Free Unconditional by D.M. Mortier Page A

sob from escaping. He was being too tender.
    “Look, sweetheart, I don’t know what’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours. But I’m not the kind of guy you give your virginity to. The women I usually have sex with know the score. You’re obviously not that type of woman. A guy like me could only promise you a good fuck, nothing else. You deserve more than that.” His gaze pierced her.
    Despite her discomfort with the turn of events, she was not even slightly dissuaded from wanting to be with him, even after his warning about his character. Her body continued to pulse with the need to be possessed. She could still feel his hardness in her core and she wanted him back there. She couldn’t look at him without wanting to feel his strong arms around her.
    “Go home to Trinidad, Rinah. You’ll find that guy who’ll give you the fairy tale you deserve. I don’t do relationships and men like me won’t propose after taking what you offered. So for now, all that is on offer is a bed and a good night’s sleep.” He held her gaze for a few heated seconds. He kissed her gently again before rising to his full height in front of her.
    “Do me a favor and stay the hell out of my bedroom. You’re so fucking sweet, I’m not sure I’ll have the restraint to let you go a second time.” Not giving her any opportunity to respond, he abruptly turned to leave the room.
    “Dominic, I never asked you to let me go,” Rinah whispered at his retreating back.
    He didn’t acknowledge her response, but instead walked out of the room, closing the door firmly behind him with a definite click.
    Her humiliation was complete.
    She turned restlessly on the mattress. The worst of it was that she still desired his touch. Her body hummed and tightened in agitation, refusing to forget the ecstasy of being in his arms. How could she walk away from such desire?
    Sleep wouldn’t come.

Chapter Five
    F ar eclipsing the need to protect herself or ensure self-preservation, she couldn’t stop wanting him. She tingled everywhere he’d touched and in some places he hadn’t. His scent, from the bathrobe, didn’t help her predicament, either. The rough material tormented her sensitive nipples. An hour later, impatient with her chaotic thoughts, and wanting to escape the claustrophobic atmosphere of the bedroom, she climbed from the bed.
    She exited the room, still in the bathrobe Dominic had loaned her.
    As she approached the front door, his voice stopped her in her tracks.
    “Where do you think you’re going, dressed like that?”
    She looked down at the enormous robe that swallowed her frame. “I saw the beach from my bedroom window, and just wanted to walk a little to clear my head.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
    “Despite this being a private property and gated, the beach at night is not safe.”
    “Look, Dominic, you’re not my father! You can’t tell me what to do.”
    He sighed as if waiting on a petulant child to eventually come to reason.
    “If you insist on going out, at least get dressed and allow me to accompany you.”
    Rinah glared at him, hating the fact that he was being so reasonable while her emotions were completely volatile and irrational.
    He reentered his bedroom and returned a few moments later with the dress she’d carelessly discarded an hour before. He had taken the time to put on dark sweat pants and a white T-shirt.
    She stomped back into her borrowed room and quickly shimmed into her dress. She felt provocatively attired, as the cut of her garment made it impossible to wear a bra, and she was forced to go commando as her panties hadn’t survived the amorous activities in the shower.
    Given his rejection of her, she was intensely apprehensive of facing him again, looking so exposed. She just wanted to get some fresh air and hopefully restore her pride.
    Exiting the room, she met him at the door. He silently turned and led the way out of the apartment.
    She walked barefoot on the silky white sand,