Page 41 of Chasing Sarah

The following morning, Paige and I lay face down on massage tables. I keep the conversation light and entertaining. But my insides are confused. My mind races with thoughts of how good it felt to drift off to sleep in Rhys’ arms.

It felt too good.

Normally, I’d just cut off on contact with him. But I can’t. Paige is involved with Declan now and that means Rhys is going to be around all the time.

I can’t avoid him and it’s petrifying.

It’s up to me to draw a clear line in the sand. To lay it out for him that we cannot –will not– be anything more.

The sex is phenomenal. But it’s also all I can give him. Aside from Paige, I can’t let anyone get close to me. Paige was a risk I took, and I’ll never regret it. But letting Rhys in? No. It can’t happen.

The less people I allow into my heart, the less chance I have of losing them.

The masseuse works my tense muscles until they finally relax. After, we are led to a room where we’re given facials, manicures, and pedicures.

“If you don’t marry Declan, maybe I will,” I joke, all but melting into the cushioned massage chair.

“Sarah,” Paige sighs. “I don’t know how I feel about whatever this thing is that’s happening with Declan.”

I lift my head, and glance over at her with a lifted brow.

Since meeting Paige, she’s had two relationships. They didn’t last long, and she took quite a bit of time to give herself to them.

“He’s different than anyone else you’ve been with. Maybe seeing where it goes would be a good thing?” I know I’m a hypocrite, but I don’t care. We’re not talking about me.

“He is different. I don’t know what it is, but he makes me feel…” She slumps into the seat, looking up at the ceiling. “He makes me feel safe,” she whispers, confusion laced in her voice.

“Isn’t that good?” I push gently. She shrugs in response but remains silent.

You wouldn’t know it looking at her, but Paige has lived a life of horrors. The one person who was meant to protect her, not onlyallowed,butencouragedher to be raped, drugged, and forcibly impregnated. The unfathomable pain she was subjected to by her mom and Mark – her mom’s drug dealer slash boyfriend – would drive even the strongest man to complete madness.

Not my Paige, though. Her strength is unyielding.

Reaching over, I clasp her hand in mine and give it a reassuring squeeze. She tightens her grip then releases my hand.

The rest of our time at the spa is spent avoiding conversations about the two men that makes us feel things we haven’t felt before.

It’s only been forty-eight hours and yet it feels as though they’ve always been around.

Fuck.

* * *

Declan had a driver pick us up from the spa and drive us to a restaurant namedDuke’sfor lunch. I was drawn to Rhys the moment I stepped out of the car.

I internally swooned when he strode right over and swept me into his arms, kissing my temple as though he missed me after just a few hours.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Now seated, Paige and Declan are instantly enveloped in their own personal bubble.

The air between me and Rhys is electric. I’m hyperaware of his presence. The scent of his cologne fills my nose. Each breath he takes is in sync with mine. Every so often, his pinky will lightly caress mine and I feel the sensation all the way to my toes.

This is so bad. So so bad. But I don’t know how to tell him I don’t want anything more, when in reality, I do. On top of that, there is no hiding the way my body reacts to his.

I’m totally fucked.

“You look breathtaking,” he compliments, and I blush.

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