Free Time for Change by Sam Crescent Page A

going to hurt you,” he said, meaning it.
    “I know you’re not going to hurt me. I’m sorry. I’m not used to this at
all.”
    “Haven’t you been in a relationship before?” he asked. Chris had always
assumed she’d been intimate with men. In fact, he knew she had. How far had
that intimacy gone? Claire never talked about her bringing men home or talking
about men. Whenever he asked her in the past about men she’d chuckled and
brushed his curiosity aside.
    “I’ve not been in a relationship before.”
    “At all, dating, flirting, making out?” At forty-two
years old he’d done his fair share of making out.
    “No. I mean, I’ve had sex before. None of it was as good as last night.”
Her cheeks were bright red, and her words stroked his ego a little bit.
    “I’m not talking sex. We have something special.”
    “No, I’ve never felt like I do with you with other men. Claire asked me
to bring dates home, but it never felt right. I didn’t want to bring them into
my world with you guys.” She looked down at her hands. Her plate was empty.
Standing, he took the plate from in front of her and placed it in the wash
bowl.
    “Were you embarrassed by us?” he asked.
    “No, not at all. I didn’t want them to get close to me. After Mom and Dad died, I didn’t
want anything to do with other men. Bringing them close would mean I had to
talk about everything all over again.” She tucked some hair behind her ear. “I
wasn’t going to open myself up like that.”
    “I already knew about everything. It was easier for you to spend time
with people who wouldn’t open old wounds?”
    “Yeah. Then
when I got over it, the guys didn’t appeal to me.” She shrugged. “So I guess
I’ve never been in a relationship. I never finished college, and for some
reason, I can’t hold a steady job.” Rachel looked at him. Her bottom lip
wobbled. “I sound pitiful.”
    “You’ve had it easier than most but harder than others. I can’t turn
round and say you’re pitiful. Death, no matter in what form it happens, hurts.”
He licked his lips. His throat suddenly felt dry. “I lost my parents a long
time ago. I learned to deal with the life I was handed.”
    “How did they die?” she asked.
    “They were shot in a bank robbery gone bad. I was ten years old and was
taken into care. I had a rough eight years until I got out on my own. I was
smart, and I had excellent grades. My life has been a lot better than when I
started. I’m handling my own,” he said. Chris was shocked to realize he’d never
once told Claire about his family. When she’d asked he’d simply told her he had
no family.
    “I’m so sorry.” She wiped the tears from under her eyes.
    “Don’t be sorry. We’ll figure everything out together.” He rounded the
counter, pulling her into his arms. Chris was strong enough for the both of
them. He’d teach her how to deal with him as a man in her life. “Now, promise
me you’ll talk to me about everything on your mind. I never want to wake up with
you gone again.”
    “Okay.”
    He leaned down claiming her lips underneath his. “Good, go and get
dressed. We’ve got some work to do.” He watched her go, checking out her ass as
she went. Fuck, her body was pure perfection to him. Every curve called to him,
and he couldn’t wait to explore his wild side with her.
    There was something tempting about Rachel, and he looked forward to
tempting her. Clearing up the mess in the kitchen he checked his watch then
walked into the other spare room that he’d converted into his office. He fired
up the laptop on the desk. Going through his emails he made sure there was
nothing of importance.
    Being a doctor meant everything to him. He wouldn’t risk a patient’s
life just because of a day off. Rachel sought him out. She leaned against the
doorframe, staring at him.
    “Are you ready to go?” he asked.
    She nodded. Shutting everything down, he followed her out of the
apartment. At the reception he