Page 17 of The Lord's Compass
“You always say that you want me, that you lust after me.”
“Yes, I do,” he said, unapologetically.
“Do you mean it? Or is it some kind of joke?”
She looked him square in the eye, then, needing him to understand how serious she was in her question, prepared to determine if his answer was true or not.
“Why would you ask me that?”
“Because I can hardly see why you would unless it is all some kind of game to you. Or is it simply because I am the one woman who tells you no?”
He leaned in toward her, lifting a hand and cradling her face within it. Faith hated herself for pressing her cheek closer to him.
“It’s not a joke, Faith. I mean it.”
“But why?”
He shrugged. “Hell if I know. It’d be easier if I didn’t.”
“Although there are not many women you wouldn’t be interested in, now, are there?”
He dropped his hand. “Is that what you think of me?”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
He turned his head away, and an unwelcome ache bloomed in Faith’s chest. Why did she need him to want her – and only her – so badly? She had tried to avoid the man for the past few years, had done all she could to turn him off of her. But the more she did so, the harder he came. The thrill of the chase, she supposed.
“Go to bed, Faith,” was all he said, and she wondered if she had hurt his feelings.
“But—”
He turned to her, his face in shadow. “You need your sleep. Your hand does look like it will be fine once the cuts and bruises heal. But are you otherwise all right after that attack? He didn’t… hurt you in any other way?”
“He didn’t,” she said softly. “You came in time.” She paused. “Thank you for that. For coming. If you hadn’t—” her voice hitched, and his response was like a warm caress.
“Do not think of it, Faith. I was there. That’s all that matters.”
As he created his bed on the floor, she lay back onto his blankets, his musky scent from where he had been sleeping but a short time before surrounding her.
Eric Rowley was showing her a different side to himself. A side that interested her. And she didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
CHAPTER6
“Owww,” Eric couldn’t help but groan as he awoke that morning on the hard floorboards. He pushed himself into a sitting position despite the protest from his muscles.
He looked over to the bed to see if he had bothered Faith, but she was still sleeping soundly. Her head was facing to the side of the room, strands of her dark blond hair having emerged from her plait and draped over his pillow.
She seemed so peaceful in her slumber, and Eric couldn’t help but rest back on his heels and watch her for a few minutes, enjoying this view of her.
Her opinion of him last night had hurt a little, but mostly because there was more truth to it than he would care to admit. He did like to have fun, and he had never seen the harm in enjoying a fair bit of spirits and a fair number of women. Two years ago, he had been prepared to give himself to Faith and only Faith, but she had made it clear that she wasn’t interested in him, and so he had moved on as best he could.
She was right, to an extent. Part of the reason that he had continued to pursue her wasbecauseshe resisted all of his efforts. But it wasn’t because he enjoyed the chase. It was because he never understood why she had spurned him so after initially showing interest and it had eaten away at him. When she began to get to know him —the real him – had she not liked what she saw? Or was it truly because of this kiss she supposedly witnessed?
Would he stop flirting with the other women if he had her? Perhaps. But perhaps it was too late for that.
For now, he had to focus on getting them both through this journey with their lives and their reputations intact. Then he would worry about what came next.
