Page 36 of Reluctant to Love

“You’re going to be hungry,” I tell her, finally stepping in. “Roderick ordered all of this food for us. It would be bad manners not to eat it.”

That gets her. Izzy doesn’t like bad manners and is not above scolding others for their bad manners. Roderick looks relieved as he sits back against the dining chair.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

“How did your meeting go,” I ask.

“That’s what I need to talk to you about.” He shifts nervously in his seat, which instantly makes me nervous. But the conversation is put on hold once Izzy declares she is done and wants to watch a movie.

“Anna and Elsa,” she demands.

I came prepared with all of Izzy’s favorite movies. I run into the bedroom to grab it from my suitcase. Once Roderick has it set up and playing, I clear away the leftovers and trash.

“You didn’t have to do that,” he says quietly as his hands circle my waist and he pulls me back against him.

“Roderick,” I scold him.

“Relax. She can’t see us.” He playfully nips at my ear which sends shivers up and down my spine and makes my nipples tighten into sharp buds. “It feels like forever since I’ve touched you.”

I can feel his hard length pressed against me and my mouth waters at the thought of being with him again. It’s like a faucet has been turned on inside of me. I’m craving him.

“I need to take a shower,” I stammer. What I really need are his hands all over me and his lips leaving trails of kisses on my body.

He lets me go without a word and I shuffle down the hallway. Suddenly, making sure Izzy has a bedroom over her very own has become priority number one.

Roderick’s master bathroom is a white marble masterpiece. I eye the clawfoot bathtub for a moment before deciding to test it another time.

Just as I close the door to the bathroom, I hear the sounds of their voices mingling together. No doubt, she’s telling him all about her favorite movie. Every time I hear them talking, I have to stop and listen, if only for a moment. It gives me hope, hearing them together, that everything will work out, that Izzy and I will find our happily ever after.

I feel relaxed as I step into the steaming hot shower, eager to get rid of the grime of the day.

When I feel a gust of cold air against my bare legs, I turn and catch Roderick stepping inside with me.

“What are you doing,” I hiss.

He holds up a hand. “Simmer down, sweets. Izzy is out cold on the couch.”

Any further admonishment is swallowed up in his searing kiss. He grips my slickened body tightly, ensuring I won’t slip out of his grip.

He pulls away first and touches his forehead to mine. “I can’t stand being so close to you yet feeling like you’re a million miles away.”

“We’ll figure all of this out. Together. You just have to give it a little time.”

He pushes my wet hair off my shoulder and strokes his fingertips along the ridge of my collarbone. “I have to tell you something and you’re probably not going to like it.”

“Tell me.”

“Famke is trying to sue me.”

I look up at him sharply. “For what?”

“First, she tried to take credit as my co-writer for the Tristan series. Then, when Larry produced the NDA you signed, she backed off. Now, she’s claiming breach of our divorce agreement.”

“How could you possibly be in breach of that agreement? We haven’t seen each other in four years.”

“It wasn’t just about you. I agreed to not engage in any sexual behavior withanywoman.”

“So, you had sex with someone else after we broke up?” My question is a little more accusatory than I intended. I shouldn’t feel upset because we were done but hearing he’s been with other women is upsetting.