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Poisonous snakes wereharmlesscompared to him.
He’d hurt her more than anyone else could have. Though she’d known that anything with him would have been temporary, she hadn’t expected to lose the man she loved and her best friend in the same night.
She’dnevertell him she loved him,nevergive him that power over her. He and Nina had been her only weaknesses and they’d both just taught her a valuable lesson.
“How thefuckdo you think I got here, Gage? Save your fake chivalry for someone who buys what you’re selling.” He reached for her again and she slapped his arm sharply. “Keep your fucking hands to yourself. I know where they’vebeen, Gage. Youtouch mewith that bitch’s fluids on you and you’ll never have to worry about condoms again.”
She turned and ran as fast as she could for the stairs, reaching the bottom floor at her top speed. It was something some of the best runners in the district had been trying to beat for years.
As she exploded outside, she heard someone running down the stairs and put on an extra burst of power, thankful she’d worn sneakers. She ran for the fence instead of the road, vaulted the top rail with one hand, and hauled ass for the dark tree line.
Gage called behind her, begged her to stop, but she didn’t even slow down. Entering the dense forest that lined the property, Rowan found the deepest shadows she could and sat down with her head on her knees to wait him out.
He wouldn’t look for her long. After all, he had a naked and willing woman already warming his bed. He didn’t need her.
She underestimated his determination.
He walked through the woods calling out to her. “Rowan, I’m sorry. Come back. Let me talk to you. I fucked up so bad but I can fix it. I can explain. I don’t want you out here alone in the dark. Youhatethe dark.”
Thanks for the reminder, you ass.
“Rowan, I know you can hear me. Let me at least drive you back. Don’t sit out here like this.”
She listened to him move back and forth as he searched for her. She wondered how long he’d keep up the pretense of caring one way or another.
Then he shocked her by saying, “We were both waitin’ for you, Rowan. I-I’ve been sleepin’ with Nina since Spring Break. I was dyin’ for you, tryin’ to wait, and it just happened. She’s in love with you, too. We didn’t think you were comin’. I’m sorry. God, I’m so fuckin’ sorry. Please come out.” He mumbled something about her being in dark clothes and how dark her hair was. “Come out and let me take you home if that’s what you want. Or-or you can stay and let us explain.”
Not on your fucking life.
“I won’t give up on you, Rowan. I need you. I-I love you. I wanted to tell you that since last summer. You’re the only one I love and I didn’t mean to ruin everything. Please come out and talk to me.” He kept calling her, pleading with her to listen, to let him explain.
Rowan sat against the tree, still and silent in the dark, as tears fell on her raised knees.
* * *
The stress of sneaking out, the pain of finding the two people she loved most together, and how hard she’d run from them had completely wiped Rowan out.
She didn’t realize she’d fallen asleep until she was being picked up off the ground in pre-dawn light.
Gage held her in his arms as he carried her out of the woods. “Don’t run, Rowan. I’ve been worried sick waitin’ for light. I-I went back to shower and get dressed. Please don’t run.”
She kept her body stiff in his arms when only yesterday she would have given anything to find herself right here.
“Put me down.” Her voice wasn’t as strong as she would have liked but it couldn’t be called weak either.
His arms tightened around her. “No, Rowan, you haven’t eaten and you slept in the woods all night. You must be exhausted and sore. I just want to help you. I’m not gonna hurt you, honey.”
She was livid.
Through gritted teeth, she told him, “It’s too late to worry about hurting me and don’tevercall me honey again.” She started to fight and gave him no choice but to put her on her feet or risk dropping her. “Why are you evenhere, Gage? You have one idiot girl to fuck…wanting two is just plain greedy.”
She stormed away. Just before she hit the open area beyond the woods, Gage grabbed her arm, spun her around, and took her in his arms.
She wasn’t expecting him to kiss her.
For one minute, Rowan let herself imagine what it could have been like to give herself to him, to experience what she’d been dreaming of for years.
His strong arms around her, the now familiar flavor of him, the warm masculine smell of his skin.
