Page 33 of The Outlaw and the Heir

"You wanted to know what I’d been up to before, so...what about you?"

I didn't see the point in going into the full history and thought about how to keep it short and simple. "First time was with another boy in town, the son of a smith. I didn't really get a chance to settle that one since I had to leave town."

"Why?"

"It was about that time. There wasn't much keeping me there and a whole lot pushing me to leave," I said, skating over the fact that I’d probably be shot on sight if I was ever seen in my hometown again. "After that, it's been whenever I found the chance...or more like when I had the chance and wanted to take it. I've been across the country and it might feel like there's not a whole lot of people like us, which is true...just not in the way you'd think."

"And how would I think?" he asked dryly.

"Well, maybe not you specifically, but people like us," I said with a laugh, knowing I was treading on dangerous territory by getting too close to assuming what he thought about something. "And it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking you're the only one, you're the only person experiencing it. And sure, there are probably far fewer people than we'd hope. There's far more than we fear."

He watched me for a moment with an unreadable expression that, for once, would have put his dad to shame. "So...what about love?"

"What about it?"

"Can love exist...for people like us?"

At that, I could only give him a weak smile. “I've seen a couple managing it the last time I saw them a few years back. But...I can't say for certain if it stuck or if something else got inthe way. And there was...another couple I...knew once. It...didn't work out."

It wasn't the smoothest cover up in my history of covering things up, and if the new furrow in his brow was any indication, I hadn't managed to, well, cover anything up. I watched the furrow deepen, and he licked his lips before they parted.

Groaning, I rolled my eyes. “I was part of that couple, alright? It was a long time ago, but I'd just as soon not talk about it if you don't mind."

Which, to my surprise, made him give a soft laugh. “Oh? So there's something you won't run your mouth about. Or I should say, there's something where you're gonna admit you don't wanna talk about it."

"What?"

"Any other time you didn't or don't want to talk about something, you find some way to avoid it. You know, like steppin' around it, making a joke, or sayin' somethin' that will get on my nerves so I don't think too hard about it. Stuff like that. This is the first time you...said you didn't wanna talk about it."

I watched him for a moment. “You know, for someone who likes to moan and groan that they're never going to live up to their daddy's standards, you're a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for."

Boy, if I'd thought making a pass at him had surprised him, it was nothing compared to the wide-eyed stare of open shock he gave me now. One might have thought I’d grown an extra limb and started breathing fire from the way he goggled at me.

"That...did you just say somethin' nice to me?" he asked, shock thoroughly laced through his voice.

An uncomfortable squirming wriggled its way into my gut, far different in its discomfort from the one earlier when I’d gone too far in insulting him. Now it felt like I was giving off the wrongidea or had him wondering if perhaps I wasn't the annoying little shit he thought I’d been. I didn't want him thinking I was somehow growing soft or fond of him. Sure, he wasn't as bad as he could have been considering the power he had over me, but a gentler jailer was still a jailer at the end of the day, and I had no desire to delude myself into thinking it was anything else.

"Oh, sorry," I said with a grin. "Should I have complimented your ass...or other parts of you?"

He let out a weary sigh. “And there it is. Should've known it was only a matter of time."

"Oh...should I take that to mean I shouldn't offer to help you with what isclearlysome pent-up stress?"

This time, he didn't look shocked; he was just exasperated as he rubbed his forehead with another sigh. "We're just gonna pretend like you aren't a big part of all that pent-up stress?"

"Is it my ass? It's been known to cause...stress," I smirked.

"No," he said, but I saw the way his eyes darted away from my face before returning, betraying the lie for what it was.

"Your reaction tells me otherwise."

His jaw tightened. “Perhaps it has less to do with my desire for you and more my desire to throw you off the nearest cliff and be done with you. Maybe it's that charm you love to give yourself credit for so much."

I couldn't help but laugh. “You know, I have to say I like you with a little edge to your tongue rather than moody and growling. Although I admit, I'm now wondering if you take all that growling into more...intimate moments. Because if you do, then I might find myself growing a little more fond of it."

His expression was deadpan. “Is this you tryin' to seduce me?"

"Hmm, is it working?"

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