Page 20 of Rhythm Of Redemption

Her words tumbled out uncertain and vulnerable. “I’m … well, I just want you to know that this isn’t the kind of thing I usually do, jumping into bed with men I barely know.” A brief pause hung in the air before she continued, “Or men I do know, come to that.”

Confusion flickered across his face. “So, you’re gay?”

An exasperated sigh escaped her lips as she clarified, “No … no. I'm not gay. What makes you think that?”

A mixture of bewilderment and curiosity played across his face as he confessed, “Okay, so now I’m confused. If you don’t sleep with men and you don’t sleep with women, then who do you sleep with?”

The words slipped out with a hint of sadness. “No one. Well, not since my husband left anyway,” she admitted.

He nodded in understanding, his gaze gentle as he enquired, “Right. And how long ago did your husband leave?”

With a touch of hesitancy, she answered, “About eighteen months ago … although it had been at least six months before that since we’d last had sex. And honestly, I don't even know why I'm telling you this.”

A long breath escaped him, accompanied by an exclamation, “Fuck me!” His words were laden with surprise and disbelief. “No wonder you were gagging for it.”

Playfully, she struck his chest with her arm, retorting, “Hey! I absolutely was not gagging for it.”

“No?” he queried, raising an eyebrow.

“No,” she emphasised, her tone resolute.

“I just don’t get it. How can you go two years without sex? Is something wrong with you?” His words spilled out with a blend of curiosity and confusion.

“No, there’s not something wrong with me. I was just busy, that's all,” she explained, her voice holding a hint of defensiveness.

“What? Too busy to have sex?” he pressed on, seeking further understanding.

With a touch of frustration, she responded, “Yes, I was too busy bringing up my daughter and trying to keep a roof over our heads to worry about having sex. Okay?”

“Okay,” he conceded. “But two years without sex. No wonder you were so uptight when we first met.”

Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as she abruptly hit the brakes. “Don’t even go there,” she warned. “The reason I was so uptight had nothing to do with my lack of sexual pleasure. It was because I had no idea where the hell my fifteen-year-old daughter was, okay?” she clarified, her frustration still there in her voice.

He offered an apologetic smile and raised his palms in a gesture of surrender. “Sorry,” he said sincerely. “But you know, it would definitely do wonders for your stress levels if you had more sex.” His playful tone was evident, and she couldn't help but wonder if he had a point.

She couldn't help but smile at his light banter. “Is that why you’re always so relaxed?” she quipped, a hint of curiosity in her voice. “Lots of sex?”

Uttering the timeless phrase, he said, “A gentleman never kisses and tells.”

She burst into laughter, finding his claim amusing. “Ha! You? A gentleman?” Her laughter continued. “If you're a gentleman, then … I’m a lady.”

“Honey,” he responded with a teasing grin, wincing in mock pain when she playfully smacked his chest again. “After that performance in the bedroom last night, and again this morning, you ain’t no lady.”

Chapter nine

The bright blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea stretched out for miles, reflecting the morning sun like diamonds on rippling silk as Lou expertly manoeuvred the car along the winding roads, her foot pressing lightly against the accelerator. In stolen moments, Logan's eyes drifted to her, a mixture of excitement and uncertainty coursing through his veins. Last night had awakened something deep within him, a connection that surpassed the physical.

For a man who had embraced casual encounters, this newfound vulnerability rattled him to the core. He had spent years shielding himself from emotional entanglements, crafting walls to safeguard his fragile heart. Yet, Lou had effortlessly shattered those defences, leaving him exposed and questioning everything he thought he knew.

Each curve of the road mirrored the whirlwind of emotions inside him. What if Lou, having glimpsed the man behind the mask, rejected him? The fear of disappointing her chipped away at his usually unshakable self-confidence. The crossroads of vulnerability and self-preservation tugged at his heart. He felt his chest tighten as he tried to reconcile his desire for connection and his fear of vulnerability.

Was he brave enough to expose his true self, risking heartbreak and rejection? Or would he retreat to the emptiness of shallow connections after tasting something deeper with Lou?

As they left the hills of Portinatx behind, they ventured through the town, Lou following his instructions towards his house. Arriving at the front gates, he anticipated the usual reactions of awe and admiration for his stunning house, along with the usual comments about how lucky he was to live there. But if Lou thought any of these things, she certainly didn't let on. With a simple click of the key fob, the gates swung open, and they began to proceed along the driveway, Lou's car audibly straining and groaning as it wrestled with the steep incline and winding curves.

When they rounded the bend, a fleet of police cars came into view, surrounded by uniformed police officers scurrying about the place like a colony of ants. It seemed like overkill for a simple incident involving an underage girl in his club.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” he bellowed at a nearby policeman, hastily exiting the vehicle.

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