Page 13 of Reluctant to Love
I pluck my wallet from my back pocket and place more than enough money to cover our bill on the table.
When I step out of the booth, I can’t help but tug her against me and place a sweet kiss on her lips. And then I drag her through the restaurant and outside to find a cab.
“What if you didn’t leave enough money?”
I turn back to the entrance of the restaurant. “If it wasn’t, our server would be out here already.”
One eyebrow lifts and her lips twitch. “Who carries around that kind of cash? Who do you think you are, Christian Grey?”
“What do you know about Christian Grey?”
“Nothing,” she says with a mischievous smile. She stands on tiptoe and places a quick kiss on lips. “Absolutely nothing.”
When the cab arrives, I practically push her into the back. The driver seems to hit every red light back to the hotel but I don’t mind because I’m too busy kissing.
“This doesn’t mean I forgive you,” she makes it a point to tell me during our ride back.
“I know,” I tell her, stopping any more protests with my lips.
When the cab drops us off of, we sprint to the elevators and dance with excitement waiting for one to arrive. I only pray when it does arrive, it’s empty.
“Roderick,” she says softly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
I shake my head. “No,” I say. “Honesty can wait for a few hours. Whatever secrets we still need to tell will still be there in the morning.”
“But what if it’s a secret that will change everything?”
Gone is Eleanor’s excitement; it’s been replaced with worry. I step toward her and slip my hands around her waist. “Look at me.” She hesitates for a moment before her lashes flutter and her eyes meet mine. “I promise you, whatever big, bad ugly thing you’re hiding, we’ll figure it out. I love you, Ellie. I always have and I always will. Nothing is going to change that.”
A million different things run through my mind. A husband? A wife? A kid? What if her secret really does changes things? What if she’s done something I can’t forgive? I bury those thoughts deep because I don’t want them hanging over the night like a bunch of storm clouds.
At last, there’s the tell-tale ding of the elevator’s arrival. The doors slide open to reveal an empty car. I lead her inside but I don’t take advantage. She’s worried about something and I want to give her the space to clear her head.
When we arrive back in our hotel room though, that’s a different story.
That’s when I strike, pressing her against the wall of the tiny foyer of the suite and branding her with my kiss.
My hands find the hem of her cropped t-shirt and lift it, revealing the black lacy bra underneath. “Dirty girl,” I praise her before leaning down to kiss the tops of each breast. I reach up and tug one of the cups down, letting a perfect handful pop free. I suck her luscious pink nipple into my mouth.
God, she tastes like absolute heaven with skin so creamy white and soft. I could get lost in her for days on end and never tire.
I drag my mouth down to her tummy, leaving a wet trail of kisses as I go. Her hands work through my hair and just as I reach the button of her jeans, she freezes.
“Roderick,” she breathes out. “Stop. Please, stop.”
I stand up straight. “What’s wrong, sweets?”
She looks away from me and gnaws on her bottom lip. “It’s just too much right now. We’ve barely spent twenty-four hours together.”
“It’s been four years, Eleanor. I’m a man starved for your body.”
“And there’s four years of baggage between us. I’m asking you to take it slow.”
I’m not sure why she’s suddenly changed but I won’t push her. I nod my head. “Alright, if that’s what you want. But you need to promise me something.”
“What?” She finally meets my eye and I can see the terrified look in her eye. Whatever spooked her is a big deal. I’m confident in time she will reveal whatever it is she’s hiding.
“Tonight, and every other night during this trip, you’ll sleep in my bed.”
“Roderick, I just told you—”
I cover her mouth with my hand. “I know what you told me. But I’m not going to spend another night without you in my bed. I’ve endured years of sleepless nights without you and I won’t go another night.”
She sinks back against the wall and looks down at the ugly patterned carpet in the room. The hesitation is written all over her face, but she finally looks up and says, “Okay.”