“Yes, the deal we made was for one night. That plan went out the window the moment I sank into your sweet welcoming body last night. You weren’t just some lay, Shannon. You could never be just that. Do you honestly not feel it? This thing simmering between us…it’s real, Shannon. It’s fucking real.”
She shook her head. “Crash, stop.”
“Something’s happening between us. At least have the guts to admit that.” She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he held tight. “We’re gonna have this conversation.”
“You won the fight. We slept together. That’s all there was to it.”
“Bullshit. You wanted me as much as I wanted you. I felt it. I goddamn felt it.”
“So I wanted to sleep with you. I got what I wanted.” She shrugged. “Don’t make such a big deal out of it.”
“And that’s all you wanted? Sex?” She looked at him, her eyes glazing with tears, and he knew. “I’m not gonna let you pull this bullshit again, Princess.”
“Pull what? I’m not pulling anything, Crash,” she insisted.
“Yeah. You are. You think I don’t see what you’re doing? Walls. Fuckin’ walls. Always throwing up walls between us.” He shook his head. “Not happening, sweetheart. Not this time. I worked too hard to tear ‘em all down to stand here and let you build ‘em right back up.”
She pulled out of his hold, turning away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
She shook her head, her back to him.
“You can deny it all you want, but I’m gonna wear you down. And do you know why? Because I know you, Shannon. And what’s more I understand you. Obviously, better than you do.”
“No, I-”
He pulled her around. “Look at me. You and me? Last night? You finally let me in. Don’t push me away again.” She just stared up at him, and he could see the fear in her eyes. “Baby, what is it? What are you afraid of? That I’ll jerk you around? That you’re just another fuck?”
She stared at him a long time before admitting with a nod that he’d hit the nail on the head.
“Oh, Princess. C’mere.” He pulled her into his arms, his hand cradling the back of her head. “Never. Never, baby.”
She held him, her hands going around his waist.
He held her a long time until she finally relaxed in his arms.
She shuddered out a long breath and admitted, “I have a hard time trusting, Crash.”
“No shit.”
She looked up at him and grinned. “Are your brothers still here?”
“No, baby. They’re gone.”
“That was so embarrassing.”
“Sorry about that. It won’t happen again.”
She sniffled and let out a soft laugh. “You can’t promise that.”
He smiled. “No, you’re right, I guess I can’t. But I can do something else.”
“What’s that?”
“Take you out of here for a few days. Go somewhere just the two of us.”
“Really?” She pulled back to look at him with an excited smile.