Free Surrounded by Secrets by Mandy Harbin

push her to the wrong side.
    But what side was right?
    Hell, he didn’t know.
    “Will you come with me while I talk to my family about this?” The words rushed out, as if he knew that was what he really wanted all along.
    She smiled brightly. “You want me there with you?”
    He leaned his forehead against hers and gently wrapped his fingers around her waist. “Yes. I want you there. I-I need you there.”
    Her sweet breath brushed against his cheek, and he bit back a groan. They’d been having sex twice a day, every day, and it still wasn’t enough. But he needed to stay focused. The comment she’d made about not being good enough to talk to really struck him, and he didn’t want her to think he wanted her only for sex.
    She moved back and stared at him warily. “And then?”
    He took a deep breath and extended his olive branch. “I promise to try to lighten up around you if you agree to keep working for my family.”
    She arched one eyebrow. “And I can come and go as I please? I won’t have to stay at your cabin and wear clothes that don’t belong to me?”
    He sighed, but nodded. He knew that was coming, and he wasn’t ready to let her go. They had too many unresolved feelings, and she was still learning how to adjust to her new way of life. But if he tried to force her hand, he’d push her away. “But if you decide to just leave and never return, I want you to talk to me. No one else. Got it?”
    She smiled at him and nodded. “Got it.”
    Well, that was a start.

Chapter Seven
     
    Lilly stepped out of the shower at her house after another long day of work with renewed motivation. Three days ago, Jack had come running to her when he’d realized she’d left, and she’d actually gotten him to compromise on their situation without any trouble. But next time she should be careful with what she was asking for. She hadn’t realized that not staying with him had meant no sex for her!
    At first she’d been relieved he wasn’t tempting her because sex would just confuse her more. She was all over the place emotionally when it came to that hottie with the body. There were moments when she wanted to strangle him, as in wrap-her-fingers-around-his-thickly-muscled-neck-and-squeeze-the-life-out-of-him-until-he-quit-breathing kill-him moments. And then there were times when she felt like squealing as if she were a love-struck teenager when she saw him. Sweaty palms? Check. Butterflies in the tummy? Check. Yeah, that just made her want to puke a little in her mouth.
    But the no sex thing? That had to come to an end.
    Okay, so she was being a little selfish. Jack did have other issues to deal with. He’d tried talking to his family the last two nights at dinner about what he’d discovered regarding his mother, but the first night, Mikaela wasn’t feeling well, so she and Josh had stayed home. Hadn’t that been just peachy?
    Without Mikaela there, that left only Krista and Ariel as the other women. One sister had been attacked by the man she . . . by Jack—she still didn’t know how to refer to him—and the other was protective of that sister, so conversations had been strained where Lillian was concerned. And then last night, Rob and Ariel had been MIA. At least Krista had been friendlier last night. And with the news quickly spreading this morning as to why Ariel and Rob hadn’t been at dinner, Lillian understood why Krista had been chipper. Ariel and Rob had mated. Apparently that was a long time coming. But because of that mating, Lillian was doubtful Jack would have an opportunity to discuss the news of his family tonight since everyone would be celebrating the lovebirds’ choice to mate.
    Jack still wanted her there, though, and like the dutiful little kitten, she’d followed. But this time, she was going to get something in return since she figured there was no way in hell Jack would bring up the family topic tonight and rain on the newly mated lovebirds’ parade. No, the evening would be short,