The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

I raised an eyebrow. So you’d rather have all of Boston’s upper crust believe Derek Wells can’t perform than admit our marriage is

ending?

‘Interesting that you’re more concerned about your ability being questioned than our failing marriage, Eleanor shot/back, her voice

gaining strength.

I leaned closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of her perfume. The car suddenly felt much smaller. “Don’t worry about my ‘abilities,” I said, my voice dropping lower, holding her gaze until I saw her pupils dilate slightly. “They’re perfectly intact. Would

you like proof?”

The air between us crackled with tension. Eleanor turned her face away, but not before I caught the slight quickening of her breath. the almost imperceptible parting of her lips. “You’re impossible,” she muttered, but her voice had lost its edge, replaced by something softer, less certain.

When we arrived home, we moved through our evening routines with practiced efficiency, careful to maintain the appropriate distance from each other. The tension from the car ride lingered, filling the spaces between us with unspoken words.

After we’d both completed our nightly routines, we found ourselves lying in bed, a careful distance maintained between us.

“Finally,” I said into the darkness, “no octopus attacks tonight. You were quite the clingy drunk last night, practically impossible to

shake off.

Eyen in the dim light, I could see Eleanor’s face flush bright red. “Can you please stop bringing up last night? I don’t even remember

what happened.”

I turned toward her, unable to resist the opportunity to tease her further. “Really? You don’t remember anything? You said some rather interesting things while clinging to me like your life depended on it.”

Eleanor pulled a pillow over her face. “I was drunk. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

I reached over and pulled the pillow away, finding myself suddenly much closer to her than I’d intended. ‘You know what’s

interesting? I always thought you were this quiet, compliant wife, but drunk Eleanor tells me there’s an entirely different woman

hiding inside you.”

“Maybe I was never who you thought I was, she countered, her eyes meeting mine with unexpected boldness. Just like you’re not

who I thought you were.”

“And who did you think I was?” The question slipped out before I could stop it, more genuine curiosity than I’d meant to reveal.

Our eyes locked in the dim light of the bedroom. I watched as Eleanor’s gaze dropped briefly to my lips, then back to my eyes. She swallowed hard, the movement visible in the delicate line of her throat. I found myself mirroring the action, suddenly aware of how dry my mouth had become.

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Chapter 31

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The space between us seemed to shrink of its own accord. I could feel the warmth radiating from her skin, count each of her quickening breaths. My body leaned toward hers as if pulled by some invisible force, my rational mind struggling to maintain

control even as my instincts urged me forward.

Eleanor’s lips parted slightly, her eyes half-closed. We were mere inches apart, the air between us charged with possibility.

A sharp bark from Sunny in the adjacent room shattered the moment. We both startled, the spell broken as reality came rushing

back.

I cleared my throat and retreated to my side of the bed. “It’s late. Goodnight, Eleanor.”

“Goodnight, Derek,” she whispered, turning away from me quickly.

We lay there, backs to each other, physically separated by mere inches but divided by so much more. Sleep eluded me as I replayed the moment in my mind, wondering what might have happened if not for the interruption, and whether I was relieved or

disappointed by it.

Comments

Beverley Linda van Wyk

Freaking hell kiss her and get over with it… Damn

4 days ago

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love