Page 37 of Hayes

"I won't." Taking her hands in his, he resisted her efforts to pull away. "I cared about her and thought that eventually we could have a life together.

But you came back, and I realized that there could be no one else for me." His hands tightened on hers. "I wanted to forget Cammy; I wanted to erase the past and get on with my life. You cannot blame me for that."

"No," she acknowledged wearily. "When she spoke about the baby…" She shook her head. "They said it wasn't quite a baby yet, but to me, it was.

I was already thinking about names." Tears clouded her eyes, and he felt regret and pain surging through him. "And to hear her talk about my baby—our baby, made me want to strike her. I cannot do this–"

"No." He gripped her so tight that she could not move. "Whatever I have to do in order to make it up to you, I will. Just say the word." His handsome face was strained. "I have lost so many years, and I cannot lose another minute.

Let me hold you, at least. I won't make love to you even if I am bursting at the seams. I will be here just holding you, but I am not leaving."

"Hayes–"

"Dammit, Cammy! Don't do this to me."

"Okay." Closing her eyes briefly, she allowed him to pull her up and lead her to the bed. Letting go of her, he finished undressing and got in next to her. After a slight hesitation, she went into his arms, her body trembling slightly as she inhaled his scent.

"What can I do?" he asked quietly after a few minutes of silence.

"Nothing. Just hold me.," she whispered. "I was just thinking about that day at the park."

"What day?" He felt the awful tension leaving his body when he realized that she was no longer angry.

"The day you bought me a cherry and vanilla swirl."

A smile touched his lips. "You were mad at me, and I was trying to diffuse the anger."

"You were out with Chad and Brian, and I couldn't get hold of you. We were supposed to meet to go over some things for the upcoming French exam."

"And instead, I went to check out this sweet ride Chad had just received for his birthday." Tilting his head down, he shook his head. "You refused to speak to me for the entire night. I couldn't sleep."

"Neither could I."

His eyes darkened. "The next day, you ignored me at school, and I couldn't perform on the football field."

"I went to the park, and you followed me and bought me the ice cream." Lifting her head, she stared at him, eyes wandering over his face. "You fed it to me and asked me to forgive you."

"You finally did." His fingers trailed over her cheek slowly. "As I am asking you now." He continued thickly. "I never meant to hurt you."

"I know," she whispered. His long finger traced the outline of her bottom lip, a gasp escaping him when she opened her mouth and captured it, her teeth nipping at the sensitive skin before tugging it into her mouth and sucking hard.

"Cammy, what are you doing?"

"I want you to forget her." Pushing him back against the pillows, she took off her robe.

"I don't–"

"I want to forget too." Sliding the sash from her robe, she lifted his hands and tied them together over his head.

"Baby–"

"Make me forget." She looped the silk around the slats of the bed head and tied it. "I want to do things to you so that you will forget everyone else. I need this. I cannot bear the thought of the other women you have been with."

"They meant nothing." He tugged at the restraint, wanting—no need to hold her, to assure her that every other woman paled in comparison to her.

"I need this." Sandwiching him between her thighs, she leaned forward to brush the lock of blonde hair off his forehead.

"I can't–"