look at the ceiling instead of the amazing man two feet away who was letting her dump all this on him.

“Anyway, long story short. This happened one more time. I fell for his shit story about being tired and under pressure with work, and then the next time I was done. I knew things were never going to change. He was a selfish dick and didn’t give a single fuck about me.

“So, when we arrived at the hotel, I told him I wasn’t going to his room. I essentially broke up with him in the damn elevator. But he didn’t like that, so he followed me. I wasn’t worried. That never occurred to me. I let him follow me to my room while I told him I didn’t want to see him anymore. He got all whiney and tried to convince me, but as soon as we got to my room and the door was shut, he turned on me, changed his tune, and got mean. Called me a dozen names. For the first time, I was scared. I backed against the wall while he ranted at me, hoping if I let him vent, he would eventually see how stupid he sounded, apologize like he always did, and then I could get him to leave.

“Instead, he kept pacing and demeaning me until he finally reached out and gripped my chin so hard, I stopped breathing. My eyes bulged out. I was freaked out and scared out of my mind. And then he slammed my head against the wall. I jerked out of his grip and ran for the door, opening it wide. Told him to get the fuck out. I thought he might switch his tune and draw things out by telling me he was fucking sorry or some shit, but instead, I got lucky. He called me about five more choice names and stomped out.

“The moment the door closed, I locked it in both places and slid to the floor. I was too numb and shocked to even cry. I just sat there, trying to catch my breath for hours before finally dragging myself to the shower and into bed.

“That was the last time I flew on the same flight as him. Two days later, the texting and calling started. It was several weeks before he started spreading rumors. It baffles me that he thinks by telling everyone who will listen that I’m a cock tease and a bitch and frigid and a cunt and on and on that he thinks I would go out with him again.”

A long silence filled the room while Shayla wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked slightly back and forth.

“I’m so sorry,” Jake finally murmured, his voice rough. He slid closer. “I’m going to call for a ten-minute break from our deal so that I can hug you. Okay?”

She nodded, not looking at him.

He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her against his side. His hand went to her hair and stroked. His lips landed on the top of her head, kissing her gently. “The man is a dick and not worth the air he breathes. I’m proud of you for getting out of that situation. You must have been scared to death.”

She nodded.

“I wish there was something I could say to make the pain go away, but it’s going to take time. I promise it will get better.”

“Probably not as long as he continues to harass me,” she told his chest.

“Probably not. But now I know what we’re up against. I’ll see what I can dig up on him. No one that’s as dickish as he is has a clean slate in