Free StrategicSurrender by Elizabeth Lapthorne Page B

There aren’t that many
shadows in my life.”
    Hayden stopped next to her on the street and moved them both
to the side of the footpath so they weren’t in anyone else’s way. Gently, with
a heart stopping tenderness, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her in so
her face could press into his chest.
    “Did you mean it?” he asked softly. Kiera moaned again but
decided the damage had already been done, it would be impossible to dig her
hole any further.
    “Yes,” she admitted, “of course I did. I’d love to learn to
dance, but it’s one of those things that just gets put in the ‘maybe later’
basket and not acted upon.”
    “Well then,” Hayden replied casually as he leaned back.
Kiera looked up at him, still a little embarrassed. Hayden gave her a melting
smile, soft and sensual and so tender it damn near broke her heart. He bent
down and kissed her nose as if she were a little girl who had scraped her knee
and had a good cry over it.
    “You’re gorgeous, and so truthful, upfront and honest,”
Hayden complimented her, sincerity ringing in his tone. “That can prove awfully
attractive and addictive. You shouldn’t get discomposed when I ask for
you to tell me something personal and you think it won’t ‘measure up’ or
whatever. It’s personal and obviously means something to you. That’s what’s
important and why it’s a secret of yours.”
    Kiera felt her heart melt and she grinned a little shyly at
the handsome wizard.
    “Thanks,” Kiera replied, and with a deep breath she threaded
her arm through Hayden’s and they continued on down the street. Kiera’s stomach
growled hungrily and she looked forward to a decent meal.
    “So what’s another of your deep, dark secrets?” he teased
her. Laughing, Kiera thumped him gently with a bunched-up fist.
    “Hey,” she chided him. “ You owe me a deep dark
secret now. I’m not giving any more freebies after that mammoth expose on the
inner workings of my brain.”
    “Fair enough,” Hayden returned with a small nod. “I can
understand that. Hmm, a hidden secret? Well, I don’t know how much of a secret
it really is—but I certainly haven’t talked to anyone about how much this stuff
with Ben has affected me.”
    Hayden paused to take a deep breath and look away and into
the windows of the shops, restaurants and buildings they passed. Kiera squeezed
Hayden’s hand gently in both support and compassion but remained silent as he
seemed to gather his thoughts. As a minute dragged on without him speaking
further she shook her head slightly.
    “You don’t have to go there,” she replied gently with
understanding. “I certainly don’t want to force you to say anything. If you’re
not ready—“
    “No,” Hayden replied insistently. “It’s just difficult for
me to find the words. It’s all still new and raw for me. I feel conflicted over
so many aspects of it. I feel incredibly stupid for being duped, I feel naïve
for having so much faith in my partner, and worst of all I feel completely
betrayed.”
    “There’s nothing wrong in any of that,” Kiera insisted.
“What you’ve been through is emotional and complex. It’s not something you can
just pack up into a neat little box and label something to learn from and move
on. You also—despite what you obviously think—show to such advantage through this.
Hayden, do you realize how rare it is for someone to be as loyal as you are?
Don’t let this make you bitter and twist you up inside.”
    “How would you react should Josh turn out to be evil?”
Hayden asked with more curiosity than angst.
    “Hopefully with as much grace as you have to your
situation,” she insisted with honesty. “I’d be devastated, as I am sure you
are, but I hope I could continue taking each day step by step and not let it
alter who I am and how I perceive the world.”
    Hayden drew her into his embrace and yet again their lips
met hungrily. Their hands grappled at each other’s shoulders, needing to