Damned by Bec Botefuhr Page B

she knows what he is doing. He was likely protecting you; she would be one to take it to the media.”
    “No, it’s not him protecting me, it is him being exactly who he is. He made it clear what he was when I met him, and yet stupid me went and…”
    “And what?”
    I spin around; Jax is standing at the door. I can’t see Bella, but no doubt she is waiting for him inside.
    “Nothing, I am leaving.”
    He takes my arm. “And what?”
    “Jax, what do you want from me? Really? You take me to your ship; you touch me like I mean something, then you make out as though I am nothing.”
    “I told you what I am; I told you I will stroke you, kiss you and fuck you. I stayed true to my word. Bella is my wife, and it’s complicated. I didn’t need the extra drama.”
    “Drama? That’s all I am?”
    He growls. “No it’s not, you just need to understand your place in this.”
    “PLACE,” I scream. “I have no god damn place, I never have. The only place I have, is on your dick.”
    “Fuck it Jade. I never gave you false hope, NOT ONCE.”
    “Didn’t you? Because, I am sure you do not take all girls to your ship. In fact, I am sure you couldn’t give a shit if other girls cared about you being a pirate or not.”
    “You think I took you there, because I care?”
    “I don’t know what you feel.”
    “NOTHING. I told you I don’t fall in love. Where did you manage to miss that? I like you Jade, a lot, but I will NEVER love you. You’re getting married in a fucking week; that will be the end of this.”
    “Now you don’t want me to come back?”
    “What’s the point? I am not one for sharing what another man fucks each night.”
    I slap him, hard. “How dare you. You knew what I was; you knew it. So go ahead, brag that you fucked the princess, it is all this was ever about wasn’t it?”
    “Maybe it was.”
    His eyes are icy, his glare hard and once more his eyes twinkle red. I feel the tears streaming down my face. I take two steps back.
    “I…thought…”
    “You thought what? That I fucking cared about you? Well I DON’T.”
    I nod; my eyes are blurred now from the tears, I can’t see past them. I turn, stumbling towards the gate.
    “You fell in love with me, didn’t you?” He yells, as if finally realizing.
    I turn to stare at him, sobbing heavily. “Yeah pirate, I did. I fell in love with you, more fool me, right?” Then, I step through the gate and slam it behind me.
    CHAPTER 7
    I don’t see Jax for days, furious that he hasn’t tried to contact me; I attempt to ring him. His phone is disconnected. It should have hit me then, should have been a big slap in the face, but it wasn’t. I run outside and across to the pub. It is Saturday afternoon; I know it should be raring up for a big night, instead there is not a soul about.  I rush to the front door, rattling it. Locked. I see a tradesman putting some bars on the windows; I rush over and ask what is going on.
    “The owner left. It is being locked up until it sells.”
    “What? He left?”
    “Are you Jade?”
    “I am…”
    “Jax told me to give this to you.”
    He digs through his pockets and pulls out a small envelope. He smiles then and walks off, leaving me alone to process what he has just said. Sold. Maybe he is going to do something else, perhaps the information in the envelope is an address for me to find him. He wouldn’t just leave. He wouldn’t. I open the envelope, nearly tearing it in half. I pull out the small slip of paper and read the few lines on it. It is written in a neat scroll, and it is not an address.
    I told you not to fall in love with me. I told you what I would do if you did.
    This is goodbye, have a happy life with your prince. I am sure things will work out well for you.
    Just so you know, you changed me.
    Jax
    I don’t realize I am sobbing until the letter crumples in my hand. I fall to my knee’s raking my nails through the dirt and crying wildly. He left; like he said he would. Why in the world did