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I realized in surprise that I did want to get up and move around a bit I’d been so inactive lately, due to , is it?” I asked him cautiously

He sat up, grinning atblack swim trunks He was tan and muscular His dark hair and warm brown eyes were hollywood material I really didn’t understand why he would put so irl asn’t even remotely interested in him I tried to use that characterization as further proof that he was just being friendly, still strangely uncomfortable with his company

I got up, h I had recovered res considered

I hadn’t been released from the hospital until I’d had countless tests run, so I was in the clear of any serious injuries

I started walking, and Damien fell into step beside me He seemed to know better than to try to help me

I found the wooden crosswalk that led from our hotel to the beach, and crossed it resolutely

I walked al the beach My bare feet got wet, but it felt good after laying in the hot sun I even got a few steps deeper into the tide before I began to follow the shoreline, passing the various ocean-front hotels I counted the hotels we passed, absently keeping track

“Soot a picture of us,” Damien told me as alked

Inwardly, I cursed Outwardly, I shrugged

“Want o beat him up and take his camera?” he asked

I laughed “The daine what they would print about ured no ent they had gone on a o

They had calledquickly immune to it It was al desensitized to being publicly insulted

Soe to check online for what they were saying about h self-control to keep fro about James

“Are you really done with that Ja a break?” Dah afraid I would loseI did feel a little wobbly, but it was mostly because I was so stiff

I gave him a level stare I decided to be brutally honest with hih to be done with hih to know that, done or not, I’m ruined for other men If you must know, he and I have certain…tastes in common I don’t really care to discuss it any more than that”

Da me a warm smile when I looked at him “If you’re a dominatrix, Bee, I can live with that Feel free to tie me up and spank me, anytime you feel the need”

I laughed, because he was joking, and because it was the opposite of the truth

“Um, no,” was all I said to him

“Are you in love with him?” he asked “Is it that serious? You can tell e I just want to be your friend”

I grimaced He was my friend Why is it so hard for ht over the question, trying to suppress e to just close up at such a personal topic

“Yes,” I answered finally “It’s hopeless, I know Maybe that’s why ive itself But I do love him”

He squeezedDon’t beat yourself up so much What will you do?”

I took a few deep breaths, really thinking about it “That’s what I don’t know I can’t deny how I feel, but I can deny where it has to lead He still wants ain? That’s the million dollar question, I suppose”

Daave me a pained look “It is”

I gave a sesture that seemed to drive everyone in my life insane

“He’ll grow tired of me, I’m sure,” I said softly “It’s his MO The question is, an on for the ride?”

Damien didn’t have an answer for that Neither did I

CHAPTER TWO

Damien and I walked slowly back to the hotel We found more neutral topics to chat about on the return trip

I noticed this time when my picture was taken by the man who crouched in the bushes outside of the hotel that bordered our own He was a pudgy, balding e to tell hi his knees by atte

I nore hi horrible about me either way, I was sure

“Wanna hit up that Cuban restaurant on the corner?” Damien asked We were almost back to our hotel

I shrugged “Let’s see what Stephan wants to do,” I said neutrally The food sounded good, but I didn’t want to end up going to dinner with just Damien