We shared a little laugh, and I reached for the container of premium fish food.
“Should we feed them a little?” I asked.
“Didn’t you just say you shouldn’t feed them because they won’t hunt?”
“Yeahhhh …” I hesitated. “But that’s only if you give them too much. We can give them a little treat. Besides, it makes them so happy. Here, watch.”
With a quick shake of the container, I shook out a small dash of flakes into the water. The fish instantly went nuts, darting at the surface and eagerly devouring the tasty morsels.
Ottavia beamed. “You love to spoil your little fishies, don’t you?”
I grinned. “Maybe a little.”
“You’re a sweet fish daddy,” she teased, her voice filled with playful admiration.
Unable to resist the magnetic pull any longer, I turned to her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Our mouths met in a searing kiss, and her luscious lips set my senses ablaze. She sank into the couch beneath me as I pressed my body into hers.
But as we kissed, and my hand cupped her breast, I noticed something that stopped me in my tracks.
Ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump.
It was the rapid-fire beat of her heart, hammeringaway in her chest.
I sat up and gave her a gentle smile. “Is everything okay, Ottavia?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said with a nervous laugh. “Why?”
I didn’t quite buy it. Something was bothering her.
“I can feel your heart beating.” I set my palm on her sternum. “Oh my God. It’s racing.”
“It is? Huh.” She gave an indifferent shrug. “That’s weird.”
I cocked my head and stared into her eyes.
What aren’t you telling me?
Ottavia shied from my gaze. “Can we move to your bedroom, actually?” With a snicker, she added, “I’d hate to corrupt your innocent fish.”
“Oh, is the tank bothering you?” I let out a relieved laugh. “My bad. I didn’t even think of that.”
“That’s okay. I really dolove it.” She lowered her voice and said, “I just, y’know, don’t want them to watch.”
“I got ya,” I said, and we shared a little laugh.
I offered her my hand and led her to the bedroom. Ottavia climbed into bed, waiting for me on all fours while I shut the door. When I joined her, she pounced on me, kissing me so ravenously she almost knocked me over—almost as if she were eager to make up for the distraction.
But the more she kissed me, the more clear it became that the passion that had consumed us earlier—in her hotel room, in the Porsche, hell, in the elevator a few minutes ago—had vanished. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t force herself to rekindle it.
Somethingwas on her mind. And it wasn’t going away.
I pulled her away. “Ottavia, what’s wrong?” I asked gently.
Flopping onto the mattress, she buried her face in her hands, and let out a disappointed wail. “Fu~ck.”
“What? What is it?” I asked. “You can tell me.”
“Why do you have tonotice?Why can’t you just rip me out of my dress and fuck me?”
