“You’ve been lovely to me.” He’d been super affectionate and ithadn’t gone unnoticed by her. But right now, she wanted somethingmore. “What I want, is to hug you, Crispin. Just for a moment. Justone small hug.” Slowly, he drew away and the look of betrayal hegave her caused a wince in her heart. She nearly changed her mind.The last thing she wanted was to hurt him. Obviously, her hugginghim was a terrible thing to endure. “Aww… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…We don’t have to…”
“No. A promise is a promise.” As much as it pained him, hewouldn’t go back on his word. Surely, he’d survive one harmless,meaningless hug.
“Maybe I shouldn’t.” She hesitated. This felt wrong, all of asudden, like she was making do something against his will. Afterall their talk of trust, she didn’t want to be the one to breakit.
“Just do it…” he gritted through a clenched jaw. Of all thingsshe could have asked him for, why did she want the one thing hedreaded the most? Why not just kill him quickly instead of goingfor the jugular and strangling him to a slow painful death? Rollinghis eyes at his own melodrama, he steeled himself to thetask.
“I don’t want…” she started to protest.
“Hurry up, before I change my mind.” Just to make it easier, heleaned into her ever so subtly, resting his hands on either side ofher head, his face hidden into her neck. He closed his eyes inwaiting and fought hard against feeling… anything.
With tremblinghands, Gwen slowly wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He wasultra-tense and as stiff as a board and she almost stopped herself.But when she gently ran her fingers over his smooth warm skin, shefelt him sigh, a sigh bordering on a sob and it broke her heart. Itwas all she could take before tugging him in tight and smoothingher hand over his wavy hair. For the briefest of moments, heresisted, but then he hugged her back so fiercely, so tightly, italmost hurt. Before she might complain, not that she would dream ofit, he released her, spun away from her, and faced the wall.
“Why does it pain you so?” she asked him after a few seconds ofsilently staring at his back. Her fingers itched to comfort him,but she wouldn’t dare. She didn’t want to push her luck.
“I’m tired, Gwen. We’ve had a long day. Go to sleep.” Was allhe said in response.
“Good night, Crispin,” she pressed a kiss to his shoulderbefore turning away, allowing him his space. But before she driftedoff to sleep, she promised herself one thing. Tomorrow, before theday was done, she was going to find out everything she could abouther mysterious travel companion.
Chapter 22
The nextmorning, Gwen woke up to the sound of the shower running. With alanguid smile, she turned on her side and figured she would staythere until Crispin was done. In her sleepy state of mind, shethought back to the night before. The tender ache between herthighs served only to remind her of the incredible sex she hadexperienced. Never before had she felt so connected to anotherperson, or such intensity during the act.
The few sexualexperiences she’d had in the past, she had always felt more like avoyeur than an actual participant. Each time would start out greatbut somewhere in the middle, her mind would often wander. Heranxieties would then creep in and take over. She had often beenaccused of appearing bored. That didn’t always go over well withthe fragile male ego. Yet another reason, her relationships neverlasted. At the time, she had blamed herself. Now, she couldn’t helpbut wonder if being with the right person made all the difference.And if so, what did that say about her relationship withCrispin?
Was it just acase of pure physical attraction and lust? Gwen was not naïve ordeluded enough to deny the very real possibility of this being acase of pure animal magnetism. After all, he was the embodiment ofthe perfect male specimen in her opinion. But she also couldn’t letgo of the idea that it went beyond the purely physical. Was itbecause he sparked her intellect? He was smart, educated andwell-spoken for a young twenty-something male. He did have thatold-world charm she found so fascinating. Was it because hereminded her of her favourite book boyfriends like he hadsuspected?
Or, betteryet, could she have actually found her soulmate?
Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Shecertainly felt stronger about him than any other of her pastboyfriends… boyfriend… Could Crispin become her boyfriend? Would he want tobe? Oh, wouldn’t that beawesome?
The more she lay there, the more her mind filled with endlesspossibilities of what might come of this unique arrangement oftheirs. Sadly, it wasn’t long before a heavy dose of reality andself-doubt kicked in. Surely, he was only making the best of thissituation. After all, she had indeed hijacked his vacation. Andhe had suggestedthat this was just a trade-off of sorts.
Yet… he’d beenso sweet to her. Dare she say… loving? Oh, dear lord, she waslosing her mind. Worse yet, she was quite sure her heart wasn’t farbehind.
Suddenly shewas wide awake and couldn’t get her mind off Crispin and theirtryst from the night before. Being with Crispin was unlike anythingshe could have imagined and his quirky bedroom eccentrics only madehim hotter. It wasn’t long before the dull ache between her thighsturned to a newly sparked tingle, a tingle that refused to beignored.
Dare she? Unable to resist, despiteher fear of rejection due to Crispin’s unpredictability whereaffection was concerned, she padded her way into the tiny bathroomand hesitated just inside the door. Watching him through the gauzyshower curtain, the pesky tingle between her thighs turned into apainful throb. The man was everything she had ever fantasized aboutand more. After a second or two, she almost felt bad for staring.He had his back to her and she was reminded of his less thanreceptive reaction to her hug last night. She was about to leavethe room when his voice stilled her.
“Wanna join me or are you just gonna stand there, staring at myass?” Speaking over his shoulder, he startled
