The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"Me?" Stella echoed, surprised.

Joshua nodded. "If you're giving up the bed for me, where will you sleep tonight?"

Sleeping on the floor was out of the question-German nights could be cold, and the last thing Stella wanted was to get sick now.

She replied, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine in the armchair for one night. You need the bed, Joshua. Your health comes first."

Joshua glanced at the king-sized bed, hesitating. After a moment, he said, "There's plenty of room... If you want, you could share it with me?"

If any other man had suggested that, Stella would've assumed he had less-than- honorable intentions. But when Joshua said it, there was a childlike innocence to his offer he honestly just meant sharing the bed.

She shook her head. "No, that's okay."

Lowering her gaze, Stella began flipping through the stack of bedtime stories she'd organized earlier.

Joshua understood her boundaries, and he didn't push. He knew better than to make things awkward.

Once Stella was ready, she dimmed the lights and lit a soothing lavender candle. Then she settled into the chair and began reading aloud.

She read five stories, but Joshua still seemed wide awake.

used to read to Keen, he'd be fast asleep before she finished the third story. But Joshua's insomnia

Stella was patient. She kept

couldn't sleep even

Joshua. As she read the drowsy tales, her own eyelids grew heavy, and she started to

etched on her face, the faint shadows

seventh story, Joshua's eyes

eyes, determined to keep going, when she realized Joshua

whispered his name, softly, but when he didn't stir, she breathed a quiet sigh of

a cardigan, she curled up in the armchair, and the moment she closed her eyes, she

she was

moment just stood there, watching her peaceful face. Then gently he lifted Stella into his arms and laid her on the bed tucking the blanket over

her serene expression, drawn in as

lips just about

her forehead. fo

made him pause. He

moment.

bed, Joshua settled into the armchair where Stella had

you let desire in, it's hard to hold it back. He'd already crossed enough lines tonight; he couldn't let himself take.

that wild, aching feeling inside him wasn't so