Contract Hearts

h's

She looked amazing tonight. She had this mysterious look about her like she was wearing armor made of silk and diamonds. I

And I still wanted her so badly. I hated how it made me feel, wanting her body against mine even t

r breath caught when I held her close and how soft her mouth felt u

only she could hear, "yo

back with a warning i

ight. She was closing a door tha

as here for a charity event for a hospital board, though I hadn't paid much attention to it i

behind the bar with a glass of scotch in his hand, looking around the room with that easy, joking look he al

at I had suddenly gotten married. As Sofia and I walked toward him, I saw the look of recognition in his ey

quickly. She had gone pale, her body tense, her e

't fool me. He was studying her like he was looking for answers written

nything. "Sofia?" He lowered his voic

r a moment I thought she might lie. T

I blinked something dark mixed with

and had no humor in i

" Sofia whispered, keeping eye co

mentioned Sofia in any of our talks. "How long

overwhelming. "Three years, Josh. We were together for almost two yea

ilt? Or som

me," I said, my

relevant," she s

tension like breaking glass. "Sofia, we wer

like a bomb waiting to go off. So

ugh," she s

his-" he gestured with his scotch glass between us, "is what, exactly? Di

room. I only had to turn my head for a second. Sofia had already s

I could follow. "She didn't

at the hell happen

ad ever seen them. "Ask your wife, Josh. But be ready, So

ce, her arms wrapped around hers

me," I said, walking

, staring at the distant skyline. "When I le

ere en

inched

u just.

ence wa

" I said. "But you're

your trust." Her vo

to give it t

at me, her face looked p

ehind us. Then she leaned into me, which surprised me. Not much. Just an inch. But it was en

ered, my name break

e kissed her. I almost did. But instead, I asked the q

inked.

rcu

ack. "It's n

at is it

"It's about not making

we went back in, the silence was louder than the orchestra. Marcus had left

home. We barely said good night. No kisses. No

ainst the wood, listening to the soft sounds of her m

g a drink I didn't want. The house felt to

Then she was in the doorway, barefoot, with her dark hair loose a

and there was something vulnera

t sleep?

the kitchen. The dim light caught

ft like that tonight

shouldn

ted. I never though

oked at her face. "What we

rd. I could smell her perfume and see

g," she sa

d first. Between us was a charge of energy, desire, and three yea

. "You can trust me, even though I know this isn't

then her composure broke. She buried her face a

r trust each other. Everything is

t disappear if I let go. She felt small against me, fragile i

o her hair. "I'm sorry I'm d

ars still on her lashes

ough the kitchen window lit up the silver in her

ine, barely a kiss

and wiped away the tears

lling me closer as her mouth pressed against mine with wild passion. I pushed her against the ma

d her collarbone. My fingers moved over the silk at her wa

lips and the way she said my nam

ne, in the way her lips tasted. Her hands moved up my chest, he

uzzed on the co

tried to ignore it to get the moment

ps swollen from our kiss, her brea

the message preview: We nee

n just enough to drive me crazy, her eyes soft and vulnerable in a way I had nev

g in my stom

"Everything okay?" like sh

o look fine. "Just work

n't either. But Marcus's words from earlier stuck in my hea

in flashing across her

ibs as I watched her turn to