Grace spun.She didn’t know where she’d run to, but she had to get out of his apartment.
“Wait.”His hands clamped on her shoulders.
“I’d rather not.”Pain cracked in her throat.“Let me go.”
His fingers squeezed into her flesh, and he held her at arm’s length, turning her to face him.“Give me a second.”
“For what?”Was this the same man from the morning?She heard the pleading in her voice.Embarrassment burned up her neck, but she had to know how he could hold her hand in the parking lot but now pry her off of him when they kissed.Tears welled in her eyes.“What did I do wrong?”
“Nothing.”He held her still when she tried to pull back.“This is complicated, Grace.”
“Since when?”
“Since I thought more about it and realized that maybe we needed to talk—”
“I have talked and talked and talked.So have you, I thought.What more is there to say?You either want me or you don’t.I don’t have it in me to play games.”
“Iwould neverplay games with you.”His jaw ticked.“It’s not that simple.”
“It is—” Screw it.She pulled her shirt over her head—and forgot she had those ugly bandages all over her arms and neck.Not exactly the sexy move she’d been aiming for.But her point was the same.“Do you want me?Yes or no?”
“You are proving my damn point.”
“That’s impossible.You haven’t explained a single thing.”
“Put your shirt on, Grace.”
She shimmied her shorts down her legs.“No.”
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“Trying to find the man who almost took me to my bedroom this morning.You were just holding my hand.You’re in there somewhere.Youjust kissedme like you wanted to.So I’m not grossing you out or something.”
“You,” he stepped back, “are in a position—”
“I’m halfway naked.I can see my position.You can too.I’m being as completely upfront as I can be.What’s going on?”
“You’re vulnerable.”
“Yeah, I am.I’ve stripped nearly naked in front of the guy I’ve wanted my entire life, and he’s rejecting me.”
His lips parted, but nothing came out.
Angry tears burned the back of her throat.“I don’t know why you left the Army.I don’t know why you won’t kiss me.I don’t know anything, and I’m in my bra and underwear, begging.God.”She turned around, snatched her clothes off the floor.“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to redress in the bathroom and maybe search for my dignity before I drop dead of embarrassment.”
His warm hands covered her stomach and folded her close to the solid muscles of his torso and thighs.She gave a half-hearted elbow to his gut.He held her still and close enough that she could feel his thickening erection.She wanted to scream and didn’t know what to do.
“Listen.”He dropped his lips against the back of her head.“I am going to fuck this up, and I can’t.It would kill me.”
“You’re doing that right now.I’m throwing myself at you, and you’re saying no.”
He turned her in his arms.“I don’t want to exploit whatever—”
“Exploit me, Callum.Take advantage of me.Take my mind off everything that has happened.For God’s sake, make me forget the world.”
“I want to.”Frustration ticked in his jaw.“But we shouldn’t.I can’t.”
“I don’t believe you.You said we were honest, and I don’t believe a word coming out of your mouth right now.You never should have kissed me, you liar—”
