Page 69 of Her Mercenary
I jerked back, gasping in horror.
He laughed. “Remember the pool, next to the eddy? Should be deep enough to dip under the water there.”
“The pool ...” I squinted in that direction, trying to make out the stream through the blackness. “Isn’t that kind of far? How far is it from here?”
“A few yards.”
I rolled my eyes. “How far in woman terms?”
“About a three-minute walk.”
I stared into the black night.
“Are you afraid one of the ghosts that haunt these mountains is going to get you?” he asked, mocking me.
I fisted a hand on my hip. “I don’t believe in ghosts in that way. I believe in spirits. People with unfinished business.”
“Okay, are you afraid someone with unfinished business is going to get you?”
“You’re an ass. And it’s not that.”
“I won’t look,” he said, picking up on my hesitation.
“No, it’s not that either.”
I’m scared to leave you.
As if reading my thoughts, Roman pushed off the ground, dusted off his pants, and crossed the rocks. “Come on.” He took my hand.
I bowed my head as he led me through the darkness, allowing him to guide me, to take care of me. Oh God, how I loved that feeling. Even just pretending for a moment that he cared, that someone wanted to take care of me.
We stopped at the edge of the water. He made a show of turning his back to me, then gestured for me to get on with it.
“Undress?” I asked, my voice cracking with nerves.
“I’m not sure how you’re going to bathe with your clothes on.”
Good point.
I stood paralyzed with fear like a pre-teen in the locker room.
“I’m not going to look,” he said impatiently.
I don’t know why the hell I was so nervous.
Because you like him, Sam. You want him to think you’re pretty.
All of a sudden, Roman sighed mockingly and began unbuttoning his pants.
“What the hell are you doing?” I squeaked.
“Getting naked so you won’t be so damn nervous.”
“You think you getting naked is going to make me less nervous?”
“Yeah. Isn’t that how it works?” His pants fell to the ground.
“Yep.” I nodded. “That’s exactly how it works—in prison.”