Page 73 of Romancing His Heart
“Listen to me. We both know there’s a lot we don’t understand right now. A lot is going on that we can’t control, but your needs come first while we’re together. You come first. Do I make myself clear?”
“While we’re together?” she mimics absentmindedly.
“While we’re together,” I confirm.
“Are we together?” she asks warily. “I don’t do relationships.” She says it as if I poisoned her.
Tap-tap-slide.I watch as she scratches various places on her arms. She won’t make eye contact with me, and it makes me irrationally angry. She’s flushed and starts fanning her face as her eyes dart from the door to the window like she’s plotting her escape.
With her attention occupied, she doesn’t see me reach out, so when my palm closes over her twitchy fingers, she nearly jumps out of her skin.This is bullshit. Taking a step forward, I encroach on her personal space.
“You can’t run from me, Red. If this is too much, we can go back to thinking of this as a job,” I mutter.
Please don’t be what you want. I’m not sure that’s a possibility for me anymore.
She rears back as if I struck her.
“What do you want, sweetheart?”
“I, I make up happily ever afters.”
“I’m confused. Does that mean you don’t get one in real life?”
Is that what I want? Do I want to try for a happily ever after with this girl?Fuck me. The longer I stare at her, the more I think it’s a possibility.
She bites her bottom lip, and I notice her body tremble. Placing my hands on her shoulders, I force her to look at me.
“Hey?” I try to steady my voice, but I feel out of control for the first time in my life. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“I … Loki, I …” Her voice wavers, and I can’t stand the space between us anymore.
Pulling her into a hug, I hold on tight. I ignore the sinking feeling that if I don’t keep her close, she’ll run eventually.
We stand in silence, but after a minute or two, she mumbles into my bare chest. Her breath tickles my chest hair as she exhales.
“I don’t do relationships with anyone that matters.”
Pulling away, I peer down into her eyes. She has no idea.
“Are you saying I matter?” I ask cockily.
“You’re part of my sister’s family, Loki. I can’t run from you when things go bad.”
She’s more jaded than Trevor was.
“And things will go bad?” I’m fighting a smirk, but she sees it.
“I’m trying to be serious,” she mumbles.
Kissing the top of her head, I release her and walk to the stove to stir the meat.
“I know,” I call over my shoulder. “I’m listening.”
“I, I just don’t do real.”
“Okay. Well, this isn’t exactly real life, right? Us, here? Locked away in the cabin?”
Peering over my shoulder, I see her frown. “No, it’s not, but I don’t see your point.”
