Page 89 of Perfect Satisfaction

Arek will leave me.

Again.

This time for good.

There’s nothing left I have he wants.

“Sure. But like I said, no snooping. You never know what you’ll find in there.” I toss off the comment as lightly as I can. “I might be keeping a six-foot boa constrictor in there.”

Arek shudders. “Now that’s just cruel, Ursula.”

This time I have to roll my lips together to keep my laugh from emerging. Arek’s fear of snakes is something he made no bones about when we first started dating.

“You don’t understand, Sula.”

I’m too busy laughing to answer him, so I just flap a hand in his direction.

“They slither without a sound. Then the next thing...” Arek leaps on top of me.

I shriek but not with fear. Wiping tears from my face, I declare, “I’m about to need the loo from laughing.”

“Good, then my job is done.”

“What if I have to escape off the balcony due to a fire? What if your ‘snake’ gets loose?”

My lips twitch. “Obviously, I’m not about to see you set ablaze or choked to death.”

We grin at each other and just like the first night, burning heat begins to sizzle between us. Humor fades as the desire that’s always existed between us begins to gently fill the air.

My lips tremble as he pushes a single lock of hair past my ear. He doesn’t say a word to break the spell.

Neither do I.

Because once words have been said, we might never recover from them. We’ll sure as hell never forget them. Once again, we might have to forgive each other.

And ourselves.

CHAPTERFORTY-THREE

At the local hot dog stand near my office, I overheard a conversation I had to take part in.

Two hotel employees were confused about why the white noise machines in the rooms were set to city sounds. Their incredulity makes complete sense to me.

You’re visiting New York City—the city that never sleeps. Don’t we make enough noise for you? If not, I highly suggest visiting any concert at Madison Square Garden.

—StellaNova

That night, I’m lying in bedwhen she enters the room. She comes to a standstill the moment she finds me waiting.

Remembering.

At least a hundred nights pass between our minds without a single word.

“Sweet dreams.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”