“What are we?—”
“No talking,” he said.
I snapped my mouth closed, and he pulled me tightly against his chest.
I lay back against him for a long time before he finally spoke.
“I know you don’t belong to me anymore. You have a new life. New guys. You’re married. Our time is over. I get it.” He breathed out. “I am not going to put you into a position where I ask you to choose them or me. I know I’ve already lost. I’m not stupid. It’s also not fair for me to make you choose.”
I cried softly at his words.
He wound his arms tightly around me and kissed my temple fiercely. We stayed that way for a long time before he started washing me. I let him.
He tenderly ran his fingers along my pussy before he kissed my shoulder.
“I can’t remember last night,” he whispered against my skin as he pulled his fingers away and trailed them along my thigh. “But I know you, Rosebud. I’m sure it was perfection. I will cherish it forever.” He kissed my cheek before he got out of the tub. I watched him dry off and pull on a clean pair of boxers before he came back to me and helped me out of the tub. With ease, he dried me before taking me back to the bedroom, where he got me clean panties and a new bra before dressing me like I was going to break.
And maybe I would.
“The sweatpants are a little big,” he said. “So is the shirt, but you look good.”
My cheeks heated at his words.
I watched as he rewrapped my ankle and propped it up on the pillow. He covered me, grabbed some pain meds, and placed bottled water next to my bed before he went into the kitchen and made a sandwich for me. I watched him slide it into a plastic bag before he placed it on the table next to the water and meds.
He cleaned the room quickly, took the strap-on to the bathroom, and washed it before returning without it.
“Cole?”
He looked at me, so much turmoil in his eyes, it broke my heart.
“I’m going to go,” he said, his voice shaking.
“Where? You’re leaving me?”
“I’m going to let you go. I just need to get some things in order. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone I had you. Just… tell them you needed time away or something.”
I nodded, my throat tight.
“I’ll be back in a few days?—”
“A few days?” My heart pounded at his words.
“I’ll come in and check on you, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be too close, OK? Just let me get some stuff sorted so I can get you out of here. Then we’ll be done.”
“Done?”
“You have other men. I’m not one of them. You fucked around on them with me. Not that it’s your fault. We apparently got the wrong fucking strain of sugar, so that’s on me and probably E. But I know when I’ve lost.” He came to me and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead before he walked to the door.
“Cole!” I called out, my voice shaking and my tears flowing.
He paused and looked over his shoulder at me.
“I love you,” he said softly. “I’m sorry for fucking up your happiness. Goodbye, Rosebud.”
And with those words, he left, the door clicking locked behind him.
And me?
