Free Do You Trust Me? by Desconhecido(a)

he looked around at the rambling, adobe ranch style house. “Not
bad.”
    The one time he’d
visited her she’d still been in her condo. Now she tried to see this new home
through his eyes. Hardwood floors gleamed in the slanting sunlight and fabrics
of soft colors covered the furniture. Wide windows opened the house to bright
light that swept over the artifacts displayed everywhere. It was a reflection
of her personality. If he didn’t like it, that was his problem.
    Meanwhile, she had
other things on her mind. Like finding out just what John had been involved in
and exactly how she was supposed to figure out who to give the locket to. Because
John sure didn’t explain a hell of a lot. Maybe if she had more information...
    Surely John didn’t
expect her to wait around indefinitely for someone to give some kind of signal.
    “Exactly how long do you
plan to stay here?” she asked McCall. Conflict raged inside her. She wanted him
gone. No. She wanted him to stay.
    This is making me
crazy.
    McCall studied her
for the space of two heartbeats. “For as long as it takes. Hopefully before the
worst case scenario plays itself out.”
    “I’m going to take a
shower and change.” She started up the stairs. “You can pick whichever one of
the guest rooms pleases you.”
    He closed a hand on
her arm, stopping her on the second step. “I said we needed to talk when we got
here. We should do it now.”
    “About what?” Her fingers
tightened on the banister as she swallowed back her edginess.
    “All right. Do you
want to come into the kitchen? I’ll put on some coffee.”
    “I’m coffee’d out,
but I could use something cold.”
    “Fine.”
    Rina poured orange
juice for both of them, then sat down at the kitchen table across from him. She
waited, knots twisting in her stomach while he took off his sunglasses and
brushed his hair back from his face, obviously choosing his words carefully.
    “This is not an easy
conversation for me, Rina.” He watched her face as he spoke.
    “That already sounds
like I’m not going to like it.” Rina sipped her juice, watching him over the
rim of the glass.
    “I just want to lay
it all out on the table so there’s no misunderstanding here. So you have one
last chance to say, ‘thanks, but no thanks.’” His voice was flat and
uninflected.
    “Correct me if I’m
wrong, but I thought last night we were...developing something. I thought we
were going to talk about how we could make this work.” She clenched her fists
in her lap. “Silly me.”
    “Listen to me.” He
fiddled with his glass. “There’s no way we can get around what’s happening
between us. Believe me, I’d give everything if we could. Not because of you but
because of me. Of what I am. Despite last night, despite your willingness to
try...whatever I want, I can only be trouble for you. You deserve more than I
can give you, but I’m warning you. If you don’t shut it down now, I’ll take
everything you’ve got.”
    She stiffened her
spine. “You asked me to trust you. I thought that meant we could try to work
things out. See where this goes.” She tucked her hair behind one ear. She hated
the telling blush creeping up her cheeks as memories of the erotic things they’d
done slammed into her. “You can’t take what I’m not willing to give. It’s my
choice, too, McCall.”
    His mouth tightened. “You
think I didn’t like what we did? That I don’t want more? How many times do I
have to tell you? It’s not you, Rina, it’s me. When I said I was poison, I
meant it.” He took a careful swallow of his drink and set it down slowly. “I
have so much baggage I need a truck to haul it around. And despite your
willingness to...experiment with me, I worry that ultimately, it will be too
much for you. That I’ll be too much for you. That you won’t be able to deal
with the shields I have to put up during the day.”
    “I’m not a child,
McCall.” Her fists were so tight her nails dug into her palms.