Page 10 of Never Let Me Go

“That while you’re with me, you wouldn’t be with other women?”

His temper flared, but he tamped it down. She really didn’t understand at all. “Have you been with any other men in the last year and a half?” he asked, keeping his tone even.

Her eyes flared wide in shock. “Of course not.”

“Why?”

She sputtered. “Well, because I...because we...”

“Exactly,” he said. “Something extraordinary happened between us. I haven’t been with another woman since that night.”

“Oh?”

Her look of disbelief might have been insulting. But he didn’t have time to be offended. “I’m serious, Marisa. Do you believe me?”

She chewed her bottom lip. “Why would you do that?” she asked. “Men your age like to have regular sex. It doesn’t make sense.”

He snorted. “Menanyage like to have regular sex. That’s not the point.”

“Then what is the point? You’re confusing me.”

Again, he stood and pulled her from her chair. When he wrapped his arms around her, she didn’t protest. But it was several moments before he felt the stiffness in her body language relax.

“The point is,” he said softly, “there’s something between us.”

She picked at his shirt button with her fingernail. “Like what?”

Carefully, he tugged the rubber band from her ponytail and slid his fingers through her hair, spreading the strands until they fell smoothly around her shoulders.

“I may not be able to explain it well, but I know it’s powerful enough to survive for eighteen long months and still give me insomnia.”

“You’ve thought about me?”

He rested his chin on her head. “Every damn night.”

“Oh.” She unbuttoned the first two buttons on his shirt and slipped her hand inside, placing it right over his heart. “I’ve fantasized about you,” she said quietly. “At night. In my bed. You’re a hard man to forget.”

He shuddered. His sex stiffened. “Please don’t say things like that right now. I don’t think I can handle it.”

“How well did you outfit this tornado shelter?”

“What do you mean?”

“You mentioned water and beef jerky, but is there an air mattress?” When she leaned her head back to look at him, there was mischief on her face.

His mouth went dry, and his vision blurred. “An air mattress?”

“You know. So we can get out of these uncomfortable chairs. We could cuddle. And talk.”

“Cuddle.” His tongue felt paralyzed.

“Or whatever comes to mind.” She tugged his shirt from his pants and slid both hands underneath, stroking from his pecs to his waist. “I love your chest. Did I mention that before?”

His knees nearly buckled. “There’s an air mattress,” he admitted. “But I don’t have any protection.”

“I saw my doctor and went on the pill a year ago,” she said. The painful vulnerability was back. “It seemed like the grown-up thing to do.”

He cupped her face in his hands, searching her beautiful eyes. “We’re both hot and sweaty,” he said. “I messed up the first time. I can’t let the second bethis.” He waved a hand at their surroundings.

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