Read Online Seducing Phoebe (Crimson Romance) by Nicole Flockton - Free Book Online Page A

knew he’d taken it a step too far.
    “Really? You think I want him up here? I came here to try and sort out what my feelings are for you. For him. I wanted time to think, to work out what I wanted for a future, and I’m here two days and you turn up. If you were any type of decent guy, you’d have left by now.”
    For a moment Marco was lost for words. She was right. He should’ve left her alone. But the need to be near her had overwhelmed his senses. He wanted her, and he didn’t want to believe their relationship was over.
    He was going to show her that they were meant to be together. He knew they could build on the physical side of their relationship. He cared for her, worried about her. He kept telling himself it wasn’t love — it couldn’t be love, because to fall in love would be to put himself at risk again, and he wasn’t sure he could be that vulnerable — but he knew, deep inside, he would cherish her for the rest of his life. If only she’d let him.
    “You know what?” he started conversationally. “You’re right — I probably should’ve left you alone. But here’s where I’m different from John. I don’t give up. He already walked away from you once, and though I’m sure he is now professing how he’d made a stupid mistake in letting you go and wants you back, I’m not walking away. I’m staying.
    “To prove what, Marco?”
    “That I’m the man for you. That we are meant to be together.”
    “And that’s not pressuring me? How am I supposed to work out what I want with you here every second of the day? You know why I came here; why can’t you respect my wishes? Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
    Her last words were said so despondently that he wondered if he was pushing too much. Perhaps it would be best to leave her alone. But what if John found out where she was? What if John came and saw her? Marco wasn’t prepared to take that risk. He knew that if they could spend some time together, just the two of them, really getting to know each other, then it would all work out. He’d realized that on the drive up. That they hadn’t spent time getting to know each other properly. Not in a share your deep, dark secrets kind of way. Well not for him anyway. He hadn’t really touched on the subject of Veronika with her. He’d only given a vague reference to past relationships not working out.
    “I don’t want to leave you alone, Phoebe.” He closed the distance between them again and pulled her tight against him. He would never get sick of holding her in his arms. She fit perfectly as if she had been made for him, and only him. He ran his hands up her back, trying to make her relax. It was really like holding a piece of board. “I think we should start over,” he whispered softly, the need to press his lips against the soft shell of her ear almost over powering him.
    “I think it’s too late.”
    “It’s never too late to start again. I can’t — no, I
won’t
— let you go, Phoebe.”
    He dropped a soft kiss on the top of her head and released her from his embrace. “So how about we start with dinner tonight?”
    • • •
    “How about we don’t.” The last thing Phoebe wanted to do was go to an intimate restaurant with Marco. Her body was still radiating heat from his whispering in her ear. It was like not seeing each other for a couple of days had heightened her attraction to him. But attraction didn’t sustain a relationship. There had to be more. Could she have more with Marco? Did she want to take the risk? The last time she’d given her heart to someone it had been trodden all over. So why get engaged to a man she didn’t love?
    You sure you don’t love him?
a little voice inside her head taunted her. No, she did not love Marco. She cared, that was all. Caring was safe. They would’ve had a safe, stable marriage. The sex was good — better than good — and she had thought she would’ve been happy with that.
    “I’ll cook.” Marco’s offer broke