Page 68 of Tell Me What You Want

“Jude ... you’re special to me, very special.” Again, our eyes meet for a few intense seconds. “You can’t leave my side without an explanation and expect me not to lose my mind with worry. I’d rather you just come to my door and say goodbye than to think you’re there and discover you’re not. Are we in agreement here?”

“I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to call you a dickhead, or worse.”

“Well, if it’s necessary, call me a dickhead.”

“Don’t give me any ideas,” I say, joking.

His mouth relaxes.

“Please, don’t ever leave again without telling me first.”

“Fine. Anyway, I was going to go back to finish our work.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“Why not?”

“Something’s come up.”

“Have you fired me? I haven’t even called you a dickhead yet.”

Eric grins and shoves another truffle into my mouth, to shut me up, I suppose.

“I’ve canceled next week’s meetings. I’ll reschedule them for another time. I’m going back to Germany. There’s something I need to take care of that can’t wait.”

The truffle and the news upset my stomach.

He’s leaving.

“Are you going back with Amanda?” I ask, again unable to keep my mouth shut.

“No, I believe she flew back today. And as far as Amanda is concerned, she’s a work colleague and a friend. That’s all. This morning she told me about her visit to your room and ...”

“Have you ever spent the night with her?”

“No.”

His answer doesn’t convince me.

“Have you played around with her?”

He leans back on the couch and nods.

“That, yes.”

I copy him and lean back too. But now my mood is very different.

“Did you have a good time?”

“I would have had a better time with you.”

“Yes, of course.”

“I’m incredibly curious about you, and you bring me great joy. Right now, you’re the woman I want the most. Don’t doubt it, sweetness.”

“Right now?”

“Yes, Jude.”

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