Page 91 of Savior

I swallow against the thought’s spine-tingling fingers that rake down my back and turn away from him.

“No, thank you,” I squeak.

He gives me a wicked little smirk and turns to make his plate. I can’t keep my eyes off him. Not when he sits down, not when he’s minding his own business eating his food. Not even when he looks like he’s in deep, transporting thought.

Last night changed something. The things he said. The way he made me come like I never have before.

There’s no going back for me, and if he treks the dismal road to desire I’m currently traveling, I’ll gladly hold his hand while we risk it all.

He has so much to lose, though.

I don’t want to be the reason he upends his entire life and starts over at thirty-eight.

I swallow down coffee and finally turn my gaze away from him.

My thighs press together, and my belly grows hungry with another craving, my mouth watering for something other than the food on my plate.

I stand abruptly, grabbing my plate and cup, heading for my room. “I’m going to eat in my room. Thank you for breakfast,” I announce, knowing I look foolish. But I can’t remain in that heavy force field that Luca Russo is creating.

It’s nearly fucking impossible to breathe when I’m around him.

“Alright?” I hear him say, confusion braiding into his tone at my hasty exit.

I pick at my food and let my coffee grow cold as I sit on the bed, head lolled back on the headboard as I contemplate the situation I’ve gotten myself into.

However, if I hadn’t snuck away from Luca, I’d still be back at the rectory in the same infuriating conundrum as here.

It baffles me I’ve never found someone who makes me feel like he does, and then, here he comes, with all his soft touches and concerning gazes.

He’s the problem.

My mind’s unsound reasoning doesn’t help matters. I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest in defense.

“Sloane?”

Great, here he comes again.

“I’m sorry, Luca. I’m just feeling off-balance today,” I snap, keeping my eyes averted in case he still has no shirt on.

“Do you need me to get you anything? I can have one of the guys find a medic?”

I sigh, exasperated with his kindness and willingness to take care of everything and anything for me, because it only draws me in further.

Just go away before I do something we both regret!

My mind isn’t wrong. Those are the words I should shout at him, I keep my lips shut.

“Not off-balance in that kind of way, Luca. I’ll be fine. Thank you for checking on me, though,” I say curtly, hoping he takes my answer and the hint and goes and makes himself busy with something else.

“Mm, I see,” he says in a deep, dour tone that makes my toes curl into the mattress. He sits on the edge of the bed, putting his arm over my waist and resting his weight against the mattress as he leans closer.

His other hand tucks my hair behind my ear, and I’m jubilant at the attention, but I quickly scold myself for letting my thirst for him grow.

He’s a priest, he’s a priest, he’s a priest.

The chanting doesn’t help when he leans his face closer. “You mean you’re off-balance because of what happened last night? How I made you come for me?”

I nearly fucking choke.

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