Remorse (Rhodes #0.5) by Rina Kent

His long, lean fingers reach for me, raking up my arms in a sensual caress until tingles erupt in their wake. Although the most logical solution is to yank my arm and run, energy rushes through me and roots my feet in place. Despite the cold, my skin heats and goosebumps erupt on the surface. Just like those years ago, all he has to do is touch me and my body and mind become enchanted to him.

That’s why he’s too dangerous for me.

“You’re stunning tonight.” His cool voice drifts around me causing a shiver to draw up my spine. “You always are.”

You, too. Instead, I say, “Let go.”

“Is that all you have to say after all this time?”

“L-let me go, Arthur.” My whisper doesn’t even convince my own ears.

He shakes his head, a small smile curves his lips. “Not until you face it.”

“Face what?”

“This. Us.” His strong hand clasps around mine, and he pulls me close. My breasts flush against his hard chest as my other palm lands on his shoulder for balance. “You can’t deny this connection between us.”

My breaths turn shallow, and my body moulds to his like it’s always belonged there.

He’s right. There’s a spark, a flame that couldn’t be extinguished even during all these years. That’s why I left – and that’s why I need to leave now.

Once again, he will lure me in, then abandon me. I can’t be that woman anymore.

I’m about to push him away when Arthur’s lips crash to mine. I gasp in his mouth, and he dives right in. He doesn’t ask for permission nor does he take it slow – that’s not Arthur’s style.

He pries my lips apart and feasts on my tongue like he’s a starved man finally getting his meals. My legs weaken at the passionate ferocity of his kiss and I can’t resist it anymore.

I can’t resist him. I never could.

My fingers thread into his thick, soft hair and I pull on the strands as I kiss him back. I’m lost in the sensation, in his body heat against mine. In his strong hands, surrounding my waist possessively. In his head-turning scent and these lips I’ve been dreaming about for years.

I’m mindless, delirious, and I can feel myself getting lost in his maze again, but to my horror, a part of me has no wish to be found.

Not now. Not ever.

He pulls me closer into him, his hands roaming all over my body. An unmistakable bulge rubs against my lower stomach, and my own desire shoots between my thighs.

No. This is wrong. I left all this for a reason and he’s trying to draw me back in.

It takes all my willpower to step back. I’m breathing heavily, chest rising and falling in quick succession.

Arthur’s eyes darken further as he clutches my hand in his, refusing to let me go. As if he can’t, or won’t be able to..

“Eva.” The breathless whisper of my name coming out of his lips knocks the air out of my lungs.

I’m falling again. I’m being thrown into Arthur’s dilemma.

“Stop saying my name that way.” I yank my hand free. “Not after what you did.”

“What I did?” That line settles back between his brows, a murderous shadow swirls in the black of his eyes. He’s pissed off. Brilliant. Let him feel an ounce of what he put me through.

“You’re the one who left me, Eva.”

“After you made me!” I hit his chest, tears of self-loathing barging into my eyes. Why couldn’t I just erase him? Why am I falling into his trap again, unable to stay away?

“I begged you to stay.” His expression turns sombre as his most fearsome part emerges. Anger, pure and lethal. He rarely shows that emotion, but when he does, it’s better to run the other way. “For the first time in my life, I begged someone, but you still left.”

A bitter smile leaves me. “Is that why you’re angry? Because someone told the mighty Arthur Rhodes no for once?”

“You know that’s not it.” He reaches for me again, but I hold a hand up.

“No. I don’t want to hear it. I’m returning to Manhattan soon, so let’s pretend this never happened.”

A gleam shines in the depth of his eyes. “We will see about that.”

“Arthur,” I warn. If he sets a goal, nothing will stop him. “Just leave me alone.”

He removes his jacket, and his muscles flex against the fitted dress shirt. With infinite care, he leans to place the jacket on my shoulders.

His lips find my ear, and he whispers in hot sultry words. “Never, Eva.”





Chapter 2





The following day, my father strolls into my office wearing an infectious smile I’ve been hoping to see again. I shift my gaze from the numbers on the computer screen and smile back.

He sits on the chair opposite mine and fixes his grey tie which complements a double-breasted grey suit. Dad never wore double-breasted suits when he was younger. After he married my mother, and she took care of his appearance, he started to only wear those types of suits.

That’s why marriage is important to me. I want to live a story like my parents’. Even after Mum’s death, my father still loves her and never thought about replacing her.

A pang of guilt overwhelms me. If only I stayed by his side back then. Losing his wife was already too much, but I forced him to lose his only daughter as well. I hope it isn’t too late to fix my mistakes.