Page 30 of Pretend

“And I really need you to let this go,” Eric said as he led her across the street towards what appeared to be a dirt path.

“You want me to let go of the fact that you gave up Baker House after everything you did to get it?” Morgan asked, blinking up at him as they stepped onto the dirt path.

“It would make this easier,” Eric said as she found herself looking down and-

“Why are you holding my hand again?” Morgan couldn’t help but wonder as she looked from the large, warm hand that was holding hers to the man that was making it really difficult to think.

“Why wouldn’t I hold your hand?” Eric asked, looking genuinely confused as she opened her mouth and immediately forgot what she was going to say when she felt it.

The soft caress of Eric’s thumb across the back of her hand.

She barely bit back the soft sigh of pleasure when he did it again.

“Because you value your safety?” Morgan asked, clearing her throat as she did her best to ignore just how good his hand felt wrapped around hers.

“I like to live dangerously,” Eric said as they walked into a small clearing filled with flowers, a bench hidden beneath an old oak tree, and a small line of people waiting by a large wood sign proclaiming this “Apple Path.”

Still wondering what they were doing here, Morgan took in the rest of the sign, noting the dire warning that “Apple Path” could only safely handle two people at a time, the risk of falling, jagged rocks, and warnings of drowning right around the time that the sound of rushing water reached her ears.

“I can see that,” Morgan murmured as she moved to pull her hand away and-

“Why are you treating me like a whore?” came the curious question that had her sighing heavily as she muttered, “Please don’t make me hurt you,” hoping that would be enough to stop him from doing something that was going to annoy the shit out of her.

It wasn’t.

“I can’t believe I let you have your dirty way with me,” Eric said with a sniffle that had her eyes narrowing on him as several heads turned to watch them.

“I really hate you right now,” Morgan pointed out as she yanked her hand free.

“Is that why you won’t hold my hand after you used me for my body?” Eric demanded.

“Yes, yes, it is,” Morgan said, wondering why he was going out of his way to piss her off.

“Are you ashamed of our love?” Eric demanded in outrage, drawing the attention of the rest of the line and making her wonder if Uncle Jared’s offer to hide his body was still good.

Blinking, Morgan pushed her glasses back up her nose as she said, “I really think that went without saying,” watching as bright emerald eyes narrowed on her.

Nodding slowly, Eric bit out, “My mother was right about you.”

“Your mother adores me,” Morgan pointed out.

“Only because she has no idea that you’re treating her precious baby boy like a whore,” Eric said, shaking his head in disgust.

“How exactly am I treating you like a whore?” Morgan asked, only to sigh heavily with a softly muttered, “There is something seriously wrong with you,” when the annoying bastard looked pointedly down at her hand. Making sure to look put out, she reached over and grabbed his hand, noting the pleased expression on his face.

“Happy now?” Morgan asked as they stepped into line, wondering why they were as she took in the narrow passage that would lead them through a thick copse of trees.

“Immensely,” Eric murmured with a satisfied sigh as Morgan was forced to clear her throat to stop the small moan from escaping when she felt the soft caress across the back of her hand.

God, his touch was addictive, Morgan thought as they moved up in line as she struggled to focus and-

Why were the people in front of her suddenly swaying gently back and forth? Morgan found herself wondering as she watched them walk away and…

Oh. God. No.

“Eric?” Morgan mumbled weakly as she watched the couple in front of them make their way across the rope bridge suspended over what appeared to be a really angry river.

“Mmmhmm?” Eric murmured absently as she moved to take a step back and-

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