Page 28 of Passion in Bloom

He growled, standing and pulling his sweats back up to cover his still semi-solid erection. “I meant what I said. Take whatever you want from me.”

You can’t mean that. You can’t mean that and not expect anything in return.

“But I am going to wait—patiently—until you’re going to stop running from your past and open up to me.”

I lifted my chin higher, already feeling the glow of making him come fade. “What if I never want to?”

He sighed, looking me dead in the eye. “Then I guess I’ll be waiting for nothing forever.” He shrugged. “I’ll...” He shook his head. “I’ll be right back.”

As he turned toward the bathroom, I watched him go.

The second he closed the door, I turned to leave.

I was not staying after that charged moment. I couldn’t manage after the thrill of making him come. I was aroused, so turned on that I doubted I’d stay strong against him if he so much as looked at me with those bedroom eyes.

And as I left, closing his door quietly and slipping outside, I realized how damn much I wanted more with him.

If only things could be simple like that. Casual sex. Scratching an itch. I wanted that release so bad, but I couldn’t. Not with David lurking. Not without any semblance of trust between us.

I walked, wishing that I could have the guts to just talk to Roarke, to give him the information he wanted. I knew he was trying really connect with me, to start something real, but I wasn’t available like that. Not yet. Not when I couldn’t figure out how to handle David chasing me. He wouldn’t lurk and hide nearby for good. He’d try again, and again, to make me go with him.

And it won’t ever be simple with any man. That was a fact I didn’t want to believe, but it seemed too true. Roarke had mentioned that dumb thing about keeping tabs, and after going down on him and having a taste of his big cock like I’d wanted, it was still a game of give and take. As far as I could see, there wasn’t any way I could be with him and not feel like I was obligated. To stay. To deliver an orgasm. To tell him what he wanted to know.

It’s all fucked.

I shook my head as I headed back to my cabin. On the walk, I looked out for David. For any movement of anyone trespassing. Of cars being back here when they shouldn’t be.

I saw one vehicle, and while it did give me pause, I wasn’t worried. The closer I came to my cabin, I saw Eric’s car. He was walking away from my cabin, giving up on knocking and walking back to his driver’s door.

I was too far for him to see him yet, through the trees with the darkening sky, but I didn’t want him to leave. Oddly, I wanted to see him and figure out what he wanted.

“Eric,” I called out, jogging a little.

He jumped, then spun to find me hurrying toward him.

“Hey, Heather,” he greeted.

“What’s up?” I said, slowing to a stop as I reached him.

He frowned at me, and for a fleeting, stupid moment, I worried I had some of Roarke’s cum left on the corner of my mouth.

“I’ve been sick for a few days.” He punctuated it with a slight cough. “On the mend now. I just wanted to come check on you.”

Sick? I wondered if the same ailment had gotten to Nevaeh. “Are you feeling better?”

He nodded. “I’m getting there. Ready to go back to work tomorrow at least.” He cleared his throat, but it wasn’t to get rid of any phlegm. He was awkward, struggling to make eye contact again. “I heard, uh, I heard that someone paid you a visit.”

Dammit.

“Sounds like an ex-boyfriend or something.”

I crossed my arms, hating the idea of anyone else knowing my business. “Where’d you hear that?”

“Marty.”

I bit back a growl.

“You need help dealing with him?” he asked.