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. If Serena was the perfect one, what does that make you?Julie kept walking, but the action looked involuntary.As if her legs were moving without herpermission. I think you re aware I didn t come out here with you for a heart-to-heart.Stop trying tomake this personal.We re not friends.Maybe that s the problem.Reed banished the unbidden thought as quickly as it appeared.Thisdesire to peel back her layers, to figure out what made her run like the Energizer Bunny, unnerved andconfused him. You came out here with me knowing how badly I want to be inside you.There snothing more personal than that. Jesus.Since when?She came to a stop, studied him.Her mask slipped just a little and he felt an answering tug in hischest. Fine.Tell me how you got that horrible scar on your back and I ll tell you why Serena was theperfect one.The one who never let my parents down.The one who was supposed to take over thebusiness when Daddy retired.The one who died while I was off at college planning Hawaiian-themed dances and ice cream socials.Julie s mouth snapped shut when she finished, as if she couldn t believe what she d revealed.When she turned and stomped off ahead of him, Reed quickly followed.Part of him wished for all theworld he hadn t pushed her.The other part, the greedy half, felt satisfaction over being privy to thishidden part of her.She didn t put on her Princess of Hospitality act around him, didn t hide her trueself.Later, he d try to figure out why, but right now all he could think of was taking the hauntedexpression off of her face.Unfortunately, in order to do that, he would have to reveal a part of himselfto make them even. Bar fight. Pardon? The scar.I got knifed in a bar fight when I was nineteen. She stopped and turned, meeting hiseyes hesitantly.He hadn t told anyone about the fight in a long time and suddenly the words wouldn tcome quite so easy. I, uh& had started a fight in the bar over God knows what.It spilled out into thealley.Next thing I knew there were five of them. He shrugged. They were young and stupid like me.Didn t realize what they were doing& so they left me there bleeding and ran off.Her gaze caressed his shoulder. That s an awful story. Maybe.It s also the best thing that ever happened to me. He crossed his arms over his chest. Ialmost didn t make it that night.Lost too much blood.I applied to the academy the day I was releasedfrom the hospital.If I have to die, I want there to be a purpose behind it.Julie looked at him in awe. This has to be the least romantic moonlight walk in the history ofmoonlight walks, you know that? Hate to disappoint, but I don t have a romantic bone in my body. You don t say. She sighed. I know you were trying to make me feel better and it worked. Because you like the idea of me getting stabbed? No, even I m not that bloodthirsty. She tilted her head. Because if you ll tell that terrible storyjust to make me feel better, then you re not half as bad as I thought. I m worse.She smiled, but it faded almost immediately. Reed, I appreciate what you re trying to do, but Idon t understand it either.We re& attracted to each other.I won t deny that.But I think we bothknown that is the extent of what we have in common.Let s not make this something it isn t.An odd feeling crept over him.He didn t recognize it, even though her words had a ring offamiliarity.Probably because he was usually the one to say them.To someone else.She wanted himfor sex and nothing else.He should be backing her against a tree.Instead, he felt more determinedthan ever to prove her wrong.&Julie looked up into Reed s face, confused by what she saw there.Irritation, conflict, and surprise alltook their turn passing over his hard yet intensely handsome features until she nearly got dizzy tryingto keep up.She d actually mustered the courage to follow this potty-mouthed, tattooed stab woundrecipient into the dark woods and now he refused to just put the darn moves on her already.Once hetouched her, once their mouths met, she wouldn t have any room to think.She required the distractionfrom her thoughts.Didn t want to think of all the reasons she should be tucked safely in her hotel bed,eye mask firmly in place.For one, she d never had sex for the sake of sex.Usually, basic fondness or even genuine romanticinterest was involved.How did one behave after a one-night stand? A handshake? An email addressswap?Two, she could easily be a big fat disappointment to him.She could count her partners on one handand Reed& she suspected there weren t enough hands at Beaver Creek Resort to match thatimpressive number.Third, she was starting to understand him a little and that simply couldn t happen.She didn t wantto feel anything for this man.He would chew up her good-girl butt and spit it out.Heck, he d alreadybitten her there once, hadn t he? Hard, too.Absentmindedly, she rubbed the spot on her bottom wherehe d bitten her earlier, stopping when Reed arched an eyebrow.After what seemed like ages, he finally spoke, his gruff tone startling her. Let me get this straight.You want to skip the small talk and get right to the good stuff?She raised her chin, refusing to give in to the urge to turn around and bolt for the hotel.Instead, sheinched closer. I ve been making small talk all night.I m ready for something& else.Are you the onewho s going to give it to me or not?A muscle ticked in his jaw. Normally, pixie, I wouldn t hesitate to give you a nice, thoroughpounding for challenging me like that.God knows, we both need it. He swept her head to toe in asingle hot glance. But it s not going to happen.Not tonight, at least.Her feminine pride took a nosedive. What did you haul me out here for in the middle of the night? Ithought this is what you wanted. You ve had me hard for days, baby.I want to fuck you more than I want to breathe.Scorching heat bathed her head to toe.She tried not to make it obvious when she squeezed herknees closer together.Something, anything to alleviate the ache he d initiated.But wouldn t fulfill? Itmade no sense. Then I-I fail to see the problem.I came out here with you, despite my better judgment  There. Reed jabbed a blunt finger in her direction. Despite your better judgment.Of me.That sthe problem.With a confused frown, Julie opened her mouth to question him further, but he cursed and took herarm, leading her into the wooded area, off the beaten path.Mulling over his words in silence, Juliefollowed behind him for a few minutes before he came to an abrupt stop.A few feet in front of them,what looked like a small pond was nestled among the trees.Soft light filtered through the branchesand illuminated the surface, giving it an almost ethereal look.Combined with the soft sounds of thewoods and the warm breeze sifting through the trees, the scene before her could only be described asbreathtaking.Their odd conversation forgotten for the moment, she felt Reed s gaze on her and turned. What isthis place? How did you know it was here?He shrugged, but didn t look at her. Went for a run this morning and found it.It s a hot spring [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]