The Virgin’s Guide to Misbehaving (Bluebonnet #4)(46)
Author: Jessica Clare

It was cold. It was also getting his jeans soaked, but he didn’t complain. The sheer joy in Elise’s face was lovely to see. She was gorgeous in the moonlight, letting the water run over her toes and gazing out at the open ocean. “This is beautiful,” she murmured, then looked over at him and smiled.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, and it was the truth. He couldn’t look away from her. She was so gorgeous and alive that it made his chest ache with want. She was better than he deserved. For a brief moment, he resented that he’d have to give her up after this weekend, but he pushed the thought away. At least he’d have her for this long.

Her face softened and she gave him another shy smile, then glanced out at the water. “It really hurt me, you know. When you didn’t call me all week.”

“I’m an ass**le,” he told her. It was the truth. “I never wanted you to think it was your fault, though. It’s all me.” Me, and your brother warning me away. But he wouldn’t ruin her relationship with her brother. He was just doing what he thought was best for his sister. Rome couldn’t hate that.

“Of course I thought it was me,” she said, giving him a wounded look that let him realize just how deeply she’d been hurt. “What was I supposed to think? You said you’d call me and then you just started ignoring me. And since I don’t have a lot of experience . . .” Her words trailed off.

He knew what she meant, though. Since I’m the one no one’s wanted up until now, of course I thought it was me. Rome’s heart ached. He hated that he’d caused her one minute of pain. “It wasn’t you,” he repeated again. “I wish I could make you understand it. I just had some stuff I had to sort through, and I wasn’t sure I could bring you into it.”

She gave him a soft, sympathetic look and squeezed his hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Your brother figured out that I’m trash and warned me off. “I can’t. At least, not yet.”

“Is that why we’re running away this weekend?” She looked over at him, her hair whipping about her face. “You needed to get away?”

“Partially,” he admitted. It was the truth. He did need to get away from everything. Suddenly being in Bluebonnet was too stressful. Being around her, wanting her, and having to avoid her without telling her why he couldn’t talk to her anymore? It seemed too painful to f**king deal with anymore.

So he wouldn’t. If he was the thing that kept messing up this equation, he’d simply take himself out of it. No more Rome in Bluebonnet, no more problems.

“You still shouldn’t have shut me out,” she said softly, and her hand squeezed his again as she waded in the ankle-deep waves. “You can talk to me. I’m a good listener.”

She was a great listener, actually. He just couldn’t tell her what was bothering him without losing her. “I know.”

Elise paused. She looked at him patiently, clearly waiting for something.

Oh shit. She wanted an answer right now? Rome thought for a moment, scrambling to find something that wouldn’t ruin the weekend and would satisfy her. He stared down at the waves rushing over his feet, the cold denim of his pants legs making the evening seem chillier than it actually was. He cast about . . . and then decided to go with the truth.

“I worry that you think that I’m just using you,” he told her.

Elise’s face relaxed into a smile. “What? That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s not,” he told her, easing into the topic. This was safe territory for him. “It’s clear that you’re used to money. I’ve never had more than a couple of nickels to rub together. Combine that with the fact that you want to have sex, and how can you not think a guy like me is just out to get some and then leave?”

He choked on the words, because wasn’t that what this weekend was about? Showing Elise a good time in all ways, and then bailing out on Monday? Ah, f**k. He was a real ass**le. But better him being the ass than her family.

Her face bloomed into a gorgeous smile and she moved forward until her hands clasped around the back of his neck, and she pressed her br**sts up against his chest. “Do you really think that? When I’m the one that came on to you?”

Rome gave her a faint smile. “Well, yeah. If I was any kind of gentleman, I’d have turned you down.”

“Then I’m glad you’re not,” she said in a light voice. “Because I’m really glad you didn’t turn me down. And I think you’re a gentleman after all.”

She wouldn’t think that if she realized how hard he was at the moment. “Mm-hmm.”

“It’s true. You could have just pulled out a condom, thrown me on the bed, and had sex with me as soon as I brought it up.”

And if she’d been slightly more worldly? That wouldn’t have been a bad idea. But doing that to shy, skittish Elise without a care for her feelings and the woman underneath? The thought repulsed him.

“And you wouldn’t have had to go out with me. Or let me take your photo. You could have just nailed me and gone.” One finger traced his jaw, rasping along the stubble there. “But you didn’t. You’re different. And you’ve always seen me for me, and not a freak.”

He leaned into her touch, hypnotized by it. “That’s what I don’t get, Elise. You say you’re a freak, but I’ve seen your cheek. It’s not that bad—”

“It’s not, now,” she agreed. “But it was for a long, long time. And there were . . . other things. I’ve never had much confidence.” Her fingers brushed over his chin, and then crept across his lips. “But when I’m with you, I feel bold. And pretty. And wanted.”

“That’s because you are,” he told her. “You’re all of those things.”

The smile on her face was beautiful, even though she gave a little headshake. “I’ll show you what I mean, but later.”

“When we make love?” he guessed.

She nodded, ducking her head shyly again.

“Exactly how much later?” he asked in a low voice. His free hand went to her h*ps and he dragged her against his body, letting her feel his erection. “Because it’s getting hard for me to walk.”

Elise gave him a sultry look, and her hand went to the front of his pants. She glanced around at the beach, but it was empty. Then she gave him another wicked look. “Can I give you a hand job here on the beach?”