Page 134 of Torrid Love

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I draw in a shaky breath and wipe my cheeks. I blink, and I’m back, missing the blissfulness I left behind in LA before Rod’s troubling phone call.

Do I tell him?

This would destroy him.

I doubt I could handle it if he looked at me differently, and treated me differently.

This would destroyme.

How can he possibly deal with me being soiled and tainted?

This would destroyus.

Breathe.

I love Rod so much I can’t risk bringing up the past. Not to mention, Gideon is just passing through. His life is in London now—far away from me.

Breathe.

Just when I was willing to allow myself to ignore the shadows of the past, they come looming back into my life, threatening to shatter a perfect relationship. A perfect love.

CHAPTER 29

Roderick

“It’s good to be us,” Loki says before bringing his glass to his lips.

“Damn right!”

We’re sitting in a booth at Vego’s Lounge finishing off a second glass of champagne.

“I can’t believe you managed to impose that clause in the contract and Veemonth Records’ lawyers agreed.”

“They need us more than we need them,” I say.

“You’re right. A few edgy videos could double their downloads overnight.”

“Dom is already excited and her head is bursting with ideas.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“Yeah, my girl’s pretty creative,” I wink.

“Your girl,” Loki echoes. “I can’t believe how much this relationship has changed you, Rod.”

“She’s changed me for the best.”

Those words feel sorely inadequate, though I’m not sure how to phrase how this woman makes me feel.

“Wow,” Loki says, “I’m blown away. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get over this.”

“You have plenty of time. Things are pretty great between the two of us. She’s a keeper.”

“Ifyoucan be tamed, anything is possible,” he chuckles.

“Don’t be so down on yourself. There’s a woman out there who would be willing to accept all of your many, many, many flaws,” I joke.

“Fucker.”

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