CHAPTER 29
ZIGGY
They say the strength of a man is measured by his character.
By that way of thinking, I must have the character of a temple of monks, because walking away from Lucky, and that kiss, took the strength of an army of men. With a pounding heart, I walked out of Bungalow 5 and closed the door behind me, full of instant regret and sporting a massive erection once again.
Blade stood guard, throwing a furrowed-brow glance my way as I threw my backpack at his feet.
“You okay, brother?”
“Not really,” I sighed.
“Thought you were crashing with Lucky tonight.”
“I was going to crash on her couch, but even that is proving to be too much of a challenge. I’m weak, man. So fucking weak.”
“You want me to go in there?” he asked.
“No, she’s fine. Stay here with me.”
He nodded and sat down on a nearby bench, staying quiet for a few moments before he finally spoke up.
“So, what’s the problem exactly? She likes you, right?”
“Yes.”
“And you like her, right?”
“Yep.”
“And yet, you’re out here, and she’s in there alone?”
“Blade, you are an expert at stating the obvious.”
“I’m just saying, man, it doesn’t make sense to me. Why fight it if you’re attracted to each other?”
“Because I’m here to do a job. Not get laid.”
“Seems to me, at least by the way you two look at each other, that this is about a lot more than just getting laid.”
“Maybe.”
“I’m a hopeless romantic, did you know that?” he asked.
I laughed and shook my head, “No, I did not.”
“It’s true. But I don’t think just anyone can fall in love with each other. I think it’s a sort of magic, you know? Kismet!”
“Kismet?”
“Yeah, you know. Synchronicity. Fate,” he insisted. “Everything happens for a reason, whether you know it or not. You met Lucky because she needed you, she needed us. Someone up there knew it.”
“Up where?” I asked. “Dude, are you getting religious on me?”
“No, not at all,” he said. “I mean, whoever’s in charge of this kind of thing. Cupid, The Universe, Mother Nature. Somebody wanted you two to spend some time together and look at what’s happened. You’re all twisted in knots over this woman.”
“I am not.”
“Dude.”
“Fine, you’re right,” I admitted. “But I promised Ryder I’d follow the fucking rules. And she’s not making it any easier. I keep slipping up, kissing her, and then it makes it even harder to resist her. Being on the bus together was difficult enough, but the thought of spending the whole night in a hotel room with her is something I don’t know if I can resist the entire night.”
“So, don’t resist.”
“What?”
“Give her everything she wants. Make her feel good. Doesn’t she deserve that? Shit, seems like the woman’s already gone through hell and back. And isn’t that our job, really? To make them feel safe? To help them heal? In addition to keeping them safe?”
“I’m not sure about that, but it sounds good to me,” I chuckled. “You wanna try your hand at convincing Ryder that sexual healing is included in our services?”
He shrugged, “Not to be disloyal or anything, but what they don’t know won’t hurt them.”
“You aren’t helping,” I said.
“Sure, I am,” he said. “Dude, go back in there. Give the woman what she needs to get through the night. Be a man.”
“You’re telling me to man up?” I asked, lifting a brow. “That’s brave.”
“All I did was tell you exactly what you needed to hear.”
“Shit,” I said, running a hand through my hair and sighing an exasperated sigh.
“You better hurry your ass up before she goes to sleep and you miss your opportunity at being a healer,” he said, laughing at his own joke.
“You tell anyone about this, Blade, and I swear —.”
“— Just fucking go, dude. My lips are sealed.”
I stood up and took a deep breath, my cock still standing at firm attention.
“Have a good night, brother,” I said, heading for her door. “And thanks, man.”
“My pleasure, man,” he said.
“No, trust me, the pleasure is all mine,” I said, laughing as I walked away.