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He stilled inside her, asking "Nicola?" and she realized he was still worried about hurting her

She replied first by rocking her hips closer to his, then by saying, "Perfect Absolutely perfect"

And as they both found the peak and jumped off one more time, it really was

When they were about to step out of her hotel room a short while later, she steeled herself to deal hat needed to be dealt with

"Why don’t you go down first and I’ll meet you by the side entrance?" She lifted her baseball cap and big sunglasses out of her bag "I’ll be wearing these and an oversized shirt"

Fifteen o she’d been war how to get out of the hotel without being seen together And she hated it, hated being able to see the contrast so clearly

"I don’t like doing things this way, Nicola"

"I don’t either, but--" She sighed, shook her head "What do you think about Smith’s life?"

"He’s done well for himself I’m proud of him"

"Yes, but do you envy him? Have you ever wished you could be on TV and have woraph?"

"Hell, no"

She’d known that would be his response "I know you hate having to hide like this, but you’d hate ould happen to your life if we did it the other way even more"

Marcus stared at her for several tense moments "I’ll meet you downstairs"

She watched hi a little too hard behind him, and she had to s past the lump in her throat She hated that he was upset, but she knew she had to stand fir anyone know about their relationship

Not because she had anyher like her ex had Marcus clearly had zero interest in fahts And she was pretty sure he didn’t need thein