Better When It Hurts (Stripped 2)

“She’s not yours,” Blue growls.

Ivan’s gaze flickers over our bodies, the way Blue has me pinned. “I suppose she’s not. I’m surprised someone would touch her if she belongs to you now.”

A rough sound of fury comes from Blue’s throat. “They won’t touch her again. They won’t touch anyone again, as soon as she tells me who it is.”

That makes Ivan raise an eyebrow. He looks at me. “Who are you protecting?”

Blue. He would kill for me, die for me. He’d get himself locked up for me. He’s the only man who’s ever cared about me, and I can’t let him do that. He would put his life on the line to protect me—and I will do the same for him. I don’t do it with my fists, though. I do it with my body and my lies. I protect him with everything I have, even if it hurts him too.

“It’s no one,” I say, my voice hoarse. “A man on the street.”

Ivan cocks his head. “A stranger?”

Not a stranger. “You don’t need to get involved.”

In a sudden movement, Blue slams his hand against the wall beside me. “I’m already fucking involved, gorgeous. I’ve been involved since five years ago, and God help me, I can’t fucking stop.”

Ivan doesn’t look surprised at this admission. “Even after she accused you of raping her?”

Blue narrows his eyes. “I never hurt her.”

Ivan shrugs. “She said you did.”

“She lied.”

“Then why would you believe her now?”

Blue’s gaze snaps to me. “Is that what this is? Some kind of twisted payback? Some kind of game?”

It’s not a game, but it’s better if he believes that. It’s better if he goes far away and never comes back. I shrug, copying Ivan. “So what if it is? You know I like it rough. You couldn’t give it to me hard enough, so I found someone who would.”

I see the realization hit him like a blow, that I fucked another man after him. He pushes off the wall and stalks away from me, to the other side of the room. To the other side of the moon, for how far away he feels. He runs a hand over his head. “Fuck, Lola.”

I smile, more comfortable now as Lola. As the seductress. The whore. “I told you we didn’t have anything special. I told you I wasn’t yours. You refused to believe me. That’s not my fault.”

Ivan stands and straightens his suit sleeves. “It appears we have our answer. What she does on her own time is her business. Unless, of course, it interferes with my business.” His cool gaze meets mine. “Obviously you can’t work the floor like that. You have two days to get yourself cleaned up. Show up like that again and you lose your spot here.”

He heads for the door.

“Wait.” Blue puts a hand to his forehead. “No. This isn’t fucking right.”

Ivan stops. “She told you she wanted it. You heard her.”

Blue’s dark gaze meets mine, accusing and pain-filled and relieved all at once. “She’s lying. She’s fucking lying, just like she did before. I don’t know why, but I know I didn’t hurt her then. And I know she didn’t ask for this now.”

I make one last attempt. “Why would I protect someone else?”

Shock fills his eyes before he closes them. “You’re not protecting someone else.” He laughs without humor. “You’re not even protecting yourself.”

His eyes snap open, and he walks closer to me. I look toward Ivan, hoping he’ll stop Blue. Hoping he’ll claim that I wanted this once more, that I’m just the slut I look like. Except he’s gone, apparently leaving me to my fate. And my fate is a seriously pissed-off Blue.

“How fucking dare you?” he breathes.

“I—”

“No, not right now. I can’t even listen to your excuses right now. Your lies.” Pain flashes across his face. “All those years. I just need to—”

He doesn’t finish his sentence, but I can fill in the blank when he drops to his knees. He pushes down my jeans, flinching at the bruise on the outside of my thigh. He