Page 65 of For the Birds

He tried to set me down, but I clung to him like a monkey to a tree, and pain shot through my thigh from tensing myleg.

His face softened. “You shouldn’t be in the water this long. It’s not good for your stitches.”

“No. We’re finishing this conversation.”

A scowl covered hisface.

“I know this is unfair. We’ve had one night together, and I’m that stereotypical woman who’s already demanding more, but my heart’s on the line, James. Either way, I’m probably gettin’ hurt—I know that. But I need to know what you see for us. Do you see us meetin’ twice a week for six months? A year? Five?”

“Honestly, Rose, I don’t know.” He sounded defeated. “I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you. I’ve never needed anyone until you, and I don’t know what to do with it. I thought if I stayed away from you, I’d get over you, but it didn’t work. Last night, I told myself that if I had just one night with you, I could burn you out of my system and we could go back to normal. But I was stupid. So stupid.” He lifted his hand to my face, smoothing the wet hair from my cheek. “I’m addicted to you, and now that I’ve had a taste, I want you even more. And that makes you dangerous.” Instead of sounding harsh, he sounded resigned.

“And yet you still want to keep seein’ me?”

“Everyone has a weakness. Turns out mine is you. Like you said, I’m hopin’ this will just run its course.”

“Wow,” I said sarcastically. “That’s romantic.”

His gaze held a hint of challenge. “You said you wanted honesty.”

“Yeah,” I said softly. “I did.” I’d known going into this conversation that there could be no good outcome, so why was I so disappointed? Maybe James was right. Maybe being in love made you believe in the impossible. Only, I wasn’t in love . . . right?

“I want to keep seein’ you,” he said, fondling my breast. His tone was dark and commanding. Last night, he’d discovered that tone turned me on, and he was using it to his advantage.

I squirmed, but I saw right through what he was doing. He wanted to get me all hot and bothered so I’d agree to whatever he wanted. And damned if he wasn’t close to succeeding. “You want to burn me out of your system hard andfast.”

He instantly stopped caressing me, his eyes dark. “That’s how you seethis?”

I held his gaze. “Isn’t it?” I could see that there was probably some truth toit.

“Dammit, Rose.” He buried his face in my neck again. “I don’t know what to do withyou.”

“Do you really think I’m like a drug?” I asked softly. “If you use me enough, you’ll get your fill and be ready to moveon?”

He shook his head. “I told you love makes people stupid.” Then he put me down, grabbed a towel, and walked out of the bathroom.

I was pretty sure that was the closest I’d ever get to hearing James Malcolm say he lovedme.

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