Desire: Love and Passion - By Lesia Reid Page 0,31
knew he had to share secrets that were best left in the dark. When she told him in the morning they were not like other people, they had their demons to guard she had basically told him without letting go, there was no future for them. But how could he bring the monsters to her? How could he let them in? He had spent years locking them away tightly, pretending they did not exist.
After breakfast, he went back upstairs to the bedroom. She was still sleeping. She was on her belly, the sheets drawn up to her neck.
He took a quick shower, dried himself then decided to wake her up.
James climbed over her still sleeping figure. He pressed up against her and kissed her neck. She stirred.
“What time is it?” she asked in a sleepy voice.
“Almost nine.”
“It’s early.”
“Not when everyone else has already had breakfast.”
He moved enough for her to turn around and lay on her back. She was looking up at his naked figure.
“I was thinking about what you said this morning,” he began. “I want to show you something. If you want to leave after, it’s okay.”
Willow was barely awake, but she could see the hurt and strain in his eyes.
“What is it?” she asked.
He moved away from her and lay on his belly so she could see his back. He heard the gasp before her fingers gently moved over the deep lacerations that had long healed but left brutal scars that modern medicine had yet to conquer.
He heard movements from her side of the bed and closed his eyes. She had called him a hero, now she knew the truth, no hero would allow himself to be so tortured. He was a monster. He held his breath fighting the urge to cry, fighting the urge to beg her to stay. Then he felt it, soft kisses, gentle caresses and that was it, she had him forever.
She prompted him and he turned to look at her.
“You don’t have to be ashamed with me,” she said in a soft voice. “You are a war hero, I expect scars.”
“I am not hero,” he said.
“You are my hero,” she replied.
She dipped her head and kissed him sweetly on the mouth. He kissed her back.
“If you ever want to talk about those years,” she said, “I’ll listen.”
“I don’t understand you,” he said. “How can you be this way with me and want so little of me?”
“Still on that bloody house?” she asked, but there was no anger in her voice.
“You haven’t seen the news in the paper as yet.”
“Forget the papers,” she said. “She’s your friend, she’s broke, homeless and has three kids. It’s in your power to help, so I would expect nothing less. One of the reasons I invited you to Dublin and the reason I’m still here is because you know when and how to do the right thing. Everyone dodged the diplomatic aid thing because of you, yet you did exactly what was supposed to be done despite the fact that you were helping old enemies. Now that I see what was done to you, you’re an even better man than I thought.”
“Move in with me,” he said.
“You don’t always live here, remember?”
“I only stay at St James Place when I’m really tired and working very late,” he said. “For you, I would be here every night.”
“You travel with everyone in this house except Henry. I would go out of my mind.”
“You’ll travel with me.”
“I have a business to run,” she said.
“I’m not going to shoot down your every excuse,” he said.
“Stop pouting,” she said and kissed him.
He pushed her away gently.
“Mad at me?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
Her left hand ran down his naked body, across his waist and he caught it.
“I’m sure,” he said.
“Okay,” she said getting up. “Then I’m going home.”
“Are you going to threaten to go home every time we have an argument?” He turned to look at her.
“No, but if I’m going to be staying an extended time here I need to get more clothes and things like my laptop, my favorite cameras, you know, the stuff I have to have.”
“Are you saying -?”
“I was saying I wanted to have sex now and then worry about packing later, but if you’re sure you are not in the mood, then -.”
He reached up and pulled her onto the bed. Now it was her turn to feign pushing him away as he pinned her under his body.
The first month living together was all about adjustments. She