Page 101 of Broken Bonds

I hear her let out an exasperated snort. This day began full of uncertainty. Our future was about to be resolved. The sun is shinning for us and I’ll do everything in my power to keep it that way.

???

“What are we doing here?” Stella asks as soon as she sees Sanders park the SUV in front of a chain hotel entrance on the outskirts of town. “Why don’t we go home?”

Where should I start?

“Because that house is a clusterfuck in terms of security. There is no fenced yard or a way to secure the windows. And don’t even think I’m going to sleep in the bed you shared with him. And I’m sick of trying to do it on the living room sofa.” It’s too small for a man my size.

Thunders and sparks come out of her blue eyes.

“God, you have become Othello. A madman of jealousy.”

“It’s not jealousy,” I say in my defense. Of course it is. But there is also something more, something bigger than my ego. “That idiot hurt you, used you as part of his diabolical plan. You can’t expect me to want to share the same space.”

The air between us is electric. I can’t wait to have her alone in the room I’ve reserved.

“My God, you’re infuriating,” she grumbles raising her hands, but she moves to get out of the car and before she turns around, I swear I see her smile.

Women, such strange creatures. They were made to be worshiped, not understood.

Josh is sitting on one of the sofas in the reception, he quickly gets up to give me the keys, so we don’t have to waste time at the front desk.

“It looks like an interesting evening awaits you, Simba,” he teases, looking at Stella who is taking quick steps in front of me. “A word to the wise—talk to her before throwing yourself on top of her.”

The man has been married for several years, so I take his advice with a grain of salt. I know from a good source that his wife doesn’t hesitate to put him in his place when he behaves like a bastard. I pat him on the shoulder and head to catch up with my belligerent light-haired beauty. She has taken the lead, but I caught up with her in a couple of strides.

As soon as she realizes that I’m by her side she starts to vehemently press the elevator button. I’m about to joke with her when she turns to see me and my words stay on the tip of my tongue.

Yes, an interesting evening awaits me.

“Are you hungry?” I ask her as soon as we are locked in the steel box.

Stella is quite focused looking at the numbers on the board.

“No thanks,” she replies without looking at me. I almost smile and run a hand down the front of my pants, ordering my other head not to take over.

“Stella, the doctor said…”

I hear her give an exasperated snort.

“Can you stop trying to control everything for a moment?” she growls under her breath. “First, I want to take a good shower. After leaving the hospital we didn’t have time to go back to the convent with Sister June, so…”

That sounds logical.

“Later?” I say more as a question.

“Later,” she agrees.

With my hand on the small of her back, I guide her to our room. We’re at the end of the hallway, so it takes us a few minutes to get there, but she’s accepting of my touch, and I cross my fingers because it’s not the only thing she’s accepting tonight.

Upon entering the room, she opens her eyes wide to see our things are already there, waiting for us.

“I asked your mother to pack some things for you, I thought you would like…”

I think that has caught her off guard, because even though I see her barriers break down, she doesn’t say a word, while she searches her belongings for something to change into and then she heads to the bathroom.

I stay in the same place I am, watching that cute little ass walk down the short hallway.

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