The King (Gentlemen Rogues 2)

“Yes, I left. I had to. I couldn't stay."

“Wow." He looked dumbfounded as he stared at me.

"What? No one's ever left you before?"

He opened his mouth and then shut it abruptly. "That's not the point."

“I think it is the point. You were used to being a playboy."

“Fine, I was. But you left me?"

“I couldn't stay. It would have gotten very complicated trying to explain why armed men were at your door threatening to break it down because I’d missed reporting back to campus on time."

"All right, fair enough."

"So I came back to Rogues and didn't think I’d ever see you again. Fast forward three months, and there you were. I had a bit of panic. I hadn't even thought to guard what I said. Then I realized you didn’t remember me. So that was … easier. I didn't have to explain anything to anyone."

“You could have said something."

“I could have, but we already covered that, Lock."

"Shit. You’ve got to give me a minute, because this is hard."

“I recognize that. But you asked. You told me to tell you. So I’m telling you."

"I just don't know what I’m supposed to do with this information."

"Well then, don't ask for it. That was what happened. It wasn't some nefarious thing. I wasn't hiding from you. I didn't deliberately not tell you just to fuck with you. I just couldn't tell you, so I didn't. But in the Winston Isles, you started to remember after we kissed, didn't you?"

He lifted his gaze to mine and nodded. “Yeah."

“I thought so."

His eyes narrowed, and his voice pitched low. “I remembered how you tasted. And that sound you make in the back of your throat when you’re having fun."

My belly flipped and my brain was quick to hop on that.

Nope, we are not doing this. You cannot.

"I had an inkling. I thought maybe we just hooked up at a party or something. But that night after Igno’s party, that's when I knew."

I licked my lips nervously. "It had been months and you hadn't figured it out, so I thought maybe those memories were gone forever."

His voice went gravelly and seductive. "Maybe I just needed a stronger memory to pull it out."

“I'm sorry, Lock. Sorry it hurt. Sorry you thought that I was capable of lying to you. If I had been part of your bag and tag, I never would have slept with you."

For a long moment we sat and stared at each other, and everything that happened between us hung in the air. Lock reached out and touched my hand. "Now that I know, I’m sorry that's how it went down."

"What do you mean ?"

"The islands, I wish that's not how I remembered. I’ve had a million memories of you for weeks. Little things that cemented to my soul.”

"We were between a rock and a hard place."

His lips quirked, and I could see the smile he was trying to hold in.

"Oh, come on, really?"