My head spins.
Fuck.
Fable
I stand on my tiptoes and reach the top of the door frame, finding one of those skeleton keys that’ll open any lock. Grabbing it, I jam the thin piece of metal into the lock and turn, thankful when it clicks over with ease.
Maybe I shouldn’t do this. Invade Drew’s privacy when he’s clearly shutting me out. But the way he reacted scared me so bad, and filled me with worry, too, I knew I had to go after him and make sure everything’s okay. His expression had been so full of despair when he pulled away from me, I’m not sure what set him off.
I’m scared to discover what’s wrong but I have to do this. For Drew.
When I open the door, I see he’s standing in the middle of the room completely naked and for a moment, I’m stunned. His body is beautiful, a masculine work of art. Broad shoulders, smooth back with fluid muscles, and a butt that looks as firm as steel. My whole body aches to feel him moving against me, with me, but I know that’s not what he needs right now.
“Drew,” I whisper, my voice breaking almost as much as my heart.
He whirls around, pain and humiliation written all over his face. “You should go.”
“Let me help you.” I start to approach him but he shakes his head.
“Go, Fable. I don’t want you to see me like this.” He hangs his head and my gaze drops to his lower body. He’s erect, hugely erect, and I don’t know what happened to ruin what was going to be an undoubtedly beautiful moment between us, but there’s nothing I can do about it now.
“You can’t push me away.” I know that’s what he’s doing. What he’s used to. I refuse to let him do it to me, too. I’m going to stand my ground and really help him.
I want to stick.
“You don’t want me,” he whispers, his voice harsh. “Not like this. I can’t…you don’t want to deal with me when I’m like this.”
“Please, Drew.” I’m begging and I don’t care. I never do this. I don’t grovel; I try my best to keep it together. But seeing him like this, he scares the hell out of me. I don’t want to leave him alone and I don’t want him to push me away. I feel like at this very moment, I’m all he has. “Tell me what I can do.”
“You can leave.” He turns away from me and I sprint toward him, grabbing his forearm and preventing him from going any farther.
“No.” Our gazes clash and I stand my ground, eventhough I know I must look ridiculous, half-dressed and drenched from the rain. “I’m not leaving.”
His eyes drop to my still-bare chest and linger there. My nipples tighten from his blatant examination and I sway toward him as if I can’t help myself. My body betrays me even though I try my best to pretend he doesn’t affect me. What’s happening between us isn’t about sex right now. Drew needs my comfort. My acceptance.
“You’re shivering,” he murmurs, reaching out to grab a wet strand of hair. He rubs it between his fingers, his gaze still locked on my chest. “You need to change out of those wet clothes.”
It’s like he’s slowly coming back to me, coming back from that dark, desolate spot where he retreated. His expression is lighter, his eyes aren’t so wide and full of terror. His voice has returned to normal and he’s not shaking so badly.
I’m not sure what he wants from me but whatever it is, I’m willing to give it.
Completely.
Chapter 10
Day 4, 9:49 p.m.
Love’s tendrils round the heart doth twine, as round the oak doth cling the vine.
—Ardelia Cotton Barton
Drew
We’re in my bed, Fable wrapped all around me, the two of us completely naked yet not touching in any sort of sexual way beyond being plastered together. We fell asleep like this. She’s still asleep, though I’ve been lying here wide awake for at least an hour, my mind racing with the possibilities having her in my arms offered.
She refused to budge after I had a complete breakdown and tried my hardest to push her away. I had to admire her for that, no matter how much I didn’t want her there during such a humiliating moment. Seeing me like that, allbroken and dizzy and so screwed up, I must’ve looked like an idiot to her. At the very least, a big ol’ pussy who can’t handle anything sexual—shit, the rumors she could start with that knowledge alone would ruin me forever.
But she didn’t bat an eyelash. Just continued to talk to me in that calm, sweet voice of hers until I had no choice but to give in. She then shoved me into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin, completely immodest without her top on, leaving me mesmerized by the sight of her bare breasts as she bent over me and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
