The Amendment (Arrangement #2)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

PETER

“ Y ou seem different this evening. Is everything okay?” Joanna asked, watching me from across the room. I’d spent most of the session pacing after my fight with Ainsley, but I didn’t want to tell her that.

I didn’t want to talk about Ainsley at all, truth be told.

“Yeah, everything’s fine.” I took a seat, trying to quiet my fidgeting. “Just a rough week at work.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“I don’t want to bore you.”

Her smile was stiff. She seemed tired.

“How are things at home? Have you thought about bringing Annie back for a session?”

“You know I can’t do that,” I said with a scoff.

“She won’t come?”

Why was she talking about Ainsley so much? Why did she care? Wasn’t I enough for her?

“Truth be told, I don’t know how much longer we’re going to be together. ”

She sucked in a gasp, obviously concerned. Or was she excited? I couldn’t tell. We both knew she wanted me.

In due time, Joanna.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be sorry.”

She cocked her head to the side, teasing me. “Why’s that?”

“You know why…” I growled, standing up and moving toward her. I sat on the table between us. For a moment, I thought she might scold me, but instead, she sat still. A smile formed on her lips.

“She doesn’t understand you…” she said.

You understand me. Don’t you, Joanna?

“She doesn’t,” I admitted, swallowing. “Not like you.”

The smile faded from her lips momentarily, her doe eyes staring up at me from behind thick, dark lashes—wanting me, teasing me. She was daring me to go for it. To cross the line we never had.

I leaned forward, ever so slowly.

“Not like me,” she confirmed.

“We shouldn’t…” I told her, leaning forward more. We shouldn’t, but we didn’t care. She closed her eyes, giving me all the permission I needed. In seconds, my mouth was on hers. I cupped her face with both hands, parting her lips with my tongue. Her breaths were shaky with passion and anticipation.

I released her, sitting back on the table.

“Why’d you stop?” she asked, her lips red.

If I didn’t, I might never be able to.

“We have to take this slow,” I warned, though slow was the last speed I wanted to take. I wanted her then and now, but if there was one thing I knew, it was that nothing was ever as exciting as the first time with someone new.

Joanna deserved the perfect first time.

She pushed out her bottom lip, pouting, and I popped it with my finger. “Nice girls don’t beg.”

She batted her eyelashes at me playfully. “Who says I’m a nice girl?”

I pressed my lips to hers one last time, then forced myself to step away. “You are a nice girl, Joanna. That’s why I want to do this right. I can’t…I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“I feel the same way.”

“I know we didn’t meet in the most ideal way, but however we came together, I’m just so glad we did.”

“So, tell Annie the truth.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Understand what?” she asked, shaking her head.

“She’d never let me go. Not ever.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s obvious you’re not happy. People get divorced all the time.”

“Not Annie.”

“What do you mean? What could she possibly do?”

I began pacing, trying to think. “She’d do anything to keep me. She’s dangerous. If she knew about you, about us, she’d kill you.”

Fear flickered in her eyes, and I returned to her. “Don’t worry. That’s why we’re taking this slow. It’s to protect you.”

“You wouldn’t let her hurt me, would you?” she asked, not appearing entirely reassured .

I sat down in front of her again, my hands on her knees. “I’ll always protect you, Joanna. But you have to trust me on this. You have to let me handle her.”

“I do trust you,” she vowed. “Of course I do.”

“Good.”

“And you can trust me.”

I nodded. I knew I could. “I do trust you.”

“Then that’s all that matters. We’ll be together when we can.”

I smiled at her. “As soon as we can.”