“I don't ever want to be the reason you cry again.”

“You wanna be friends?"Click click. Was that so impossible? Was he so mad, suddenly disliked her so much again, that he didn't want to be in the same building? "Yes.""Friends like before or after we had sex on the floor?"Her thumb stopped. "Before.""Not interested.""Why?""Because I don't want to be your friend.""Oh." She swallowed her disappointment. It might be for the best, but she suddenly didn't want what was for the best. She didn't want to hate Sam and have Sam hate her. What choice did she have? "Okay.""I want to be your lover. I can't pretend I don't want more. I want to be with you, Autumn. I want to get you naked and throw your legs over my shoulders"She dropped the pen."I want to leave a mark on the inside of your thigh.”

“If you want to cry go ahead. Son, there are just some time in a man's life when he has to let it out.”

“Ask me again why I don’t want you traveling with the team.”“Why?”He slid his thumb across her bottom lip. “Because you drive me insane.”

“He lowered his face to hers and spoke against her mouth. "I don't want to imagine you not in my life.”

“I don't want to let you go," he said just above a whisper. "I've tried and I can't. The thought of it twists me in a knot.”

“He reached out and grasped her arm. "Please don't walk away from me again. I know I hurt you the night you told me you loved me and I walked away, but Gabrielle, you've walked away from me twice now.”