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“I could always sign it over to Shane. Then no one would know.”
I loved the idea of coming back here, but could I do it without him? “I would have to be careful that…”
I didn’t have to finish that thought. We both knew what I was saying. James clenched his jaw and stared out at the water. We both tried not to ever bring up our spouses.
“I don’t like the idea of you returning to him.” His grip on me tightened. James was possessive in that underhanded kind of a way. I knew it was always there lurking within him, but I never knew when it would come out to play.
“I don’t like the idea of you going back to your wife, but it’s not like either of us have a choice.”
“That’s different,” he snapped.
I let out a humorless laugh. “Oh, please. Tell me how your marriage is any different from mine.”
“Because I don’t love her.”
“And I don’t love him,” I retorted.
His arms wrapped tighter around me, pulling me even closer. “It’s different because I won’t be there to protect you,” he murmured. One of his hands slipped from around my waist and came up to cup my cheek. He swallowed hard, like it took everything in him to admit what he was thinking. “I won’t know if you’re okay. I want to ask you what your last name is. I want to demand you tell me everything so I can look out for you. I’m terrified to let you go when…when this is over. I need to know that he treats you right.”
I ran my hand lightly over his jaw, leaning in to kiss him. “He’s not a bad man,” I admitted to ease the tension inside him. I didn’t actually know Alexander that well, but I couldn’t believe he was a bad man. Still, James needed this reassurance. We both knew it would be dangerous for either of us to keep tabs on the other. “For all his faults, he would never hurt me.”
“You’re sure?”
“As sure as I am that you would never hurt me.”
That seemed to ease his mind a little. I dropped my forehead to rest against his, soaking in this moment with him. He pressed small kisses to my cheek, his breath ragged as he held me close.
“How am I supposed to let you go?” he asked quietly.
“You make it sound like you have to let me go now.”
When he didn’t immediately say anything, I knew our time was closing in fast. That’s what all this possessiveness was about. That’s why he was so worried about the future. Soon, he would have to walk away. Though I hadn’t heard from Alexander, it didn’t really matter. For whatever reason, James had to leave and go back to his wife. I still didn’t know why he had stayed as long as he had with me. I was just glad I got six months with him.
“We should get out of the water,” he grumbled. “It’s getting cold.”
I rested my head on his shoulder and smiled for a moment. “Better?”
He stopped walking, his whole body going stiff as he pulled back to look at me. “Did you just…”
“Now we’re even.”
