Page 50 of Hard Lessons

“So you keep saying.”

“Ten seconds ago you seemed pretty damn happy to be mine.” Her cries of delight still rang in his ears.

She glared up at him, her mouth a tight, stubborn line.

“Apologize,” he ground out.

“No.”

He gritted his teeth. “I’ll have the word sorry from your lips if it’s the last fucking thing I do today.”

He withdrew, his flesh hot despite the stormy wet weather. In a second he was on his feet, the sloppy ground squelching beneath his bare feet. He tucked himself away then reached for her.

“I don’t need your help.” She was wriggling into her jeans.

“Tough. You’ve got it.” He dragged her up, but didn’t let her stay on her feet. He swung her into his arms and held her against his chest.

“Oh!” She looped her arms around his neck. “I can walk.”

“No. This way I know where you are.” Her soaking sweater squashed against his chest. “You’re slippery in more ways than one.”

She scowled. Rain was running down her cheeks like tears. “My bag.” She nodded over his left shoulder. “I need my bag.”

“Why? What’s in it?”

She hesitated, then. “Girl stuff, Luca. You really want me to spell it out?”

He grunted then marched to the bag. Holding her close, he stooped and picked it up from a patch of grass. “Here.” He shoved it onto her belly.

She clutched it tight and seemed to sag against him.

Luca tutted, then set off in the direction of the cottage. It hadn’t seemed so far when he’d been running. But now it was a small square seemingly miles away.

Damn it, the woman had managed to put some distance between them. How could he ever trust her again?

The thought that he wouldn’t be able to was like swallowing nails. It hurt then lay heavy in his belly. If he’d been told a year ago that she’d treat him like this, that she’d try to leave him, he’d never have believed it.

But here they were.

In this damn awful situation.

And the only thing he could do about it was try to fuck and spank this nonsense out of her.

* * *

By the time they reachedthe cottage Serena was shivering. Luca’s body was warm, but the rain was bone-chillingly cold and speared into her flesh through her clothes. Her teeth chattered and her muscles tensed. She closed her eyes and tucked her face against his neck.

He smelled of sweat and the earth, the texture of his skin so familiar and comforting when everything else was so damn awful.

“We’ll soon get you warmed up,” he said, opening the door. “We’re here now.”

He kicked the door shut and carried her through to the bathroom. Once there he set her on her feet then quickly set about filling the bathtub. He tipped in a good dose of Radox, which turned the water creamy and sent a pine scent swirling into the air.

“Strip.” He hadn’t looked at her as he’d spoken; he was churning the water.

Serena did as he’d asked, shoving at her clothes with shaking hands. It was hard to catch her breath, it seemed even her ribs were shivering. When she was naked she pressed one arm over her breasts and the other over the juncture of her thighs.

He glanced at her. “Why are you being shy again?”

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