“Gotta deal with the rubber.” He rolled out of bed and went into his bathroom. Staring at himself in the mirror, he realized he was an asshole. Telling her how he felt was selfish and not what she wanted from him. So, he’d shut his mouth and take what she had to give.

He’d trained for the Olympics, for Christ’s sake. He knew all about discipline. He could keep his feelings in check and just enjoying fucking her.

He cleaned up, brushed his teeth, and when he came back to bed, he found Rosie lying there awkwardly, sheet pulled up to her collarbone. “Hey.” She looked completely freaked out, but he checked the impulse to curl up next to her and reassure her. “You good?”

“I don’t know if I’m supposed to stay or go back to my room. I don’t want to make this uncomfortable, but I figured I should ask instead of being gone when you got back out here.”

He loved her honesty. The way she put herself out there, opening her heart and laying it all on the line. “You do whatever you want. I’m up at five to go running with my brothers, so wherever you’ll sleep best.”

“Oh, okay. Sure. That makes it easy.” Sitting up, she gave a little laugh. “Wish I’d taken off my clothes in here so I wouldn’t have to make the quarter-mile walk of shame.”

It was a long hallway, and he didn’t want her to be self-conscious, so he pulled a clean T-shirt out of his dresser. “No shame. I had a great night.”

She relaxed then, throwing off the covers and unfolding the shirt. She slid it over her head. “It was so good. I’ve never…well, you know.”

Yeah, she was still uncomfortable. “I know. Glad you could let loose with me.” All he needed to do was walk over there, wrap his arms around her and say, “Now, get back into bed,” and she’d curl up against him and…he could take a full breath again. He knew he’d have the best sleep of his life.

She stood, and the shirt fell to the middle of her thighs. “I just hope I haven’t ruined our working relationship.”

It shouldn’t have pinched, but it did. “Hell, if anything you’ve improved it.”

Her smile faltered, dimmed, then went out completely. “Okay, well. Goodnight.”

“’Night.” He watched her go, felt the tug like a cord wrapped around his heart, squeezing tighter with each step.

Stay with me.

At the door, she turned, smiling shyly at him. “I like you Brodie. And I really like having sex with you.”

He chuckled, even though his heart cracked and splintered. He’d never met anyone like her, and he knew down to his bones he never would again.

So, it fucking killed him to watch her walk out his bedroom door.

Chapter Sixteen