Bound By Lies - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 17

I stormed away from the marina, my heart pounding and my pulse racing with a mix of anger and pain that left me trembling. I couldn't believe I'd actually let myself get close to him—let myself want him. How could I have been so stupid? So blind?

"Teresa!" a voice called out behind me, sharp and urgent.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat as I turned slowly, my heart lurching painfully.

Rafe.

He was standing at the end of the street, his chest heaving, his eyes wide and desperate. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the space between us thick with something I couldn't name—something dark and heavy that pressed down on my chest, stealing the breath from my lungs.

"What do you want?" I muttered, my voice low and strained.

He swallowed hard, his gaze flicking over me like he was trying to memorize every detail. "I... I need to talk to you."

"Talk?" I let out a harsh, bitter laugh, shaking my head. "You really think I want to talk to you right now?"

"Teresa, look—" he started, taking a step forward, but I held up a hand, my jaw clenched.

"Don't," I spat, the words trembling on my lips. "Just... don't."

He stopped, his shoulders slumping, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I didn't know," he murmured softly, his voice breaking. "I didn't know it was your first time."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, stealing the breath from my lungs. I stared at him, my chest tightening with a mix of anger and pain that left me trembling.

"Yeah, well," I muttered, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. "You should've."

"I—" He broke off, his hands clenching at his sides, his gaze desperate and unsteady. "I fucked up, okay? I know that. I just... I lost control, and—"

"Lost control?" I echoed incredulously, my voice rising. "You didn't just lose control, Rafe. You left me. You fucking left me, like I was nothing. Like I didn't matter at all."

"I didn't—" He faltered, his eyes widening with something dangerously close to panic. "That's not... I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Well, you did," I snapped, the words sharp and bitter.

The silence that followed was thick and heavy, the weight of it pressing down on my chest until I thought I might break apart.

"Teresa, I—" he started, but I cut him off, my breath coming out in short, ragged bursts.

"Just stop," I whispered harshly, shaking my head. "Stop trying to apologize. Stop pretending like you give a shit. Because you don't."

His expression twisted, a mixture of guilt and something darker flickering in his eyes. "You're wrong," he murmured softly, his voice breaking. "I do give a shit. I give a shit more than you know."

"Then why did you leave?" I demanded, my voice trembling. "Why did you walk away like I was just... just another girl you could throw away?"

He swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Because I'm an idiot," he whispered. "Because I was scared."

"Scared?" I echoed bitterly, my heart aching. "What the hell do you have to be scared of, Rafe?"

"You," he muttered, his voice low and strained.

"I'm done. I'm done letting you hurt me. Done letting you make me feel like I'm nothing."

He took another step forward, his hands outstretched like he was afraid I might disappear. "Just let me explain—"