Exposed - Part Two (Exposed 2)

"The answer to the question is that sometimes someone else stays here and I don't want us to have to rely on this as our only place to be alone."

I sit in stunned silence. I meant the question about how he felt about parents. He obviously was still focused on where we would be fucking once I went back to school.

"Like a roommate?" I quickly scan the room realizing that everything in the place screams Hunter. I can't imagine anyone else staying here besides him.

"You could say that." He darts his gaze away from me. "I just think it would be better if you had your own place and we could hang out there."

"I'll think about it," I say without really meaning it. I'm still stuck back where he said someone else stays here.

"Is it Jax?" I offer up the name of the only person I know who visits him in Boston.

"Just a friend," he shoots back without any further details.

"Is it a woman?"

I instantly see a shift in his expression. It darkens and he silently stares at me as he chews and swallows the food in his mouth. I watch as he pulls the linen napkin curtly across his mouth before folding it and putting it next to the plate. "You need to stop this," he snaps.

"Stop what?" I fire back. "Stop asking questions."

"You think I'm going to jump into someone else's bed whenever I get the chance." He scowls. "You don't trust me at all."

"I wonder why." I push back from the table. "You never answer my questions directly, Hunter."

"That's bullshit." He stands and picks up his empty plate before throwing me a disappointed look. "I've answered all of your questions."

"Does a woman come here to stay?" I enunciate every syllable of the question, pulling the words tightly across my lips. "Answer the question."

"This is going nowhere if you're going to be jealous. A lot of women pay attention to me, Sadie."

I scoff at the words. Did he actually just say something that utterly narcissistic to me? "What the hell does that mean?" I chuckle. "So now you're so stunningly attractive that women can't stay away from you?"

"I know what I look like. I know what I have to offer." He turns and walks out of the room, plate in hand. I hear the sudden crash of it hitting something and smashing.

"I'm leaving." I call in the direction he's gone. "I won't be back."

"You're not leaving." He's in the doorway, his hands resting on the frame. He's imposing and strong and right now the expression on his face is bordering on intimidating.

"You can't tell me what to do." I shake my head. How did we go from the people on the couch an hour ago to this?

"I don't want anyone else." He throws his head back and I see the veins in his neck. "I can't want anyone else. Don't you see that?"

"I see someone who will never be direct with me." I shrug my shoulders as I reach for the purse I dropped on the floor when I got there. "I see a man who is always hiding behind faint truths and small white lies."

"That's not who I am." He lunges towards me, grabbing my shoulders with his hands. I almost tumble backwards from the force of his touch. "I've never been this open with anyone."

I don't know how to comprehend that. This is open to him? Not answering a simple question is open? "This isn't open, Hunter."

"What does that mean?" His tone is icy. It's reflected in his blue eyes.

"You can't be like this when you're in a relationship..."

"What?" he interrupts me. "What do you know about relationships, Sadie? You've never been in one."

I take in a heavy breath to temper the sharp edge of his words. He's right. What do I know? I've never been in a relationship.

"I didn't mean that." He's pulling my limp body into his chest. "Christ, Sadie. Please. I didn't mean it."

I push back with all the strength I can pull from within me. "You're right. I've never been in a relationship. If this is what it's like. I don't want to be."