Page 45 of Trust Me With Forever

“Unless you’re going to be honest with me—because something made you freeze up just now—then I think you should go to your room and get dressed.”

Feeling exposed and vulnerable, my temper flared. I closed my legs and sat up, crossing my arms over my breasts. “Honest about what? That I want you to fuck me hard, every which way that you can?” I stood, walking toward him. “Because yes, I want that, Rafe. I’ve wanted it for a long time.” I glanced at his still-hard dick. “And obviously, you want me to some degree.”

“To some degree? Fuck, Abigail, I’ve been thinking of nothing else since the first day I saw you, back in October, after returning to Starry Hills.”

My heart skipped a beat. “What?”

“You want to know why I was such a dick to you? Because that way I would turn you off and could keep my distance. But now that we’re stuck together for a while, I can’t resist wanting to get to know you better.”

“You do?”

He leaned closer and lowered his head a fraction, making his eyes level with mine. “Yes, for many reasons.” He gently tracedmy cheek with a finger. “And even though I think you’re the sexiest woman in the world and I want nothing more than to fuck you hard like you asked, I won’t do it if you’re going to hide away from me and not reveal anything of yourself.” He searched my gaze. “So, why did you tense up, Abigail? Tell me.”

As I processed his words, I dropped my arms, uncaring about my nakedness. Part of me wanted to believe him, wanted to believe he truly wanted more from me than just my body. Maybe he even cared.

And yet, being too trusting and naïve had hurt me so many times, both with my family and, later, with Travis. People liked to say or offer things, but eventually they left or discarded me. Something about me just wasn’t worth holding on to.

So I did what I probably would always do with men going forward—try to piss him off and put distance between us again. “How many other women did you also say were the sexiest? I doubt I’m the first.”

With that, I turned and ran from the room, my eyes stinging with tears.

For so long, I’d dreamed of being with Rafe, of him caring for me, and maybe even finding my own happy ending.

And yet, I was so scared of him maybe doing like all the others and breaking my heart that I’d just deliberately pushed him away and probably made him mad.

If he didn’t ask to end our agreement, then I didn’t know how I was going to survive eleven months and two weeks more of this. Of not being strong enough to give him a chance.

At least I could get back at Travis. Although that seemed hollow when compared to a possible future with Rafe.

Chapter Eighteen

Rafe

Abby fled the room, and I stood there, stunned, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.

She’d been warm and responsive and so fucking beautiful as she’d come on my tongue.

Then something had come into her head, some thoughts or doubts or who the hell knew what, and she’d grown cold. Well, cold and then did her damnedest to insult me and push me away.

However, she’d said she wanted me. And I’d seen the internal struggle in her eyes about what to do before throwing my words back at me.

I swore there’d been longing, too.

Something had spooked her, and my best guess was that something from her past was messing with her head. Probably something to do with that asshole who’d hurt her.

Regardless, I was determined to find out what.

After walking down the hall, I stopped outside her door and was about to knock when I heard Abby crying. My heartclenched at the sound, and I debated what to do. The easy route would be to leave her be and hide behind my work.

However, each quiet sob tugged at my gut, and I knew I couldn’t leave her like this. Even if we weren’t a true couple, I remembered something my dad had told me:“Never run away from an argument or go to bed angry with your partner, Rafael. Talk, always talk, and everything should be okay.”

I hadn’t thought of my dad in years. Usually the memories were too painful and caused guilt to crash down over me, to the point I’d rush off to drink and have sex and find ways to dull the pain.

But today? His words only made me more determined to be brave and find out what was wrong with Abby. Even if she’d only agreed to be my wife for a year, part of my job as her husband was taking care of her. Orgasms were all well and good, but I wanted her smiles and laughter, too.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked. The crying stopped, and I knocked again.

Eventually, Abby’s muffled voice came through the door. “Go away.”

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