Page 124 of Nothing to Tell

“No,” she muttered.

“What’s the harm?Hold my hand at dinner, that’s all you have to do.”

“It involved more than that the last time,” she said, finding his eyes.

“I’ll never pressure you.”

Why was her heart beating so fast?

“I know,” she answered.“But you saw how excited Keely was—I don’t want to hurt her.”

“I’ll worry about Keely.”

“I don’t want to disappoint her.”

“Okay, then the only solution is marriage.”

More laughter.In the moment, she pulled the covers down from his chest and spread her hand against him.

“I’d forgotten how incredible you are.”

“A week with me reminded you?”

“Your body,” she said.“Your personality’s no picnic.”

“Feel free to reacquaint yourself with any part of it.”

“So gracious,” she said, kissing his pec before rolling off the bed.

On a yawn, Bastian stretched and ran his hands into his hair as he sat up.“I’ll grab a shower then join you downstairs.”

“I had a day planned.”

Stretching again, he got out of bed and tossed the duvet back, unconcerned about the obvious tent in his underwear.

Hmm, she might be drooling.Stop looking.Stop looking.Every experience she’d had with that particularly proud member replayed in the blink of her mind’s eye.Over and over with a sweet, delectable, mouthwatering—

“Do you want to come with me?”he asked, crossing, arms open, herding her toward his ensuite.

“Bastian,” she said, resting her fingertips on his chest when his hands landed on the bathroom doorframe, penning her in.

She leaned forward, pressing her nose to the center of his chest, inhaling the cozy, comfy, sleepy cocoon that still enveloped him.From her crown, his hand slid to the base of her skull, angling her face up.

“Don’t kiss me,” she whispered.

Vulnerability.Where did that come from?Suddenly, she was a raw, exposed nerve.

“Why not?”he asked, keeping hold of her skull, brushing his other index finger down her temple.

“I can’t do this again,” she murmured in her desperation.“Walking away nearly killed me, Bastian.I know it’s wrong.I shouldn’t—”

“So don’t walk away,” he said.“Stay.”

“If only it was that easy,” she said, touching his dimple before ducking under his arm, liberating herself.

Keep it together.She would get a rein on her horses, she would.This wasn’t them.It was external factors, unforeseen things that they would get past.Somehow.They were friends, and that was how it had to stay.She couldn’t endure another Bastian drought after such a feast, never again.

FORTY-TWO