Free Captivated by the Soldier (BWWM Interracial Romance) by Dez Burke

funny?” she spat, her fists clenching at her sides.
    “You are.” Blade suddenly sobered, his laughter wiped off his face as he regarded her.
    “You’ve always been manipulative, Jessica. Right from the start. You tried to manipulate me when we were dating because you were so sure you could convince me to take things deeper. And when I left you, you tried to manipulate me by sleeping with my best friend. But worst of all was when you tried to trick me into thinking I was Jamie’s real father. If that isn’t unbelievably manipulative then I don’t know what the hell is.”
    His lips curled derisively. “The only reason I’m standing here right now is because of that little boy sleeping back there. I love him as much as I did when I thought he was mine. You didn’t even tell me about him until Thomas was killed in the helicopter crash. When you sent me that letter telling me I had a son, you caught me right where you wanted-in your web of deceit.”
    “I’m not like that,” Jessica breathed, staring at him with shimmering eyes. “You always make me feel like a piece of trash.”
    Blade shrugged. “If the shoe fits…”
    Jessica’s eyes hardened. “It’s because of her , isn’t it?” she suddenly sneered. “That uppity new black girlfriend of yours who’s got you wrapped around her little finger. I can see you two have a lot in common – you both act like you’re better than everyone else.”
    Blade turned away impatiently, and Jessica couldn’t help shoving at his steel-cased arm in anger. “What is so special about her anyway? What’s a black girl got that I don’t?”
    “Please.” Blade’s voice was tired. “Let’s keep Makayla out of this.”
    “Yes, why don’t we?” Jessica asked fumingly, almost forgetting to keep her voice down so as not to wake up Jamie. “Before she came along you had your whole life mapped around Jamie. You left the Army and moved all the way down here to be close to him. Through everything, you’ve never turned your back on Jamie or me. But then you met that black piece of ass and suddenly you hardly seem to have the time for your ‘son’. As for me…I was never good enough except as someone to warm your bed, right? You never wanted a real relationship with me. Oh, no . The first chance you got, you dumped me like I meant nothing.”
    “You knew the score, Jessica,” Blade snarled, fury etched on every line of his face. “When we met, I told you I wasn’t ready for anything serious. I was hardly ever home thanks to my duty as a soldier. You told me you were cool with whatever we could share.”
    “Well, I lied!” she cried out suddenly, and then paused, breathing in heavily as she tried to get her composure back. Forcing a smile, she reached out a hand to cup his rigid jaw. “I never wanted to let you go, Blade. But I couldn’t tie you down. I wished everyday that Jamie was yours so that I’d have a reason to keep you with me.” She drew closer, pulling her slender frame up against the hardness of his.
    “You wanted that once, remember?” she asked softly, her eyes pinned to his lips as she linked her arms around his neck. “You were ready to make us into one big, happy family.”
    “And you said no,” Blade replied in a cool, mocking tone. “Remember?”
    Jessica sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. But then she pillowed her full breasts against his chest and moaned at the contact. She’d worn her thinnest t-shirt that reached barely past her thighs – and nothing else. Her wavy dark brown hair was done up in a becoming ponytail and she’d splashed on a gentle scent before he’d arrived – probably straight out of that bitch’s bed, thought the fuming Jessica. Schooling her features, she looked up into his eyes seductively.
    “I was angry; I wanted to punish you because I knew all you really wanted was Jamie even after you found out he wasn’t your son. I’m sorry, Blade. I’m sorry for every hurtful thing I ever did to you. I