“Just admit that you liked what we did this morning, Savvy, and not just the touching. You enjoyed the talking as well. We click in a lot of ways. There’s nothing wrong with liking each other or saying so out loud.”
She didn’t want this. She wanted to be mad, upset, disgusted. That protected her from the games he was obviously playing. She’d lived through enough misery in her youth, and as God was her witness, she’d never be vulnerable again.
“If I listen to what you have to say, will you leave me alone?” she asked with a huff.
“I might agree to that,” he said.
“Fine. Then speak. I’m all ears,” she told him, only a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“Good, Savvy. I’m glad you’re finally being reasonable.”
Now, she was going to explode. “Reasonable? Reasonable? You are the most irrational and ill-bred ass I’ve ever met in my life, and that might be including my worthless father.”
“You’re so cute when you’re mad, Savvy, doll. We had a good time this morning. I’m man enough to admit that I want you more than I want my next breath. We’ve already tested the water, so why not get to the finish line? We’re both adults, consenting adults, and we’re not hurting anyone by getting into a relationship.”
“We’re hurting your fiancée, Ashton.” She kept herself from screaming, but just barely.
He brushed his hand in the air as if Kalli were no more than a gnat he was soon going to squash. If Savvy got into any sort of relationship with him, she would soon be the woman he was swatting away. No way! No how!
“It’s over except for the Dear Jane letter, Savvy. You know that.”
“I’m delighted, Ash. Forgive me for what I said before. You’re clearly the soul of reason.” Did she sound a bit ironic? “ But I think I’ll pass on the relationship.”
“Why?” He looked confused, but men weren’t known for reasoning ability.
“I’ve already told you why, but since you don’t seem to be listening to me, something you’re very versed in not doing, I’ll add that as a reason as well. I would never enter into a relationship with someone who doesn’t know how to listen to what I need and want — who doesn’t actually hear a word I’m saying.”
“I listen,” he spluttered. “I just don’t like what you’ve been saying so far.”
“I’m not going to sleep with a man because I’m the most convenient person around for him to get his jollies off with. Love the one you’re with and all that crap.”#p#分页标题#e#
“You weren’t protesting this morning, Savvy. You can’t hide how you feel when we touch. And you were on fire.”
“I believe in relationships, Ashton, not casual sex. I don’t sleep with a man for the heck of it. I have to love him first.” He could mock her all he wanted for having morals, but she wasn’t going to allow him to make her feel bad about it.
“How can you fall in love if you don’t have chemistry?” he challenged her.
“If you’re in love, you will have chemistry,” she shot back.
“It’s a really lonely road, the one you’re taking. You can have all the morals you want, but if you fight what you want, what you need, that doesn’t make for good bedfellows. It doesn’t keep you warm at night and it doesn’t soothe the ache your body feels.”
“I can soothe my own aches,” she snapped.
When those words registered, her cheeks flamed absolute crimson. No, she hadn’t bought a vibrator yet.
But he guffawed. “Trust me, doll. It’s always much better to have someone else doing the soothing than to do it on your own.”
“You know that wasn’t what I meant. I just don’t need another person in my life to make me feel okay about myself.”
“That’s good for you. But I’m not giving up. I won’t force you, Savvy, but I have a feeling you’ll come begging soon enough.”
He leaned closer to her as he whispered these last words, the added darkening of the sky the perfect backdrop to this unreal night.
He leaned in to kiss her, and she suddenly got some of her brain cells to fire in the right direction. When she brought her hand up to deflect him in the nick of time, Ashton wasn’t taken aback. He kissed her palm, which still felt good, but at least he didn’t make contact with her lips.
This time when she tugged against him, he released her. Smart man. Her next gouge of the nails was going to end up in a place that he wouldn’t like at all.
“I’m going now, Ashton. Maybe if you ever learn how to listen to what I’m actually saying, I will take seriously, or somewhat seriously, what you’re spouting off. Until then, don’t bother talking to me.”