Page 73 of Second Time Around

He gazed at her for a few beats like he was trying to work something out. “I think I understand now,” he said and let go of her wrist.

She could have escaped then, but oddly enough, she didn’t want to. She was curious about what he was thinking, but before she could open her mouth to ask, he climbed out of bed and padded into the bathroom, presumably to dispose of the condom.

She watched him go, feeling disgruntled that he’d left her there, naked and vulnerable in his bed. She heard him moving around the bathroom, and then the faucet turned on. She could have gone downstairs, gotten dressed, and left before he was finished. Instead, she scrambled out of bed and stomped into the bathroom to confront him.

He was washing his face when she came in, and he didn’t even acknowledge her presence. She stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, and waited for him to finish. Finally, he turned to face her, still naked and seemingly unselfconscious about it.

Keeping her gaze locked on his face, she said, “What did you mean when you said you understand now?”

“I know why you’re having trouble accepting this.”

“Okay, smartypants, enlighten me.” Smartypants probably wasn’t fitting, since he wasn’t wearing any pants, but it was the first thing that sprang to mind.

“If I were some guy you just met, you wouldn’t have had a problem with this. But since we have a history together and you still have feelings for me—”

“Hold it right there! What are you accusing me of?”

“I’m not accusing you. You’ve made it very clear that you’re not interested in a relationship. I believe you said something about marriage and children not being in the cards for you.”

Her mouth fell open. She’d said those things to his mom and sister in confidence, but she should have known it would have gotten back to him. Still, she hadn’t expected him to use it against her. In a huff, she turned her back on him, and she was getting ready to march out of the room when he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Let go of me,” she hissed, wishing it didn’t feel so good to be held by him.

He tightened his grip. “Is that really what you want?”

His front was warm and unyielding against her back, and her body was already responding—dammit! She stood still, trying to fight the pull and talk herself out of staying at the same time.

“Please don’t push me away,” he whispered against her hair.

The fight left her like air escaping from a popped balloon, but she still wasn’t ready to face him.

“Stay and be with me,” he said, loosening his hold and effectively giving her permission to choose.

By now, she’d lost all sense of reason, and all she wanted to do was feel. Turning to face him again, she gave him a single nod, and he led her back to bed.