Page 15 of Rekindled Desires

“This isn’t your fault, you know.”

I whipped my head up, searching his face. He dragged me into his arms, tucking my head under his chin.

“Baby, why the hell would you blame yourself? This isn’t your fault. You didn’t ask for this to happen.”

I let out a strangled sob, trembling against him. He only released me long enough to sweep me into his arms, sitting back on the bed with his body wrapped around mine. He pressed kisses to my forehead as I cried, petting my hair lightly.

“You didn’t kill him, did you?”

He scoffed. “No, little shit got off easy. There were too many people.”

When I pulled back to look at him, I thought he might be joking. But his face was impassive, his jaw clenched. He wasn’t kidding. He would have killed Kyle, given the chance. And not one part of me felt bad about that. Not after what Kyle did.

His gaze slid to mine as he regarded me, probably waiting for me to freak out. Instead, I leaned up and pressed a small kiss to his cheek. His eyebrows flew up and I ducked my head, blushing. I jumped from his lap, pretending to look through my bag. I wanted to change my clothes anyway. The sweater/costume combo wasn’t really working for me.

It wasn’t until after I came back out of the bathroom in a fresh pair of leggings and a t-shirt under my hoodie that I realized I haven’t eaten today. My stomach growled loudly as I stuffed my costume back in my bag.

“Think they deliver pizza to hotel rooms?”

James was laying on the bed near the window, scrolling on his phone. He was so tall, his feet were on the floor and he still took up most of the bed. I sat on the corner, curling my feet underneath me.

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”

I didn’t actually want him to leave but I didn’t want to keep him here either. He probably had a girlfriend or something waiting for him.

He didn’t even glance at me. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

“Seriously, James. I really appreciate your help but I don’t want to keep you. I’m sure you’re busy.”

He rolled onto his side, propping his head up with his hand. “Do you want me to go?”

I hesitated for a second before I shook my head, staring at my hands.

“Then I’m not going anywhere.”

Butterflies exploded in my stomach and I bit my lip, keeping my eyes averted. Please don’t be nice to me if you’re just going to leave. Today was hard enough.

“You know, the last time you wouldn’t look at me, I had to kiss you to get your attention.”

My cheeks burned as I jerked my head up to look at him. He smirked at me before dropping back onto the bed and looking at his phone again.

“So, pizza?”

* * *

At no pointin the last eighteen months did I think I would be eating pizza and watching tv in a hotel with my ex. If you could even call him that. It was only a week’s long relationship. But he felt important then, he still does, so I figure it counts.

He had taken off his suit jacket, tossing it over the back of the chair by the table. His tie was loose and the top few buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned. He had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing two full tattoo sleeves running all the way down to his wrists. I never noticed before because he was always wearing long sleeve shirts. It was winter the last time we were together. I did my best not to stare, or drool for that matter. Tattoos on guys are hot. Tattoos on anyone are hot. But James was hot all on his own so it was even worse.

I pulled the hoodie over my knees, enveloping myself in it. I had already eaten two slices of pizza and I was full. James looked like he might finish off the rest, which was insane. He raised an eyebrow at me.

“You know, if you tip over you’re probably gonna get hurt.”

I made a face. “Unless you push me, I’m not going to tip over. I’m not that unbalanced.” He snorted and I gaped at him. “I’m not!”

“Need I remind you about the ice incident?”

I threw a napkin at him. “That’s not fair, you fell too!”

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