Page 49 of The Pretender

Since she thought that was his serious answer, she didn’t fight him on it. “Probably.”

“Listen.” He moved closer and draped his arm across her waist. “I never talk about my mom, but I told you.”

“Please tell me you didn’t do that just to have great sex.” He wouldn’t be the first guy to use that tactic. She’d been fed lines over the years. Some idiots tried to use the kidnapping to get close to her. As if that wasn’t one of the worst moments in her life.

Harris’s story, shocking as it was, felt genuine. She believed him.

He ran the back of his hand down her cheek. “I told you about my mom because I wanted to tell you.”

That voice. It broke through her every single time. “That’s why I shared about the kidnapping. People look at me a certain way, like a victim or a criminal. I didn’t think you’d see me as either. You know the world isn’t made up of only black-and-white choices.”

“Any chance you’ll tell me the rest of the kidnapping story?”

He knew. Of course he knew. They were both survivors, walking wounded. She’d recognized that from the start and a part of her reached out to him.

For the first time in years an automatic “no” didn’t slam into her head as a response to the kidnapping question. The idea of sharing the burden brought her relief, not panic.

Tabitha was gone. She would understand. But a promise was a promise.

“Maybe when you tell me what you’re really doing on the island, I’ll finish the story.” He might know art but that wasn’t why Stephen brought him to the island. It was the bit of truth that lingered behind every action, every moment, she shared with Harris.

He was paid to be here and handle things. It could be that she was thethinghe was brought here to handle, and that thought made her stomach flip over in horror.

“What if I told you I came here, now, for you? To help.” His thumb traced the outline of her mouth. Smoothed over her lips.

“I have no idea what that means.” She didn’t want to break the contact so she whispered the words.

His gaze searched hers. “You ever make a mistake and feel like you’ll probably spend a lifetime trying to fix it?”

That question... it meant everything. The relief that soared through her didn’t make any sense, but there it was. Chalk it up to the hope that he really got her. No one had ever totally understood her, not even her parents. “You just described my entire adulthood.”

He leaned in and touched his lips to hers. A soft press that barely amounted to a kiss, but she felt it spiral through her.

“You are beautiful,” he whispered against her mouth.

“Now I really do think you’re saying things to get me into bed.”

“We’re already in bed.”

He really kissed her then. Treated her to a long, dragging kiss. One that had her shifting on the bed and curling into him. When he lifted his head her hands were pressed against his chest and not even a whiff of air separated them.

“Then maybe you’re just trying to get my clothes off,” she said as she kissed her way over his chin.

He slid his hand under her T-shirt. “How long would that take exactly?”

“We should try it and see.”

He rolled to his back, taking her with him. Her body slid over his and she loved every hard angle. Their clothes didn’t provide any barrier to the combination of heat and delicious friction. His hands slid under her shirt and kept going. Warm palms cupped her breasts. He caressed with a gentle kneading and her skin caught fire.

She lifted up just long enough to rip the shirt over her head and off. By the time it fluttered to the floor she was on top of him again. She speared her fingers through his hair and held his head there for her kisses. She didn’t hold back or play it cool. She kissed with all the pent-up emotion she’d been burying and ignoring all day.

In that moment, doubts blew away. This was about him and her and a heat that had her aching for more.

As they kissed, his hands plunged into her pajama shorts. He tugged her up higher, until her softness rubbed against his growing bulge. She wanted to ride him. Just climb on top of him and let her inhibitions fall away.

Her hair cascaded around her shoulders when she lifted her head. It brushed over his shoulder and he caught a handful of the strands and balled them in his fist. With a soft pull, he brought her mouth back down to his. This kiss seared through her. She actually felt her temperature rise and her skin flush.

They needed a condom. The thought ran through her head and stayed there.

---