Ronnie stumbled into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. She closed the lid on the toilet and slumped down onto it, resting her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. She fought to hold back the tears as she heard Diego knock on the door.
"Go away," she replied to the knock.
"Ronnie, please. Talk to me." Diego kept his tone light.
"What's there to talk about?"
"Obviously, something is upsetting you. If it is me, I would like to try and rectify the situation."
Silence...
Diego sighed heavily, turned and headed into the bedroom. He opened a drawer in one of the end tables and pulled out a box of matches. Striking one on the surface of the box, he began lighting the candles he'd placed around the room earlier. Once the final candle illuminated the room in soft light, he shook out the match and dropped it in the small wastebasket near the dressing table.
He walked to the bed and pulled back the covers then pulled the sheer curtains down from their fasteners. He moved toward the entertainment center built into the wall and turned on the TV. Manually flipping through the channels, he found a digital music station playing easy listening tunes from the seventies and eighties. He'd always been a big fan of those decades and he smiled as he briefly listened to the song flowing from the speakers.
He turned the volume down then headed back toward the bathroom and knocked again. Ronnie didn't answer so he waited then knocked again. He smiled when he heard the snick of the lock and the door opened.
"Are you all right?" he asked, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms.
"I'm fine." She wiped at the tears on her cheeks and brushed past him, ignoring the fact that they were both still practically naked. She inhaled his scent as she moved past him, fighting her own urge to throw caution to the wind and attack him where he stood.
Instead, she crossed the room to the kitchen and set out to make a fresh pot of coffee. She held the shirt she wore closed with one hand then turned to face him.
"The keys for the boat are hanging on the hook by the door."
Diego began walking slowly toward her. "I am not going anywhere tonight."
"Diego, please—"
He stopped and clenched his fists at his sides. He could tell from the look in her eyes that she'd been hurt in the past, probably by a younger man, judging her reaction to him after he'd told her his age.
"I am not him," he said quietly.
Ronnie locked eyes with him. Her look changed from hurt to anger. "What did you just say?"
"I said, I am not him."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Diego took another step toward her. "Whoever it was who hurt you, Ronnie, I am not him."
"You don't know what you're talking about, Diego."
"Don't I?" He took another step.
"Please don't come any closer." She cursed herself silently for the husky sound of her voice. She wanted him to come closer. She wanted him to back her against the counter and fuck her for everything she was worth.
Diego ignored her request and closed the gap between them. He cupped her face in his hands and claimed her lips in a tender kiss. Breaking the kiss, he pressed his forehead against hers and gazed into her beautiful eyes.
"I will not hurt you, Ronnie. You must realize that by now."
"I—I—it's not that."
"Then what is it? Why did you run from me?" He took a step back but kept his gaze fixed on hers.
"I'm scared," she whispered.
"Of what?"
"Of you. Of what we just did. Of how I feel about you."
"Why are you scared?"
"Why?" she asked. He nodded. "Because I just met you a few hours ago. I don't normally have sex with men I've just met, Diego." She moved to the side and away from him. His close proximity was making it hard for her to think clearly. "That added to the fact I came here to be alone, not start up a fling with a man fifteen years younger than me."
Diego didn't respond. Instead, he took her hand and led her to the bedroom. Ronnie gasped when she entered and saw all the candles lit and the bed covers turned down. She pulled her hand from his and shot him a glare.
"I am not having sex with you again!" she snapped, pulling the shirt closed again when his gaze roamed lower. |
