Page 90 of Far From Sherwood Forest

“I’m sorry too, Robin.” His voice is raw as he lifts his head to look into my eyes. His nose is a little red, his eyes a little puffy, but the tears have dried on his cheeks. “I didn’t say it before, but Iamsorry for killing your father.”

I wish he didn’t feel the need to apologize, not right now, not after all of this. But I think a part of me needed it.

“I’m sorry for killing your cousin,” I say since we seem to be trading apologies.

Henry tilts his head, his frown deepening and his eyes glistening with more tears that threaten to fall. “We really have hurt each other, haven’t we?”

I nod and take a breath that shudders between us. “We’re done, though, right?”

Sitting up a little more, he places his hand on the side of my neck, his gaze consuming me. “We’re done.”

He kisses me, and it’s the softest he’s ever touched me, more like a brush of lips.

Without pulling away, his mouth a breath from mine, his whispered words tremble against my lips. “Will you fuck me?”

I barely keep myself from jerking my head back, still feelingas though any sudden movements would spook him and ruin this. Instead, I move slowly, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I need you, Robin.”

“I’m yours, Henry.”

I’m not going to fuck him. I’m going to make goddamn love to him.

“I’m yours, Henry.”

Yes, he fucking is.

Especially now that I’ve bared my heart and soul to him. He swore to me last night that he’ll never let me be alone again, but I don’t think I could even give him that choice. Not now.

Once it all started coming out, it wouldn’t fucking stop. As much as I’d like to blame the alcohol, I was already battling a desire to share everything with him. The beer acted as little more than the dose of liquid courage I needed to finally do it, to finally rip my bleeding heart from my chest and give it to him.

I gave him my heart, and now I want to give him my fucking soul.

With my hand that’s still gripping onto the coat he wears, I tug at it, barely resisting the urge to rip it off him because I’m tired of smelling John’s scent on him.

“Take this off.” My voice is still scratchy and raw, but it’s even deeper as the command comes out as a growl. “I don’t like you wearing another man’s clothes.”

He grins but does what I say, removing the jacket and tossing it away.

Feeling better, I dip my hand beneath the hem of his shirt, my fingertips lightly brushing over the dusting of hair that leads behind his jeans, causing him to shiver.

“I got tested again,” I tell him. “Still negative.”

“You did that for me?”

I don’t like most people, and doctors are my least favorite of them all. And their cold, sterile offices are one of my least favoriteplaces. But it turns out I’d do just about anything so Robin feels safe.

Fine. Iwoulddo anything.

“It wasn’t entirely unselfish,” I admit. “I want to feel you, Robin. With nothing between us. But if you still don’t feel comfortable with it—”

He presses his mouth to mine, and I momentarily give myself over to the soft touch of his lips and the warmth of his breath. Somehow, I manage to snap back to my senses and pull away, glaring.

“Did you just shut me up?”

He bites his bottom lip as I catch a glimmer in his eyes. “I thought we were trading roles tonight.”