AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I narrowed my eyes. “About what happened last night.”
He stared blankly back at me. “What about what happened last night?”
“Uh, hello? Lizzie basically attacked you and then you find out your evil stepbrother is back in Ballylaggin.”
“It’s all good, Claire-Bear.”
“Gerard,” I snapped. “I know you’re upset.”
“I’m not upset.”
“Yes, you are,” I urged. “You have to be.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because Mark’s back.”
“I honestly couldn’t give a damn, Claire.”
“No, stop.” Shaking my head in frustration, I reached up and knotted my fingers in the silver chain around his neck. “Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?”
“Act the fool,” I growled, yanking on his chain so hard he had to lower his face to mine. “Don’t shut me out, Gerard. We’ve come too far for that.”
“I’m not trying to do that,” he said gruffly, nose brushing against mine. “I’m just…”
“You’re just?” I pushed, fisting his chain so tightly I thought it might crack in my hand. Inhaling a shaky breath, I pushed off the wall, melding my chest to his. “You’re just what, Gerard?”
“You’re going to get wet,” he noted, hooking an arm around my waist to steady us both.
“Don’t change the subject,” I warned, unwilling to take a step back. “You’re just what?”
“You know it’s a really bad idea to be in here with me, don’t you?” he asked in a gravelly tone, and I could feel exactly why he would say that growing against my belly. “Especially since…” His voice trailed off and he shook his head. “This is just a really, really bad idea, Claire-Bear.”
“I don’t care,” I replied, feeling a little breathless as my heart continued to try to power drill its way out of my chest to get to his. “We need to talk, so just talk to me, dammit.”
“And say what?” he asked softly, his breath fanning my face.
“How about you start by telling me how you feel.”
“I don’t feel anything.” He stepped closer, causing my back to hit the wall once more, but this time his body was flush against mine. “Not about Lizzie. Not about him. Not about any of them.” The move seemed to cause a shiver to roll through both of our bodies simultaneously. “I don’t feel a damn thing.”
“You’re lying.”
“No, I’m really not.”
“Gerard,” I cried out in despair. “Please!”
“Please what?” he demanded. “Please what, Claire? What do you want from me?”
“You!” My chest was heaving against his, my entire body screaming out for him, and I honestly felt like I might die on the mortal spot if he didn’t put his lips on me. “I want you, Gerard!”
“I’m right here.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” I strangled out. “I want you to talk to me about how you’re feeling! I want you to open up to me, dammit!”
“I can’t.”
