Free Ropes and Revenge by Jessie Evans Page A

her gorgeous mouth.
    It was a mouth that deserved a poem or a love song, something beautiful created just for it. Just for her. But Cole was the one who memorized poems, Bubba was the one with music inside of him, and John didn’t know if he would ever be able to create anything with anyone ever again. He didn’t know if he could make it through the night with another woman, let alone build a relationship with someone else.
    “I’m not either,” John said, his breath rushing out. “And right now all I want to do is kiss you, but I can’t. It wouldn’t be right.”
    “Why?” she asked, trapping her lower lip between her teeth, sending a fresh wave of awareness through his muddled body. He felt hot and cold, tempted and repelled, and so damned confused.
    “Because I’m afraid I’ll hurt you,” he confessed, his voice breaking. “Or myself. Or her. I don’t know, Percy. I just know I don’t have anything to give you. To give anyone.”
    “Then let me give to you instead,” she said, leaning in until her lips were so close he could feel her body heat warming his mouth. “Kiss me and take whatever you find.”
    His jaw clenched even as his arms tightened around her, crushing her closer to his chest. He was practically dying for a taste of her. He wanted to push his tongue past her lips and explore her mouth. He wanted to kiss her until he forgot about pain and doubt, until he couldn’t think about anything but the rush of his blood in his veins and the bliss of having a beautiful woman in his arms. He wanted to take her back to the hotel and disappear into her, get lost in her kiss, and remember what it felt like to be skin to skin with someone who wasn’t going to vanish when he opened his eyes, leaving him to wake up alone.
    But it had been a decade since he’d been with anyone but Lily. Surprisingly, he didn’t feel guilty for wanting Percy, but he knew that once he took this step, he could never go back. He would be starting down a road that led away from his wife, away from the love they’d shared and all the dreams they’d dreamed together.
    And he couldn’t take that step, not yet. Maybe not ever.
    “I’m sorry,” he said, setting Percy back on her feet. “I can’t. No matter how much a part of me wants to. You’re beautiful and sweet and I know we’d—”
    “Don’t, please. It’s okay,” Percy said, arms crossing at her chest as she took a step away. “You don’t have to flatter me. I understand. I’m not— I’m just sorry I let myself…” She brought her hands to her cheeks. “I’m so embarrassed.”
    “Don’t be embarrassed.”
    “No, I should be,” she said, shaking her head. “I knew better.” She swallowed and nodded firmly. “But I don’t think I’m up for more strategizing tonight. Could I take a rain check? Talk to you later this week?”
    “You still want to help?” he asked, surprised.
    “Of course.” She looked up at the darkening sky, down the street to her right, and over at the line of houses behind him, anywhere but into his eyes. “Just give me a day or two to be ashamed of myself and I’ll be fine. Talk to you soon.”
    She darted off the curb, weaving slightly before she found her stride and scurried the rest of the way across the street.
    “At least let me walk you back to the hotel,” John said, going after her.
    “No, please, I’d rather walk alone,” she said, glancing over her shoulder as she increased her pace. “Goodbye, John.” She waved before turning and practically jogging away, her long hair bouncing around her shoulders.
    “Goodbye.” He stopped in the middle of the quiet residential street, watching her go with a tight, miserable feeling in his chest.
    He didn’t want to let her run away, but he couldn’t go after her. He was trapped between a past he couldn’t let go of and a future he couldn’t imagine, but for a moment, when he was gazing into Percy’s eyes, something had shifted inside of him. She had shaken the