Page 45 of Wicked Scandal

“Exactly. The charges were dropped, Rome got his acceptance back and they still want him to play ball. In fact, he leaves next month to start preseason practice.”

“How does Elodie feel about that?” It’s clear as day that Elodie and Rome are inseparable. How will they handle the distance?

“Actually, I think she plans to go out there and stay in an Airbnb for a few weeks before heading to Stanford. One way or another, they’ll make it work.”

“I’m sure they will,” I tell him as I rub my ankle, feeling the swell of it from being on my feet all day, every day.

He looks down as I massage it, his eyebrows raised. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh nothing,” I tell him, wondering if he thinks this is another injury from Troy. Just in case, I explain, “One of the downfalls of being a teacher.”

I’m not sure why I’d care if he did think it was Troy, but there is still a part of me that defends his actions, even when I know I shouldn’t.

I feel his firm grip around my calf, and the next thing I know, my leg is lifted onto his lap. I give him a sidelong glance as he carefully removes my sock, exposing the chipped pink nail polish on my toes. I’m a little embarrassed that it’s been so long since I’ve had a pedicure.

“What are you doing?” I grin.

His thumb presses firmly into the arch of my foot, releasing knots and tension that have built up from long days at work. I literally have to hold back a moan. It feels so good.

“You said your ankle hurt.” He gives me a grin as he squeezes then goes back to using his thumb in my arch.

It feels good. No. It feels amazing.

I can’t break the smile on my face even if I tried. “Thank you,” I tell him. “No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”

“That’s a shame,” he says with a disappointed tone. “You deserve to be spoiled every single day. In fact, it sort of pisses me off that you aren’t.”

I know there is so much he’d love to say about Troy. The hate in his eyes is clear. There is so much I’d love to say, too. But Wilder is respectful in that way. He could force me to talk. I am sure all it would take is him asking one more time before that wall I worked so hard to build comes crumbling down. But he doesn’t.

We sit in peaceful silence for a few minutes while I embrace someone touching me with care. Every few seconds my mind drifts to what would happen if my husband found us here. My heart rate kicks up and my palms sweat. But then Wilder smiles at me and the sensation ceases.

It doesn’t matter. Troy isn’t here. He will never know what’s been going on while he’s gone. Right now, all I care about is this time with Wilder. I know it will be short-lived, and after this weekend we’ll have to stop seeing each other, so I plan to enjoy it while I can.

Wilder hits a spot in my calf that has me wincing. The sound grabs his attention and he looks at me with his heavy dark brow raised. “That hurt?”

“Yes, but in all the good ways,” I tell him truthfully.

The warmth of his touch travels up my body. It’s a new sensation because it’s true, no one has ever rubbed my feet before, or pampered me at all for that matter. Unless it was a paid service like a massage or a pedicure.

I lean back on the arm of the couch, sinking into it as my body enters a state of relaxation.

His fingertips trail up my leg, just below my knee, sending shivers across my skin. He moves higher, teasingly slow until he reaches the sensitive flesh of my thigh. Each stroke has my body igniting with tingles of anticipation.

“Next leg,” he says, curling his fingers and flashing a devilishly sexy grin.

I watch him intently as he settles my leg onto his lap right beside the other. His lips part slightly and his tongue drags across the curve of his upper lip as he works aimlessly to make me feel good.

I bet he’d be amazing in bed. I’m sure his sole focus would be on the girl he’s with as he satisfies all her needs.

I shouldn't be thinking like that, but it’s hard not to when his strong hands are caressing my body.

CHAPTER 13

CATHERINE

A few minutes later and I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in months, maybe years. Then the next thing I know, Wilder is sliding his body down on the couch beside mine until he’s sandwiched between me and the back cushions. I shift slightly, making room for him as he settles in. His arm drapes across my stomach and he pulls my body snug against his.

Warmth spreads through my chest and a ball of nervous excitement forms in my stomach. Everything about this feels so right and I won’t dare question it. With each passing second of us lying in here with our breaths as the only sound, I find myself falling more and more for Wilder.

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