“You said he didn’t want to share with you again.”
“Hope dies last, doesn’t it?”
Exactly my words.
I suck in a long breath and exhale quietly.
“Can we at least pretend we’re in that room…?” I ask.
“Sure.”
He waits for a moment.
“Why are you so emotional, baby?” he asks.
“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t want to be like that.”
I remember the boxes of chocolates, so I pull away from the table and bring one before placing it next to my tea. I unwrap one and taste it.
It has a smooth filling and a rum flavor.
It’s delicious.
“It’s been a long day…” I say, chewing before telling him about my work day.
He tells me about his business trips.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” I say after a few more moments, putting the lid on the box and moving my focus to my tea.
“Talking to you relaxes me,” he says.
I laugh quietly.
“You’re trying to flatter me now.”
“No, I’m not. I like your voice. It’s sexy and positively soothing.”
“You’ve never heard me when I’m really angry.”
“I bet you’re a firecracker.”
We share a peal of laughter before going quiet.
“I wish that hotel room were more than a moment of reprieve…” I say.
He ponders in silence.
“That hotel room was so good because we knew there was nothing else for us. As you said once, our story had no ending and no beginning. We breathed life into it once in a while. It didn’t always have to do with Kai. Things would be the same if we met again in a hotel room. I’d hold you in my arms, and you’d center yourself. We’d fuck. Yes, we would. And it would feel good. Especially since there is nothing else that I could give you. And you would take it from me because it would work for you and me.”
He continues after a moment.
“Had it been more for us, we’d probably be at each other’s throats.”
“I don’t believe that. You’re not like that.”
“You don’t know how I am, cariño. You get the best of me. And I purposefully give you the best of me. Because I like you, and you make me feel damn good. And I try not to put my heart on the line. But if I’d be there, burning for you, I’d be hell, the way he is for you. He’s getting to that point, baby, and I don’t know how much longer he can take it.”
I want to believe him. But he should’ve seen Kai hours ago. Yes, Kai was pissed. And yes, he was angry with me.