Page 6 of The Hotel Room

His mind kept circling back to his conversation with Nick—the careless ease in his voice, the way he’d described the thrill of someonenew. The chase. The rush of not being known.

James stared up at the ceiling, the ache twisting tighter.

It wasn’t like he didn’t love Kate. Of course he did. She was everything—his best friend, the mother of his children, the one constant since he was seventeen years old.

But that was the problem, wasn’t it?

She waseverything.

The only thing.

He’d never felt what it was like to be with someone else. Not once. Not a kiss. Not a drunken mistake. Not even temptation.

The thoughts festered.

Not because he wanted to leave her. God, he didn’t. But there was this gnawing, restless itch he couldn’t silence—the question. The one Nick had so easily voiced.

What are you missing?

James shifted on the pillow, tightening his hold on Kate’s waist like that could somehow anchor him in the present. She sighed softly in her sleep, instinctively leaning closer, trusting even in unconsciousness.

He felt sick.

This wasn’t her fault. She’d done nothing wrong. She still wanted him.

But maybe—maybe that was the problem. She still looked at him like he was the same James who had once swept her off her feet. The same boy she married at eighteen.

Buthewasn’t sure who he was anymore.

There was a work trip next week.

New York. Corporate, sleek. The kind of place where no one knew him. Where he could be…anyone.

It hit him then. Cold and certain.

He owed it to her to get this out of his head.

It was selfish, yes. Maybe even cruel. But wasn’t itworseto keep this resentment bottled up? Wasn’t it more dangerous to let these thoughts fester and rot under the surface?

If he just…did it.

One time. A clean break. Some nameless woman who meantnothing.

It wouldn’t be emotional. Not like with Kate. Just…physical. Scratching an itch so he could finally,finallystop feeling this pull.

He could get it out of his system. Just once.

Then it would be over.

Kate shifted again, her hand slipping over his wrist, so trusting, so familiar.

James swallowed the shame rising in his chest.

If she knew the thoughts in his head right now, it would break her.

But she didn’t need to know.

Because helovedher.

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