Page 55 of Keeping Sarah

I ignored the taunt and finally faced him, glad to see he was dressed. “I need—"

“Clearly,” he drawled.

Irritation wiped out most of my arousal. “Would you just listen to me?”

Rex crossed his arms and looked me over. “What has you in such a snit, Sarah? It’s not like we’re strangers.”

“I just…I didn’t expect…that.” The whole incident still had me flustered.

His brows raised. “You thought I was some sexless monk?”

I blushed and shook my head. “No, of course not.”

He came closer but did not touch me. He studied my face, like he was fascinated to see me blush, which only made my cheeks burn hotter. “Youlikedwatching me, didn’t you?” His voice was silken and deep.

I scoffed at him. “Are you out of your mind?”

“It’s okay to admit that you did,” he said with a casual shrug. “I liked watching you with Deacon and Jac. It’s only natural to enjoy such a thing.”

I hated that he’d seen any of that. “You’re disgusting!”

Amusement lit his eyes. “And yet, you’re not disgusted by me, or you wouldn’t be here now.”

I forced myself to calm down and admit why I was there. “I need your help, Rex,” I said, lifting my chin. “You left something behind, something in my mind. You need to take it back.”

His brow crinkled. “What are you talking about?”

I pointed my finger in his face and felt my patience snap. “Don’t play games with me, Rex. I am in no mood!”

“Sarah, I didn’t…” he stared into my eyes and his head tipped curiously to the side. “You really believe that I would do that to you?”

I narrowed my gaze on him. “I imagine you thought it was funny. Well, it’s not. Take it back!”

“I didn’t leave anything behind,” he insisted.

Tears of frustration burned my eyes and my throat thickened. “Then why do I feel like this?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “Why have I been so awful to everyone? It has to be you!”

He stared at me incredulously. “Foryouto have been awful, it must have beenme?”

“Yes!” I sobbed.

“And here I thought we were making progress,” he muttered to himself, then he looked up at me and his expression softened. “Come inside.”

I hesitated. “Is she still in there?”

He sighed. “I sent her away. I fuck them, I don’t sleep next to them. Come on.”

I followed him inside and he made me a cup of tea. I sat on the chair at his vanity, fighting the urge to rock myself back and forth. “I don’t understand any of this, Rex.”

He sat down on the bed across from me. “You are not awful by your very nature, Sarah, so being awful is going to take a toll on you.”

“I took you hostage, and youdon’tthink I’m awful?”

He chuckled. “That didn’t make you awful. It made you smart. It was a move I would have never thought of, so I didn’t have any defenses against it. Quite clever, really.”

I didn’t buy it. He was being too reasonable. “Why are you being so nice to me right now, when you’re usually a pig?”

He didn’t look at all offended by my choice of words. “You are in pain, and I hate to see that. After having gotten to know you, I don’t…” He looked away and mumbled, “I don’t like it. Knowing you’re in pain, I mean. You’re a good person. You don’t deserve to feel this way.”

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