Page 38 of Pretty Poison

“I don’t mean to impose.”Yes, I do.“My shower still isn’t working.”

“It’s fine,” he breathes, doing everything he can to avoid meeting my eyes. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be in my office until you’re done.”

“No,” I say, my words sounding too eager. “Unless you have thermal eyesight, the closed bathroom door will be enough privacy. I don’t want to take you out of the comfort of your own room.”

He nods with a shrug, his shoulders tense. “Sure, okay. If you need anything, just holler. I’ll be in bed.”

I close the door behind me as he takes four long strides to his bed. I take the time to admire his muscled and toned back that’s covered in red and black ink.

“I didn’t take you as a tattoo kind of guy,” I say, taking my time to walk to his bathroom.

He spins on his heels to face me, reaching for his shirt at the end of his bed. He slips it over his head, covering himself and the beautiful artwork.

“It’s nothing bad,” I clarify. “It’s a beautiful design. I was surprised, that’s all. Does yours have a meaning?” I turn my arm to show him mine, “Mine is for—”

He swallows hard. “Yes, there’s a meaning. No, I won’t tell you. It’s a personal matter, Liana. Please, just take your fuckingshower.” He looks defeated, his eyes drooping, his chest heaving rapidly.

I approach him with small steps. “Don’t block me out, Dario. Please don’t push me away. I’m going to be your wife and we need some form of trust for whatever this fucking thing is between us. I won’t be there to warm your bed if you refuse to talk to me. That’s not what this is.”

“I want to be alone, Liana. I don’t need your help. You can’t fix me. You can’t fix what’s broken.”

“You’re not broken,” I say in a whisper, my hand finding his arm. “You’re adjusting to many new additions in your life. I wasn’t planned and neither was your mother’s pregnancy. It’s okay to take the time you need to balance everything out.”

His eyes fall to my fingers, and he pulls away. “I’m not adjusting,” he spits, his chest heaving, his breathing becoming scattered and jagged. “I’m pissed off. I’m angry. I’m fucking fed up with all this bullshit. And I don’t need you to try and fix anything.”

“Then talk to me, would you?” My voice comes off as irritated. “You say you’re feeling lost in a sense, but you refuse to let those around you help. Instead, you hide in your room or your office, feeling sorry for yourself.”

“You don’t know the first thing about me, Liana. If you did, you’d understand exactly what I’m feeling and what’s going through my mind, and give me the space I fucking need.”

“Then fucking tell me,” I bite back.

Almost as if debating it, he opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out. Instead, he turns around. “Take your shower, Liana.”

Growing agitated, I round his body, placing myself directly in front of him. “Why won’t you let me in?” I ask exasperated, and give his chest an angry push. “I’m here to stay, Dario. I won’t let you ice me out because you feel like it. You’re a grown-ass man; fucking act like it.”

He says nothing; his eyes staring into mine with no emotion.

I sigh, turning from my spot beside his bed and march to the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

He makes it impossible to talk to him. It’s as if he likes being alone, ignoring everyone’s concerns until he feels like communicating. What about me, huh? What about my feelings?

As I lean in to turn the shower on, my towel slips, immediately getting drowned by the fast beads of water.

“Just my fucking luck,” I sigh, walking over to the long stretched-out sink and dropping it onto the surface.

I startle as the door pushes open and Dario stands in the doorway, breathing heavy.

“Get out!” The words come out like a screech, my hands instinctively covering myself.

“I want to take a shower,” he says coldly, undressing himself.

“Then let me know when you’re finished and I’ll come back.” I grab the soaking towel from the sink’s surface and wrap the cold material around me, a shiver racing through me.

“Don’t be a child, Liana. We’re both adults here. Get in the damn shower.”

I shake my head erratically. “I’m giving you the personal space you’re so desperate for.”

“But you crave something else, don’t you, little one?” His words contradict his annoyance, coming off dark and inviting. I gulp down the lump growing in my throat. “I know what you’re doing, walking around in nothing but a towel—you’re trying to entice me. Well, I guess your toying and teasing have finally worked, so get in the shower, Liana.”

---