Page 65 of The First Chord

“He did but you still need to be sure.” Ronnie shook his head. “If we do this, there is no going back.” Blue eyes stared back at me, begging for a promise.

“If he finds out…” Licking my lips, I knew I had to decide. We were inevitable, I just had to make a choice on when.

“I’m not going to force you or rush you. I only want this to happen if you do.”

I felt torn between duty and happiness. A cruel man and a good man. Hate and…

“I’m not a bad person, Ronnie.”

He moved closer and ran a finger down my cheek, his eyes studying me. “You’re so beautiful and could never be a bad person. What you’ve put up with from him…” he paused and drew in a breath, “no one would blame you for wanting some happiness, Amber. I think I can give you that.”

Suddenly, Ronnie’s lips were on mine, soft and gentle, his fingers threading into my hair as he gripped my hip with his other hand. I couldn’t beat the magnetic pull and snaking my arms around his neck, I pulled myself closer until I was almost on his lap.

The taste of his tongue was perfect as it explored mine. It was a kiss of perfection. Of truth and need. Hands explored gently because we understood the fragility of what we were starting. As my heart raced I wondered if what I was doing was wrong, but it was the briefest of moments. How could something preordained feel wrong? Ronnie and I were meant to have our happiness. Him befriending me in a hotel bar, while I sat alone, where I’d been told to wait by Jimmy, had been fate. Him texting me jokes to make sure I had a tiny bit of joy in my life had been fate. Ronnie coming into my life had not only been fate, but also the greatest gift.

When his teeth nipped my bottom lip I groaned softly, spurring Ronnie on to pull me closer and tighten his hold on me and whispering my name reverently. I was desperate for more but knew that we couldn’t.

“Ronnie,” I gasped. “We need to stop.”

“You’re right,” he replied breathlessly. “We do.”

As if we’d known, as we pulled apart the door burst open, and I almost screamed as Jimmy sauntered in.

“Well, well, well,” he said. “What the fuck is going on here?”

CHAPTER29

RONNIE

Thank god that Amber had told us to stop. If she hadn’t then Jimmy might have caught us in a very compromising position. As it was, we just looked like we were sitting next to each other and chatting.

“You’re not supposed to be anywhere near her,” I growled, standing up.

“Oops. Didn’t realise she was in here.”

The fucker smirked and it was obvious that he was lying. I turned to Amber and was surprised to see an expression of what could only be described as disdain. Maybe boredom.

“You okay?” I frowned, fully expecting her to have been scared with him in the room.

“You’ve got my back.” She gave the most beautiful of smiles.

“Yeah, I do.” My gaze was drawn to her lips, and I wanted to taste them again. Was desperate to taste them again.

Amber stood up next to me, her arm brushing against mine, loose and relaxed. She took in a breath.

“Get out of here, Jimmy. I don’t have to be around you unless it’s for a photo opportunity. I don’t see any cameras in here, so please leave.”

The pride that I felt in her bravery was huge. I’d seen how upset and scared she was the night I’d taken her back to my house. This was a different Amber from then. Jimmy saw it too. His eyes were narrowed in a frown.

“I don’t know what you think I’m going to do to you,” he said in a bored tone.

“It’s what you’ve already done.” She took a step forward and it took everything I had not to grab her hand. For support. For peace of mind. I didn’t, though, I knew she needed to do this alone. Jimmy needed to see how strong she was.

“For fuck’s sake, Amber. You need to let it drop.”

Amber shook her head. “No, I don’t, Jimmy. And I never will. You’ve spent years making my life awful and then you hit me. That is unforgiveable and I was not willing to risk you doing worse.”

“Worse. What sort of person do you think I am?”

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