Alex
I’VE MISSED BEING LIKE THIS with Moses. After last night and this morning, I knew we were back in sync. I ran my finger along his carved chest and my mind filled with some wicked thoughts. I straddled his lap, cupped his face in my hands and kissed him.
“I’ve been thinking, maybe we should push our honeymoon back.”
“Where did that come from?”
“You’ve been working really hard and I don’t want…”
He grabbed my hips and pulled me closer. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t want you to feel pressured to finish your book just so…it’s not like we…I mean, we’re having a great little getaway and I don’t have to have…”
“Be quiet.” He sighed. “This is why I didn’t say anything to you.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’ve been having problems with the book.”
“What kind of problems?”
“I can’t get an angle. I’ve started six books and none of them is working.”
“Baby, why didn’t you…is that why you’ve been hiding in your office?”
“Yes and no,” he exhaled. “In the past, it was easy. I’d lock myself up in my office and hammer out a book in no time. But for some reason, I’m having a challenge.”
I tucked my hair behind my ears and asked the question I think we both knew the answer to. “Is it me?”
“Yes.”
My heart sank to my feet. I started to get up and he pulled me back down. I couldn’t look at him. I had broken him. I was the reason he was unhappy. He lifted my chin up and I tried to fight the tears sitting on my eye lids. “This is why I didn’t want to say anything.” He kissed my forehead and the tears came. “Baby, it’s not…” He pulled me to his chest and rubbed my back.
“I killed your muse.” I cried.
“You didn’t kill my muse.”
I sat up. “You can’t write. What else am I supposed…”
He wiped my wet cheeks. “I have been trying to write like I used to, and I can’t.”
I sniffled. “I don’t understand.”
“I was angry and hurt, and I used those emotions to write. Now, my life is perfect and I can’t connect with those emotions anymore.”
“So, it is me?”
“Yes. I thought if I isolated myself from you, I could access those feelings, but I can’t.”
I sniffled again. “So, you need something new.”
“You think.” His sarcasm was refreshing. “I’m sorry. It’s just, I know once I connect with the right emotion or character, the words will come.”
“I’ve got an idea.” I smiled. “I know you don’t write romance.”
“I’m not writing…”
“Hear me out.” I patted his chest. “You’re brilliant at suspense. Why not try a romantic suspense.”
“I don’t think so.”
“All you need to do is add a hot woman, a lot of steamy kisses and some really great sex scenes. I’d be willing to help with your research.” I smiled.
“I’m sure you would, but no.” He smiled.
“Listen. The story could revolve around a couple of brothers or cousins in love with the same woman who’s been arrested for murder.”
“Keep talking.”
“Maybe set it in Texas.”
“Cowboys? I don’t think…”
“Not cowboys, oil tycoons.”
“Are you serious?”
“Baby, trust me this is a good idea.”
“Oilmen fighting over a woman?”
“Okay, if not oilmen, how about one’s a cop…a Texas Ranger and the other is a drug dealer. Both are in love with the same woman.”
“I like that.” He nodded. “That could be good. Maybe she was in love with the cop, but the drug dealer blackmailed her into marrying him?”
“Exactly.” I started to get up.
“Where are you going?”
“To get your iPad so you can take some notes.”
He pulled me back. “I think we need to work on the opening love scene.”
“Really?” I smiled.
He rolled me onto my back, climbed on top of me and kissed me. “I think I’m going to need a lot of research in order for me to get this book done before we leave. Can you handle that?” He kissed me again.
“Does this mean I’m your research assistant or muse?”
“Both.”