Page 100 of King of Omen

All I got in return was a cool thank you.

Later, at lunch in the kitchen, I tried to start a conversation about what had happened, hoping to find a way to repair the damage I had caused.

But she remained distant, her walls seemingly impenetrable, and her willingness to engage non-existent.

‘Not now,’ she murmured, avoiding my gaze, leaving me frustrated and helpless.

We were at a delicate juncture. Any misstep from me would break our fragile alliance. I fell back, accepting that it would take time and effort to rebuild the trust that had been shattered.

That evening, I made dinner, which she ate fast. Then she disappeared to the living room, where she sat with her knees bunched up, a blanket around her body, focused on a TV show, walled off.

I sat beside her in silence, sipping on a whisky, giving her the needed space.

However, when we went to bed, she repeated the same routine of flowing over me, limbs all over me.

This time, she was awake, and when I tilted her chin towards me for a kiss, she ducked her face and burrowed into my neck.

When my hand lifted to her cup her breast, she nabbed it and tucked it back onto my thigh.

Her warm and steady breath against my skin forced me to tamp my impatience.

This was a new dance for us, one that required understanding and empathy.

‘Mia,’ I whispered, cradling her close, ‘I want to make things right. I won’t be perfect, but I promise always to try. Will you teach me how to love you?’

She hesitated, eyes fluttering open to meet mine. I tagged hurt and confusion there but also a glimmer of hope.

I went on, emboldened. ‘Bella, without you, I’m nothing. However, with you by my side, you are my queen, and I, your King. I’ll cherish you, ensuring you’re secure and comfortable. I’ll spend my life treating you right. Fuck, I know I’ve made a major mistake, but if you’d give us a chance, we could last a lifetime.’

I tagged a softening in her eye, and then her jaw tightened.

‘I want to trust you again, Lorenzo,’ she muttered, ‘But I need time and for you to prove you trust me too. We can’t just skip forward, making up for lost time. We have to take it step by step.’

‘I understand,’ I replied, holding her tighter, willing to risk it all for her. ‘Bella, I’ll do whatever it takes.’

It was a fragile accord, but it was a promising start.

I tugged her close, feeling her melt into me, and whispered, ‘I’m here, Mia. I won’t let you down again.’

She didn’t respond, but the warmth of her limbs and the comforting weight of her head on my shoulder spoke volumes.

The next day, I chanced her studying in the guest room with the door open.

She was seated at her desk cross-legged, with her bare feet off the floor, and unable to resist, I leaned on the jamb, gazing at her beauty.

For a moment, I stared at her, loving her sexy style, taking in all her features: hair in a messy bun, eyeglasses perched so dainty on her nose, tongue peeking between her lips as she read something off the laptop and scribbled notes into the notepad next to her.

She was in yet another of her monochrome jumpsuits, this time in deep chocolate, which made me want to wander in, peel her clothes off, and taste her honey-soft skin.

I must have groaned, for suddenly, the pair of reading glasses was knocked askew when she reared up and whipped around. ‘Fuck, you scared me.’

‘Scusa, cara, just checking in on you. Are you OK?’

She nodded wordlessly.

I stared at her for a beat as she raised a brow.

I got the memo. Chest aching, I backed off, ‘Bene, I’ll see you soon.’

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