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Clearly, she could see the inner turmoil and consternation written on his face. Exactly how transparent he was with her, he didn’t know. But she seemed to read him well.
Wanting to escape the hell he’d created for himself—for them—he pushed deep and she called out his name as she came. Her orgasm triggered his own as she clutched him and bucked beneath him.
“Jade,” he whispered as fiery sensations roared through him and his body convulsed. “You are everything to me.”
Chapter Nine
Jade continued to stare at him, shocked. By the tormented expression on Darien’s face, she could easily surmise he had not meant to say those words, but apparently hadn’t been able to hold them back. As usual.
He let out a low growl, rife with frustration. “I’m sorry,” he said as he withdrew from her and flopped down on his back.
“Don’t be.” She moved into his arms, her head on his chest. The sound of his pounding heart was a comforting one.
“I’m not purposely trying to make things more complicated or difficult between us. Or for you, in particular.”
Her own heart beat just as fast, despite being heavy with conflict. “You seem to be forgetting that I willingly agreed to enter into this…arrangement.”
“I shouldn’t have let you. Nor should I have led you into it. I really can’t see you again, after tonight.” His voice was harsh with raw emotion. “I put you in danger. And every time we’re together, it’s infinitely more painful to leave you.”
She understood the high stakes all too well. “I’m equally accountable. I’ve done a bit more than just follow.”
His fingers glided over her hair, a soothing gesture. She suspected he considered his next words more carefully this time as silence ensued. But then his body turned rigid and he released her from his loose embrace as he sat up.
Her heart leaped into her throat. “What is it?”
“Someone’s coming.”
She listened intently, but nary a sound wafted on the quiet air. “You hear that well?”
“It’s Thunder. He’s warning me.”
“You can read his mind too?”
“No. I can tell by his inflection.” He jumped to his feet.
“Horses have inflections?”
“Sure. Different intonations when they’re wounded or excited or…feeling jittery about me being someplace he innately knows I have no business being.”
She frowned. “I thought you said he liked me.”
Darien laughed, despite the tension between them. “He does. And my guess is he thinks I’m a fool for muddying our situation.”
He was dressed before she could protest. But what was there to say, really? He hadn’t created any sort of disillusionment about their time together. Hadn’t made any promises about it becoming more than what it was—a few stolen moments.
She wrapped the sheet around her body, the material scratchy against her skin. He stalked into the living room to retrieve his coat and she followed.
Turning back to her, he said, “I didn’t mean to drop by, make love to you and then abruptly leave.”
She knew that, so she teased him. “This would be referred to as a booty call in the early 2000s.”
His eyes narrowed on her. “You have a very endearing sense of humor.”
“Go,” she insisted, because he lingered, seemingly reluctant to walk out the door. “You replenished my wood pile, brought me a book and gave me four orgasms. You’re exonerated from moral corruption.”
His head dipped and he kissed her. “I know it only makes things worse, but I meant what I said earlier.”
He reach
