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room. 
    Recovering late, Roderick ran after her, catching up just as she reached her car.  He grabbed her arm.  An ache tore through his chest at seeing tears pouring down her face.
    She tried to yank her arm from his grip. “Let me go.  I don’t want to be here, I have to get away from you and him.”  She motioned toward the house with her other hand.  “I didn’t ask for any of this.  I thought…I am stupid enough to care for you. All these days of trying to convince me that it was more than just a physical thing, you’re yelling at the top of your lungs how you want to get rid of me.”  Rachel gulped for air and tried to jerk her arm free again.  “Let me go Rod, please.”
    “I can’t let you drive like this.  You’re too upset.”  He reached for her but she inched away.  “Look I'm upset too, I didn’t expect Julian.  I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. Hell, I’m confused by all this and not sure what to do.”  He attempted to pull her toward the house. “Please come back inside.  Let’s decide together what we need to do.”
    “No.”  Rachel shook her head and placed her hand over her mouth, fresh tears springing to her eyes.  “I don’t want to face him again, not right now.  Go back inside Rod, talk it out, figure out how to get rid of me so we can break this bond and I can go on with my life,” she said emphasizing the words he’d said earlier.
    Hands on his chest, she pushed him away.  “I’m fine to drive, I really need to get away from you.  I’m going home.”
    Reluctantly, he released her arm.  “I will come to your house later.”
    Her shiny tear-filled gaze met his and they maintained the contact for a beat before Rachel turned away and slid into the car.
    Her driving seemed to be under control, the vehicle glided away and Roderick raked a hand down his face.  He was such an ass. He’d made her cry. Damn Julian for his rotten timing.
    Had she just said she cared for him?  His chest tightened.
     
    “I’m not going to break the bond, so just tell me what I need to do.” Roderick stalked into the living room and stopped short.  Julian was gone.
    Cyn remained on the couch, the throw barely covering his midsection. He pointed at a wooden box on the floor next to the fireplace. “Julian left that for you. He said that once you make the decision he wants to see you in Rome.”
    “Damn it.” Roderick ignored the item and sank into a chair.  “What the hell did he accomplish by coming here?  Rachel is upset and offended. I’m confused and you’re still naked.”
    “He energized you, that’s a good thing.” The Scot scowled and shook his head.  “Did you just say you’re not going to break the bond? Damn, you’re in love.  It’s sad to witness the fall of Roderick the Great.”  Cyn’s eyes flickered to the box.  “Aren’t going to see what’s in there?”
    “Describe it.” Roderick asked.
    “What?” Cyn’s brow crinkled. “Describe what?”
    “Love.”
    His roommate shrugged and looked away in thought.  “I think it’s like a thorn or a splinter. Something that gets under your skin and it’s hard as hell to get out.  No matter how deep you dig for it, you can’t get it out.” At his pained expression Cyn’s brows lifted.  “That might be a bad example. Hell, I don’t know. I’ve been close to it once, and from what I remember it mostly turns you into a wuss.”
    Great, now he was even further confused. Roderick pulled on sweatpants and headed to the garage.  He rolled his red Ducati Monster onto a cement pad behind it and lowered the kickstand on the motorcycle.  It didn’t really need washing, but he needed something to do so he pulled out a bucket, sponge and a water hose, the entire time deep in thought.  Was it possible that he felt more than attraction for Rachel? 
    Spartans were not an emotional people. He barely remembered his parents ever in the same room with him as a child.
    His mother was a gruff