Page 16 of Corrupt Desires

“James, just drop it. I’m fine. I obviously didn’t say no and my body enjoyed it, so no need to continue worrying about it.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m fucking sure,cabrón. Now can I go to bed, please?!”

There is a bit of silence before James lets out a huff in defeat. “Good night, love,” he says before laying a single kiss on my shoulder.

The bed dips and James must return to his side of the bed because I no longer feel his presence at my back. After trying uselessly to tire my racing thoughts, I finally start to fall into a restless sleep.

* * *

The next morning,I slowly start to come to, feeling like I’ve had the best sleep in my life. I try so hard to stay asleep, cocooned in this ball of warmth, but nothing lasts forever as they say.

As I start to open my eyes, I become acutely aware of a presence behind me and an arm wrapped around my front, holding my breast tenderly. My feet are tangled with his feet, and I’m not entirely sure where I end and he begins.

Feeling annoyed at his audacity again, I grab his arm and throw it off me, followed by my elbow hitting him directly in his gut. He lets out a satisfyingoommph, rolling over to his side to get away from my reach.

“Dammit, James, can’t you keep your fucking hands to yourself?!” I exclaim, feeling flustered at how right it had felt. Not that I would ever admit it to him.

“What was that for? We had sex for Christ’s sake, I didn’t think you’d go all crazy on me for cuddling. Plus, you were tossing and turning, it was the only thing I could think of to do so I could get some damn shut-eye myself. It worked, by the way. The moment I had you in my arms, you slept like a baby.”

A part of me feels sorry that I caused him a lack of sleep, but I quickly squash it down. This is no time for my heart and body to take over. Rolling over to fully face him, my words are laced in venom.

“Should have thought about that before deciding to marry me,cabrón. Sharing is part of the equation. If I don’t sleep well, neither do you. Suck it up, buttercup.”

Before he can utter a single word back to me, I quickly get out of bed, grab a pair of fresh clothes, and make my way into the bathroom to take a shower.

I’ll be damned if I spend one more minute in that bed.

Twelve

James

If I thought she hated me before, it has nothing on how much she must actually hate me now. I find myself chuckling after she slams the bathroom door. I lean back in bed, tucking my arm behind my head and think to myself,what a beautiful fuckin’ woman.She could hate me all she wants, it doesn’t make me want her any less. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.

As I hear the shower starting up, I decide to go down the hall and use the other bathroom to shower myself. Slipping under the warm fall of water, I can’t help but to think about our time last night. Some part of Em must want me, and that part probably being her body. I think her heart is on the way to wanting me as well, but I think it’s her brain that is at war with itself. I felt her eyes soften at the wedding, that much is not a delusion. But she goes from hot to cold, hate to some semblance of like, before settling on a cold hate. Last night I was at least able to see past the cold exterior she puts up like a metal barrier against me.

She’s exquisite when she drops her shields and comes undone for me, though. What I wouldn’t give to see her come again, preferably on my tongue. I know I can’t push her like I did last night. She has settled back into her hate for me, and it will take all the hope I can muster to start chipping away at that and bring forth any emotion other than hate. Hell, at this point, I’d even take dislike over what she gives me currently.

Once I’m done rinsing the lathers from my body, I turn off the shower and climb out, grabbing the towel from the hook to dry myself off. Not really sure what our plans are for today, I dress in a simple pair of black slacks and a button-up white shirt. I place all our dirty clothes into the chute, sensing she will want her clothes washed seeing that she probably only brought enough clothes to last a week. Knowing that Emilia must be hungry from last night, I head down to the kitchen, pulling out all of the breakfast necessities. I grab the eggs, bacon, bread, and fruit, and start cooking. I’m usually not one for eating breakfast, but I made sure to have the staples considering that we would be spending the week at the house.

It isn’t long before I hear her soft footsteps joining me in the kitchen. Looking over my shoulder, I see that she has taken a seat at the island bar, looking at the food expectantly.

“Hungry?”

“Starving actually.”

“Good. Should be ready here in a few minutes.”

“I didn’t realize that you cooked, James. Thought you would have had a hired chef or something to do that for you.”

“Well, I do, but my chef is normally only here to cook dinners. Besides, I gave him the week off, since we would be spending the week here at the house, on a stay-at-home honeymoon, so to speak.”

“Of course you did,” she says with a roll of her eyes.

“Now, now. I still know how to cook, I won’t leave you to your own devices. I am your husband after all, and I will provide for you, including making sure you’re fed.”

I throw the towel over my shoulder and plate the food for her, adding a small bowl of fresh fruit to her tray along with a glass of orange juice.

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