Page 55 of The Cold Ride

His cock nudged my entrance. And then he pressed inside, driving his cock deep and deeper still until he buried himself fully. James held still, giving my body time to adjust to the fullness.

Rocking my hips, greedy for friction, he moved. Flexing his hips, he glided deep, our hips smacking together. He thrust slowly, letting me feel every inch. He surrounded me with his big body, and I hooked my legs around his waist, pulling him even deeper inside.

My hands slid to his back. I loved the way his muscles flowed beneath my fingertips. And he loved me, telling me with his body what his mouth had been unable to profess.

He cared about me. Maybe even loved me.

And just how much tonight mattered.

He never increased his pace, just kept pumping with slow rocking thrusts. And it’s why when the climax rose up around me and swept me out to sea, I was a writhing, gasping mess. He joined me in bliss, following me over and filling me up. And I wished I wasn’t on birth control. Because I wanted another baby with him. I wanted everything with James.

James looked at me then. “Rory, I—”

I cut him off, needing to clear the air completely before we went any further. Because I promised myself if I ever got the chance to love him again, there would be no more secrets between us. “No, before you say anything. I need to show you something.”

“All right.” He rolled to my side, his gaze heavy and sated.

I slid off the bed. Then I padded over to my dresser and withdrew the envelope from Evan. It was time. Because if we couldn’t move past his reservations about me, about us, there was no future. And I couldn’t continue to hope for a future that might never be.

With my heart racing, clutching the envelope, I headed back to bed. “I want you to read the letter Evan sent me.”

22

Trepidation filled me as I sat up. “Are you sure? That was a private letter for you. I don’t want to encroach unless you’re one hundred percent certain.”

She knelt beside me, her hair disheveled, looking lovelier than any woman had a right to. “James, I know I messed up with us. And I did it because I wasn’t honest with you that night and then freaked out afterward because I’d omitted that I was married to Evan. But I want us. I want us to try for real this time. And not for Amelia, but becausewewant to make it work between us. But to do that, there can’t be any secrets between us, especially not about anything this big. I want you to read it.”

My heart expanded. Love for her filled the dark corners of my soul. How could I say no? She had her heart in her eyes. And after confessing that she hadn’t been with another man since we first slept together, I wanted everything she had said and more. “I want that too.”

She pulled it from the envelope and handed it over. Unfolding it, I began to read.

Hey Lorelei,

I know it’s been a hot minute. I’m sorry that we lost touch these past few years. That’s on me. I was pissed after the divorce. It wasn’t you I was upset with, but myself. I know I failed you, and the bulk of the blame for our marriage going sideways was my fault.

We were kids when we got married. And I did love you, sweetheart. But I know my unfaithfulness hurt you. That’s on me. And I didn’t cheat because I didn’t love you. I was messed up. There were things that happened on deployment that made me a bit crazy.

That doesn’t excuse the fact that I cheated on you more than once. I know I drove you into James’s arms.

My brave, sweet Rory, he needs to know his daughter. And I know you well enough that you won’t do something about it. You need security too much. And you can hate me for rocking your boat, but it’s what James needs. And in the end, you do too.

There’s a letter for James in the envelope. Give it to him when you’re ready. And it’s okay if you never are.

I know I don’t deserve it, but I hope one day you’ll forgive me. Be happy, Rory. You deserve it.

All my love,

Evan

“That son of a bitch knew about Amelia and didn’t tell me. Where’s his damn letter?” I snarled as rage filled me. How could he have kept this from me? Rory, I understood. But Evan?

She handed it over and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her hands were shaking. My heart squeezed at her fear. But my anger overrode my good sense. I couldn’t focus on that right now. My head spun over the knowledge that Evan knew about Amelia and didn’t fucking tell me.

Practically ripping the envelope with my name on it from inside the other. I opened it, tensing at whatever revelations this letter was about to drop in my lap.

James, my dude,

I knew about the two of you. She confessed everything after we finalized the divorce. She explained how you two met and that it was cataclysmic.

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