Page 31 of Yours Suddenly

I fall into his arms, squeezing his neck tightly. “Thank you!” I cry.

He smiles. “You're welcome. But that's not it,” he says. He takes my hand and leads me inside. On a small TV screen, the lettersYours Forever, Sinclairshow.

“Wait, wait!” I say. “How did you get this? It just came out in theaters, and shouldn't come out on digital for weeks!”

“Had a little call with the director and he was willing to give me the director's cut.”He smirks. “For a price.”

“What was the price?”

“About two million.”

My jaw drops open. “Roman,” I say, “that's insane!”

He pulls me into his arms. “Anything for you, baby.Anything.”

“Wow... And how long is the director's cut?” I ask.

“It's slightly longer than the movie. About five hours. We get to see exclusive content.”

“Oh my…” I groan. “I think I'm going to come. Literally.”

“Potentially save that for later,” he deadpans.

“Why wait?” I say. “I'm so close, don't edge me.”

“I won't waste any more time then. Let's have dinner before it gets cold. I want you well-fed and energetic, then I'll take you up on your offer.”

Ooh, so business-y. Who knew business talk could be so hot?

An appetizer of charcuterie and caviar, a main course of filet mignon, asparagus, lobster tails, and high-quality risotto. And for dessert, chocolate fondue. We watch the sun sink into the ocean, the bond between us being reignited.

I missed this. So much.

But still…

“Alexandra,” he says, looking at me unflinchingly. And then, as if he read my mind: “There were no other women. There have never been any other women.”

My breath catches. My throat threatens to close up. “But the woman at the Ipling.”

He shakes his head. “Nothing happened between me and her. Nothing.”

“So why did you humiliate me in front of everyone like that?”

With the memory, a cloud comes over our dinner.

“I had to… with so much happening behind the scenes…” he says, his voice a little hoarse with emotion. He shakes his head as if the image had come back to him, tohaunthim. “And it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Please forgive me.”

He says it so earnestly, his face open, that… I decide I believe him.

Maybe there's so much about his world I don't understand, things I have to live with and it makes me sad. But knowing he hasn't actually been going behind my back has filled me with a much-needed reassurance that was absent from my body for a while.

“Roman, I believe you,” I say finally.

His whole body relaxes at my words. “I'm glad,” he breathes out.

I stand up and take his hand. “Come.”

This time I lead. Into the interior, and when I reach the bed, I turn to face him and he crashes his mouth onto mine. So starved of me was he.

---