“Hey,” he said. “Sit back down. Please.”
“I can’t do this,” I said.
“Do what? We’re not doing anything. Don’t be afraid.”
But I was afraid. I was afraid of the feelings he stirred within me. Feelings I had suppressed for far too long. Feelings so long buried that I’d foolishly believed they’d never surface again. I had learned to keep myself under the radar, to keep myself from being attractive to men by my clothing, hair, and makeup choices. Yes, some men had come on to me in the past despite my precautions. Up until now, I had never met a man I wasn’t strong enough to resist. But Ryan Steel?
No woman had that much willpower.
“I’m sorry.” I turned and walked briskly away.
When I heard him follow me, I began to run. He’d never keep up with me running in sand. Not in those black dress pants. And I doubted he was as used to running as I was. I did sprints for fun. No, he’d never catch me.
But he did.
I screamed when he grabbed my arm.
“Shh.” He turned me around to face him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to run from me. I won’t hurt you.”
“You already have,” I said.
He touched my cheek again, and again heat coursed through my veins. His touch felt good. It felt…right.
“I’m sorry. It’s just… You look so beautiful in the moonlight. Your lips are so soft, glistening.” He grinned. “So I’m sorry. Not for kissing you. But for frightening you.”
“You must think I’m naïve.”
“Maybe in a way. But I think in other ways you’re far from innocent.”
He had that right.
He continued, “I think you’ve seen things that no one should have to see, Ruby. And I’m sorry about that.”
“I’ve been through nothing compared to what your brother has.” My words were true. I had escaped my father. Barely, but I had. I’d worn a few bruises and scratches, but I had escaped his molestation.
I hadn’t let a man touch me since.
I hadn’t thought I’d ever want to.
But as I looked into Ryan Steel’s brown eyes, his dark hair a mess, the tail of his shirt flapping lightly in the soft midnight breeze, his muscled chest and abdomen apparent underneath the soft cotton…
I wanted to be touched.
And that scared the hell out of me.
I pulled away from him. “I can’t do this.”
“You’re not doing anything. We’re just standing here.”
“You…kissed me.”
“I did. And were you serious when you said no one had ever kissed you before?”
Thank God for the darkness. My cheeks were burning so hot that I knew they were bright red.
“That isn’t any of your business.”
“Fair enough.” He let go of my arm. “Walk with me?”