Lacey

Chapter 31 - Saint

The moment the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. I hadn't meant to hurt Lace like that, but I refused to take them back. As soon as we got back to Ryder's, Lace climbed over West before the car had even stopped and stormed into the house, slamming the front door behind her. "Way to go, Saint", West snarked in a mocking tone that pissed me off. "Excuse me", I reply. "Why? Did you fart?" Lawson questions with a giggle as he gets out of the car. If I wasn't so furious with the events of the night, I might have laughed in my head at that quick quip, the idiot. I inhale deeply before replying to West. "What is your problem now, West?" "You saw the look on her face Saint. I am sure even you could interpret the hurt you caused Lacey with your comments," West replies. "I have to agree with West on this Saint. You cut Lacey. Deep," Ryder huffs as he pushes past me and into the house. The guys and I head for the minibar in the family room and settle down with glasses of scotch in our hands. I tune out the conversations around me as I consider the last twenty-four hours.

On the one hand, I had whisked Lace away from the school when she discovered her car had been trashed, despising seeing the fear and sadness in her eyes when half the school started to heckle and harass her. I would not say I liked seeing how defeated Lace was feeling; in fact I never wanted to see that look in her eyes ever again. As much as an asshat as I was, I knew I had fallen for her. I didn't know why but I was fighting against it. I couldn't say that I had really been shown any affection in my life, so didn't know how to deal with the emotions Lace was causing me. So I did what I did best. I shut down and hurt someone I cared about, too afraid of my feelings.

And on the other hand, I had abused Lace for one of the best days of my life when I gave myself to her. My words had cheapened the love that we had shared that night, the way she left me breathless and in complete wonder at the beautiful creature in my arms. At this point, I despised myself for the cheap shots I had taken tonight. Not only was I lying to her, but I was also lying to myself. There would never be another woman for me. Lace was everything I had ever dreamt of, and I had been thrilled when she came after me that night and was the one to whom I willingly lost my virginity. It was like a dream come true after weeks of fantasizing about her.

Now I was stuck in a nightmare, and I didn't know how to drag myself out of it. I was doubtful that Lace would even talk to me again after tonight. Not only had I insulted her terribly, but I had also basically kidnapped her from her job, even if it was a seedy one. Not to mention the fact that I also shot a man. I can't even be shocked by that. The man deserved it, and I knew without a doubt I would do it again to keep Lace safe. God, I was fucked up. Thinking protectively of her when all I ever seemed to do was fuck things up between us, making the already tentative relationship between us considerably worse.

Thinking back to Lace's car, I would have to ask West what he did with it. He had stated earlier that he had gone back to the school and retrieved it but has yet to elaborate on what he had planned on doing with it now that it was in his possession. Finishing my drink in one large gulp, I stand quickly and stride out of the room, ignoring the guy's concerned questions as I take the steps two at a time towards Lace's room. I don't bother knocking. I let myself in and lock the door behind me. Lace lets out a cute squeal in the pitch black of her room and fumbles for her bedside lamp. As soon as her eyesight adjusts to the dim light cast by her lamp, her face goes from startled to furious in a matter of seconds. "What do you want, Saint. I am tired and don't want to see you right now," she huffs, sitting up in bed and crossing her arms over her ample chest. The move pushed her delectable breasts up higher and momentarily distracted me from the reason I had sought her out in the first place. Lace notices me staring and pulls the blanket higher up her body with a disgusted look on her face. One that pains me because I know I did that. I made her feel insecure about herself and what we had shared.