AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I bite back a smile and let her lead me around the bookshop.
* * *
We endthe day back home, sipping beer on my rooftop. Hazel’s reading one of the books I bought her.
I’m supposed to be reading a book she bought me because she said I’d like it. It’s a nonfiction book about WWII aviators. I probablywouldlike it if I could focus.
But I keep finding myself sneaking glances at Hazel. Noticing the way she sits curled with her bare feet tucked up underneath her. Noticing the way she smiles at something she’s reading. Noticing the way her hand idly plays with that beer bottle.
The second time she catches me looking at her she sets her book down.
“Did I do that bad of a job picking out a book for you?” she asks.
It takes me a second to stop staring at her mouth. “...No. No, it’s good.”
She tilts her head, studying me.
“Really,” I say. “I’ve just got...stuff on my mind.”
Like you,I think.Why can’t I get you off my mind, Hazel Dawson?
She bites her lip, and I briefly lose blood flow to my brain.
I take a swig of my beer to distract myself.
Hazel takes a deep breath. “Why don’t you want us to sleep with other people?”
I choke on my beer.
When I finish coughing, she’s still staring at me, waiting for an answer.
There’s something dangerous in her eyes. Like she knows she’s playing with fire and doesn’t give a damn.
“I told you,” I say, rolling my shoulders, restless. “I don’t need the scandal.”
“That’s one reason. But I don’t think it’s the real reason,” Hazel says steadily.
Every fiber of my being wants to grab her, and kiss her, and tell her it drives me wild when she evenjokesabout seeing other men. I want to make her mine, if only for the night. I want to drive every other man in the world from her mind.
But that’s not an option for us.
I stand up and wander to the edge of the roof, looking out over the centuries old, gated park below. “The real reason doesn’t matter,” I say at last.
“Luke.” Her footsteps sound behind me. And then she’s standing beside me. Close enough to touch.
Close enough to kiss.
She looks up at me. “This is my question tonight. You have to tell me the truth. You promised.”
“Pick another,” I growl.
“No.” She crosses her arms. “Tell me the damn the truth. For once Luke, tell me what youfeel.”
I give a harsh laugh. “What I feel? What Ifeel, is that if another man touches you, I’ll fucking kill him. I want you for myself, Hazel. And I don’t care if that makes the next six months impossible for us. I don’t care if it makes me a bad friend. The only thing I care about is giving you a good hard fuck.”
Her lips part. Her eyes go wide. Her chest rises and falls in quick, shallow breaths.
“How’s that for the truth?” I all but snarl.
