Billionaire Romance: Strike to the Heart (New Adult College Second Chance Age Play Older Man Younger Woman Romance) (Contemporary BBW BDSM Wealthy Rich Alpha Male Hero Short Stories) by Grace Rawson

better than breakfast,” he says. “What about you?”
                  “Much better.” She looks down at her watch. “I’m gonna go freshen up and then we’ll head for the gate. Larry should be here soon and I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
                  “Sure.”
                  She once again feels bad about leaving when she hears the dejection in Bol’s voice. Slipping into the bathroom, she begin to dress. What am I supposed to do? Stay here forever? Do I really want to do that? The problem is that she isn’t so sure about the answers to those questions anymore. A week ago she would have said no, but now...
                  They walk toward the gate in relative silence. Time and again she starts to speak, but a single glance at Bol’s gloomy face is enough for her to keep quiet. She has never been good at goodbyes and she can tell already that this one is going to be the hardest she has ever had. She looks up in surprise as they reach the small square before the gate.
                  Astara are standing around everywhere. Both the young and the old. When she walks into view with Bol a cheer runs through the crowd. Four old Astara, two male, two female, step out of the crowd and bow to her. The eldest is Elder Rin, whom she remembers from her visit to Bol’s house. The old Astara holds up her hands for silence and the crowd quiets.
                  “You have done us a great service, young Jamie. By the power vested in my by my people and the council of Elders I name you Friend of the Astara and bid you welcome at our home anytime.”
                  “Thank you.” Jamie can feel tears in her eyes. She works hard to fight them back, but when she looks up at Bol she can’t help it. The tears stream down her face as he smiles down at her.
                  “Don’t forget about me.” His voice is husky with emotion, but he sheds not a single tear.
                  “I won’t. Oh, Bol.” She wraps her arms around him. “Thank you of everything you have done for me. I hate that I have to leave.”
                  “Don’t be sad.” He bends down and kisses a tear off her cheek. “You have things that you must do as do we all. Goodbye.”
                  A voice in the back of her head is screaming at her to tell him that she loves him and she wants to stay, but she doesn’t listen. “Goodbye.”
                  Each footstep toward the gate feels like it takes an hour and her feet feel like they weigh a thousand pounds. Reaching out a hand, she knocks on the gate. A metal slide opens and the eyes of the guard look through the gap at her.
                  “Jamie Gettner,” she tells him.
                  “Alright. Hang on a minute. Let me unlock the gate.”
                  The gate clunks loudly as the guard works the lock. Jamie resists the urge to turn back and look at Bol because she knows that if she does, she will rush into his arms and never leave the camp. The gate swings open and she steps outside. A small breeze toys with her hair as she looks out over the surrounding hills and tries to keep from crying. The sound of the gate swinging shut behind her with a thump makes her jump.
                  Larry is already waiting for her a few yards away. Gathering her things she puts them in the back of the vehicle and gets in. Larry is up for a grand talk about her adventure inside the walls of the camp and she does her best to sate his curiosity, but deep down all she can think about is the sadness she saw in Bol’s golden eyes as she told him goodbye.
    *****
                  When they arrive back in town Larry insists on taking her to a local bar for a few drinks to celebrate her article to come. Not wanting to be rude she agrees, but there is nothing more she would rather be doing than