Page 27 of Undone

I put her down in front of me. My hands stayed on her waist, anchoring her in place. “We’re just beginning, baby.”

She shook her head. “Are you dense? Jesus, what’s wrong with you? Most men would be glad I’m not clingy and hoping for more.”

One hand moved from her waist to her cheek. “Who hurt you, baby? Whatever. It doesn’t matter now. I’m not that guy—the one who gets off and goes. At least, not with you. Damn, baby. Last night was the first night I wasn’t lonely in years. Don’t rip that away from me.”

It was in her eyes.

She was wavering.

I leaned down, brushing my lips against hers. “Please, don’t go. Stay with me? Just a little bit longer, so we can see if yesterday’s magic was real?”

“I-I… why? I live in Chicago and you live here. Even if I did stay, it would only prolong the inevitable. Summer will end and I’ll go back to my real life.”

“What if… being here, with me could be your real life?”

“Stop. Men don’t say shit like this to me. You aren’t real.” A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

I took the bags from her shoulder, letting them drop to the forest floor. I backed her up against a tree, took her hand and placed it on my rapidly beating heart. “You feel that? I’m real, baby. As real as it gets.” I took her wrists in one hand, forcing them over her head as I captured her mouth the way a captor takes his prisoner’s.

Her body melted against mine. Our tongues danced. Finally, I gave her mouth freedom to breathe. She struggled, trying to free her hands.

I tightened my grip. Her eyes questioned mine.

“No. Not until you tell me you’ll stay.”

She swallowed hard, then nodded. “Okay. I’ll change my flight.”

I grunted, pressing my erection into her belly. “Good. Because this is far from over.”

“Is… that what this is? You haven’t fucked me? And as soon as you do—you’ll get what you wanted and let me go.”

I looked deeply into her eyes. I released my grip on her wrists to cup her ass and lift her up, holding her against me. “One—you can’t even imagine what I want. All the ways I want to take you… and I will. Mark my words. Two—I’d bet the blood of my brothers that once I get inside this tight little body of yours, you’ll be it for me. I’m never gonna let you go Luce.”

She looked terrified.

Dammit. I sounded like a goddamn stalker. But I didn’t care. My mama did raise me to always tell the truth. So, I did.

“But we can start with breakfast. I’ll take you back to Springdale. We have a lot to discuss, babe.”

She didn’t say one word as I dropped her to the ground, slung her bags over my arm and took her by the hand. The way she linked our fingers was enough.

For now.

I stared at her over the rim of my mug as she downed the All-American Lumberjack Breakfast.

“I won the bet,” she smirked, as she wiped her mouth.

When Luce placed the order, my eyebrows rose to my hairline. I can’t believe she ate all that. Three large pancakes, four scrambled eggs with a side of bacon, and hash browns, plus two pieces of buttered toast.

“Maybe. It has to all stay down.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Maybe not intentionally.”

“I won. Fair and square.”

I looked at my watch pointedly.

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