Page 59 of Tame Me

His fingers gradually released their grip on my hips as his cock softened. He pulled me to him, and as we wrapped our arms around each other, I heard the comforting sound of his beating heart.

“Where have you been all my life, Memphis?”

His words broke my heart twice over. I squeezed him tighter and clamped my jaw, determined not to cry. He pulled away too soon, and I swallowed back the lump in my throat.

I cupped his cheek. “I wish I didn’t have to go to work.”

“Me too.” He helped me off the counter.

“May I use the bathroom?”

“Of course.”

I picked up my G-string off the floor, stepped around him, went to the bathroom, and shut the door. I sat on the toilet, put my elbows on my knees, and covered my face.

The lump in my throat made it impossible to breathe.

How the hell did I get myself into this mess?

And how will I ever fix it?

I knew only too well the answer to that. I had to tell him the truth. I really, really liked Hunter, but after my continual deceit, why would he forgive me? The thought of losing him strangled my heart.

I wiped my eyes, then used toilet paper to clean myself up. I pulled on my G-string and flushed, and at the sink, I checked that I hadn’t ruined my makeup.

Memphis was still there, staring right back at me with her fearful eyes.

Stupid girl. “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.” I shook my head, and it was several minutes before I convinced myself to get moving again. I pulled open the door and crossed the room to Hunter, who’d collected my dress from the floor and was holding it for me.

“Thank you.” I pulled the dress over my head and wriggled it into place.

He stepped to me and placed his hands on my waist. “When can I see you again?”

“Soon, I hope.” The urge to blurt out my horrible truth was excruciating, and I fought it with all my might.

His beautiful eyes softened, and he leaned in to kiss me. Our lips met, and the lump burning in my throat ruined a perfect moment.

We parted, and I grabbed my bag. “Good night. See you soon.”

“Yes, you will.” He blew me a kiss, and I turned and strode to the door.

I walked to the elevator, and instead of my usual walking on air, today I was swimming through concrete. Every step away from Hunter hurt.

My deceit and lies threatened to shatter my sanity a thousand times over.

Somehow, I arrived at my room, and if I didn’t have to go to work, I would have crawled under my bed covers and cried myself to sleep. I sucked back the sobs as I showered, and my tears mingled with the warm cascade. It was an eternity before I stepped out.

I dried myself off, and with the towel around my feet, I gripped the sink and stared at my reflection. My bloodshot eyes were a terrible shade of pink, but it was the fear in them that scared me the most. With my bathrobe on, I went to the kitchen, made myself a peanut butter sandwich, and then grabbed my diary and sat at the table.

Writing down my tumbling thoughts had become a form of therapy, but even as I turned to the 12th of November, I wasn’t sure if any amount of therapy could save me from the mess I’d put myself in.

At the top of the page, I wrote Hunter McCall, Room 43.

After a big sigh, I lined the page with every wonderful aspect of my day with him. Everything from my tumbling nerves as I watched him race up the beach to the pleasure of sharing his mother’s divine cheese treats, to listening to his travel stories, to our incredible sex.

Finally, I detailed my horrible situation. I wanted to learn everything about my sexy chocolatier. But most of all, I wanted him to know me—the real me. To do that, however, I had to reveal my disgusting lies. No matter which way I analyzed how that scenario would play out, the ending was always the same.

I was destined to lose him.

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