He felt too much of a kinship with her to even consider starting anything that might hurt her again.
Damn. Now he’d need something to pass the time.
“Let’s play something else.” He gestured to the cards.
* * *
Savanna put a card down on the table and watched Korbin. His questions earlier should have made her feel interrogated, picked apart, but she’d sensed his need to know. Why had he? Their chemistry had him as ruffled as her. He’d surely had women who’d tried to tempt him before, but Savanna had tempted him. She felt it in his kiss. Now he was backing off.
Wasn’t she? Savanna didn’t see herself getting serious over someone any time soon. Isn’t that how he was? It struck her as sad. And then...necessary. For both of them. She began to wonder, though. Was he ruined for any other woman? Was she ruined for other men?
“What?” he asked.
Realizing she was staring at him, she sent her attention back to the game. “Nothing.”
“You cocked your head at me.”
“I did?” She played another card.
“What were you thinking?” he pressed.
She watched him play a card and then decided to forge ahead. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
He chuckled. “It’s my turn.”
He had asked her some personal questions, too. She smiled. “I was just wondering how many women you’ve been with.”
He leaned back on his chair, perplexed. “Been with? As in...” He twirled his finger to indicate she wasn’t sure what. Whoopee?
“Yeah. Since your wife died.” She played her turn.
“I didn’t sleep with anyone,” he said.
She should be happy to hear that. Instead, that revelation bred anxiety. His loyalty to his wife was impenetrable. Whether he remained faithful even after her death out of love or guilt, his honor was intact. What woman would earn a worthy place in his heart? It seemed an impossible feat. He wasn’t ready to love again. She’d seen it in him many times. The guilt after he kissed her.
How many affirmations did she need before she stopped toying with him? Toying with the possibility of sleeping with him? Or more. How could she be certain anything would develop from that? His devotion to his wife would prevent him from letting a night of passion build into anything more than that. A night of passion.
There was no denying they had passion. But what about love? Did she have it in her to take that kind of gamble again? And did their passion hold that much of a promise? It felt that way to her, but what about him?
“I should learn from you,” she muttered.
“What was that?”
He hadn’t heard her.
“Never mind.” She wished she hadn’t said anything.
“No, tell me.”
“I said I should learn from you. The way you abstain.”
“Are you saying you’re easy?” He teased, but this was a major topic for both of them.