Page 65 of Lemon Drop

“Even when you were with other women?”

“Wanting you ain’t mean I stopped living, Topaz,” he defended.

I pursed my lips before saying, “I know.”

“But yeah. Even then.”

Something inside me melted. His hands tightened slightly beneath my thighs.

“My turn. Truth or dare?” he asked.

“Truth.”

He watched me for a moment before saying, “What scares you about us being like this when we get home?”

I almost wished I’d picked dare. I looked away from him, watching the water move around us. “That I’ll lose something.”

He frowned. “Your job? Me?”

“Not just that,” I whispered. “Me.”

That shut him up. I took a breath. “Women sometimes lose themselves and what they’ve worked for in relationships. Everybody acts like that’s romantic.”

“You think I want that from you?” he demanded.

“No.” I swallowed, looked away. “But I’m scared I’ll give it.”

He stilled, but his eyes roved my face. I sighed, started again.

“I’m focused. I have a plan for my life. I know where I want to go, and you…” I laughed softly, but it wasn’t really amused. “You are one hell of a distraction, Saadiq Masters.”

“Distraction?” He sounded offended.

I rolled my eyes. “Temptation. Whatever word makes your ego happiest.”

He smiled, and I kept going.

“And then there’s work. If this goes bad, you’re still Saadiq Masters. CEO, founder, the man everybody knows built that company. Me? I’m the woman who works for you and slept with the boss. Nobody is gon’ care how many years I worked my ass off.”

He opened his mouth, but I touched his face before he could interrupt.

“I could love you, Saadiq. And love scares me.”

“Why?” he asked softly.

I thought for a minute. “I’ve seen what women will accept when they love a man. Hell, look at Dream. She loves Demon enough to live with a man most sane people would run from.”

Saadiq laughed once. “Gotta be Stockholm Syndrome.”

“Exactly! And now everybody calls the shit romantic.”

We both Iaughed. Then, I continued.

“I’m serious. Love makes people justify things, forgive things, stay through things.” My smile faded. “I don't want to be her.”

“Topaz... your example. You see what could be problematic with your cousin’s relationship, but did you ever think that Demon may have compromised, too. I’ll bet he does all the time, because it’s clear he loves her, worries about her, protects her. And for her, maybe every compromise she’s made is worth it because of that.”

“You think you could be worth every compromise, Mr. Masters?”