Page 121 of Strictly Business

“Goddamn, I missed you,” he grunts as he closes the distance between us. His hands slide to my waist, his cologne enveloping me as he leans down to kiss me.

At the last second, I turn my face, and his lips land on my cheek instead.

He pauses, his breath warm against my skin, and pulls back slightly. “Everything okay?”

I force a smile. “Yeah. Just tired.”

He chuckles. “I bet.” His eyes flick to the boutique bag on the couch. “How was shopping?”

“Good.”

His grin widens. “I’ve been thinking about it all day. What’d you pick out?”

I step back, trying to shove down the ache in my chest. “I should get Pumpkin some food.”

“I can do that,” he offers, crouching down to scratch Pumpkin behind the ears. She arches into his touch, purring contentedly.I watch him for a moment, the tenderness of his movements stirring something deep within me.

She used to hate men, but like me, she fell for him. And it was all a lie.

For months, I lived in a bubble, thinking this life was somehow… real. A life where he treated me like I was everything, where he took care of me, kissed me like he meant it, told me I was beautiful.

I let myself believe it.

The ache in my chest sharpens, and I turn away, grabbing Pumpkin’s food. “I’ll do it,” I murmur, knowing it’s better she doesn’t get any more attached. In two weeks, we’ll be gone, and it’ll hurt her more then.

“Okay.” He stands straight, his eyes locking on mine. “Are you hungry? I can make us something.”

“No, I’m fine,” I say, busying myself with the food.

He doesn’t press, but I can tell he knows something’s off. He presses his lips to the top of my head, and the intimacy of the gesture freezes me in place. How could he do that when it means nothing to him?

“I’m gonna go take a shower,” he tells me, stepping away.

Once the bedroom door shuts, I close my eyes, and tears fall freely. How can he lie to me like this? How can he pretend to care when his words are so cold, so detached, when he thinks I’m not listening?

I thought I could handle it. I thought I could make it through until the contract ended. But I can’t. I can’t stay here, sleep in the same bed as him, knowing it’s all just a game to him, a way to pass the time until we’re out of each other’s lives.

After feeding Pumpkin, I crawl into bed, pulling the covers up tightly around me.

Nicholas joins me a few minutes later, the bathroom door swinging open, steam billowing out as he walks in, a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water clinging to his body.

Against my will, my eyes drop to take him in. Hot and wet andugh… I roll over quickly, my back to him, squeezing my eyes shut. I’m still so attracted to him. My heart still beats for him. And he doesn’t care about me at all.

A minute later, I feel the bed dip as he slides in beside me. I hold my breath, hoping he’ll just go to sleep. But I feel him inch closer.

“You never did show me what you bought,” he murmurs, his hand grazing my hip. His lips find my neck, and I freeze.

“Red,” I whisper, the word slipping out before I can stop it.

He pulls away immediately, his hand falling back. “Okay,” he says, his voice soft but tinged with a hint of concern.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. I’ve never turned him down, never wanted to. But the thought of him touching me when I know he doesn’t feel the same hurts too much. I can’t do it. Not tonight.

There’s a pause. Then he shifts closer, his lips brushing my temple. “You don’t need to apologize, honey. I’m more than happy to just lie here with you.”

My heart twists painfully. The sincerity in his voice almost breaks me. But I can’t. Not after what I heard.

“Everything okay?” he asks, quietly.

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