Page 19 of Curves and Courage

I want this to work. I want Samuel to be the one.

My heart slams against my rib cage as I drum my fingers on the door. The handle twists, and there he is. His big, thick and powerful body, staring back at me. His handsome features are emotionless, his eyes hard as he looks down at me.

“Stella, come in.”

Shit.

This can go one of two ways.

And I might not ever be the same after we’re done here.

Chapter Eight

Samuel

Istand at the door of the penthouse, my hand shaking so bad I can barely grip the handle. The knock has rattled me and I can barely move my legs are that damn heavy.

It’s not that I don’t want to see Stella. I’ve fucking missed her today, more than anything. But the weight of what’s about to happen feels like it might crush me, once and for all.

The moment I saw the message flash on my screen, I knew she’s come here to talk about it. She’s too smart, and with a day to work through her thoughts, she’s here for answers.

I take a deep breath, knowing that once I open this door, everything will change. I steady myself, fill my lungs, and pull it open.

And there she is.

Her sweet caramel hair is still damp, hopefully from a day well spent at the spa. She looks more beautiful than ever, her skin glowing with that fresh, radiant look that makes her seem almost ethereal.

My gaze drifts down her figure. She’s wearing that soft, pink sundress that hugs her curves just right. For a moment, I consider pulling her against me, forgetting what needs to be said between us and just giving into temptation again.

But I can’t.

“Stella,” I say, my voice rough with the emotions I’m trying to hold in. “Come in.”

She steps inside, her eyes searching mine like we’re two strangers again. I hate it. Fucking hate it. There’s worry etched on her face, too, and knowing I’m responsible for that makes me want to punch myself in the face.

I close the door behind her and turn, trying to find the right words. I want to tell her she smells amazing. I want to say how stunning that dress is, how sexy her body is. But I don’t. Instead, I just stand there, watching her as she moves further into the room, her presence filling the space with a warmth that wasn’t here before.

“Samuel,” she says softly, her voice pulling me from my thoughts. “We need to talk.”

I nod, my throat tight. “I know. Let’s sit down.”

She agrees and flattens her dress out as she takes a seat on the sofa. I follow and sit down beside her, wanting to be right beside her, but instead, keeping a slight distance. I don’t trust myself to be too close right now. Not when I’m about to tell her everything.

There’s a brief silence between us, the air thicker than ever. Slowly, she turns to face me, her eyes heavy with emotion.

“I hated today,” she says, her words catching me off guard. “I missed you this morning.”

My head drops. “I’m sorry, I just had to-”

“What do you want, Samuel? What is this? What are we doing here?”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I close my eyes, hating that I’ve let her down. I can’t help but picture her lying inthe bed behind us, looking around the room, searching for me. And I wasn’t there.

I squeeze my eyes tight, trying to gather the courage to say what needs to be said. When I open them again, she’s watching me with those big, honey-brown eyes, so full of concern and care that it almost undoes me.

“You,” I finally say, the word coming out like a confession. “I want you, Stella. But I don’t deserve you. I can’t have you.”

She frowns, confusion and hurt flashing in her eyes. “What do you mean? Why not?”

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