“I won’t be the guy who takes advantage of a woman who works under my roof,” he says roughly. “I won’t be the reason you regret something.”
“I wouldn’t regret you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
He shakes his head once, like he’s arguing with himself more than me.
“This stops,” he says, though his voice lacks conviction. “Before it turns into something neither of us can walk back from.”
His fingers trail down my arm as he steps away, the touch light but scorching.
“I’ll take a shower upstairs,” he mutters, already turning toward the door.
“Sawyer.”
He pauses.
Doesn’t look at me.
“If you’re trying to protect me,” I say softly, “you’re going about it the wrong way.”
He still doesn’t turn.
“Goodnight, Tessa.”
And then he’s gone.
The bathroom feels colder without him.
I stand there, soaked and shaking, staring at the doorway like he might reappear.
My lips still tingle even though he never touched them.
My skin hums where his hands rested.
I drag a breath into my lungs and glance at my reflection in the fogged mirror. Flushed cheeks. Dilated pupils. Desire written all over my face.
He thinks he’d ruin me.
The truth?
If he doesn’t stop holding back soon, this back-and-forth, this push-and-pull, is going to unravel me completely.
I shut off the light and step into the hallway, the sound of the shower starting up downstairs drifting faintly through the vents. Frustration vibrates in my veins. I suck in a deep breath, the urge to cry threatening to overwhelm my system.
He’s probably right when he says if I knew what’s good for me I’d leave Devil’s Peak and never look back. For the first time I wonder if maybe leaving would be the safest way forward for all of us, even if it would kill me to do it.
My entire body aches with wanting him. I’m distracted and flustered and confused with the push and pull between us.
If he doesn’t ruin me soon, I might combust first.
Chapter 11
Sawyer
Iknow something’s wrong after my shift the next evening before I even open the door.
