Page 78 of Rock Giant

“My hands don’t—” They were clasped around the lapels of his fleece jacket, practically holding him in position.She cautiously willed them to uncurl.

“Jodi.I think you’d better order me not to kiss you.”

“Didn’t think you were much for orders.”

“True.”He recaptured her gaze.“But I don’t want you to think I’m a dick, either.”

“You’ve a nice one, but I don’t think you are one.”What the heck was she saying to him?“Sorry.I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.I’m gonna give you the totally wrong impression.We said we were just going to be friends.We both agreed that.I should go and find Nash.”

His hold on her didn’t release, nor had she quite left hold of his clothing.

He tilted his head.

Jodi’s heart gave a kick.Don’t kiss me.Don’t kiss me.Nothing good would come of it.Nothing...“Don’t.”

The smile slid from his face.“Actually don’t, or?”

She took a shallow breath.But the only proper answer sat on her tongue unspoken.It didn’t help that he was sexy as hell and that she could remember the touch of his lips far too well.A week ago.Three years ago.The tickle of his tongue against hers.Against other places.For a moment she was back in that glass house that’d been their home for the night.He was there, licking mushroom pate off his fingers, while she drank all the tea.Him playing spoons, naming the kittens, and optimistically presenting her with a strip of condoms he’d pulled from that bag of tricks he’d brought along and calling them entertainment.

He moved her hair behind her ear.“Do you have any idea how much I want you right now?”

She didn’t dare answer.

“How much I’d like to steal your top away, not so you can model my crochet, but so that I can cover you with my hands.Just sit with you in my lap, your back to my chest, your breasts in my hands.Just holding you.”

“I think you’d get wrist ache.”Again with her stupid quips.Why couldn’t she just hold her tongue?

“It’d be worth it.You’ve the best rack I’ve ever encountered, and I’ve encountered a few.”It wasn’t a boast on his part, simply a statement.

His thumb swished against the bare skin behind her ear.

“Paul, we can’t.God, I’m sorry.I’m so sorry.For all of this.For everything.”

“Don’t be.”

“But I am.I know you must have regrets.I’m sure this isn’t what you wanted when you gave your heart away.”

“And you’d be wrong.I don’t regret anything.”

“You don’t wish you’d chosen someone else to tie yourself to?Someone prepared to love you like you deserve?Who’d happily shag you silly and doesn’t come with a prior attachment?”

“No.You’re the only person I want.I knew it in the moment, and I know it now.I’m not saying I wouldn’t mind you coming round to the idea of me shagging you silly, but I’ll never regret the vows we made.”

Her eyes were welling with tears over his words.What sort of defence was she supposed to mount against that sort of affirmation?“You’re too good for this world, Paul Reed.”

“Nah, just blindly optimistic.”He raised his free hand between them and explored her lips with his fingertips.Then, he leant in and kissed the tips of them where they still rested against her lips, before releasing her.He pushed to his feet and turned to the door.“I hear voices.We should go down.”

She followed him back through the bunk room.“Do you think they’ve found everybody?”

“Only one way to find out.Look, you go down first.It’ll spare us awkward questions.”

Them both emerging from the same bus would still raise questions, even if it was minutes apart.In fact, it’d look super shady.

“Don’t worry, I’ve a plan.Fire escape and some army crawling.”He obviously had it all mapped out in his head.“No one needs to know anything, Castle.It’s none of their fucking business, anyway.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”