Page 28 of The Wife Deception
"It shouldn't be that hard since you hateme so much."
"I don't hate you."
She let out a harsh laugh. "You have a funny way of showing it."
"I just think you are a reprehensible person. But I don't hate you."
"Thanks for the ringing endorsement."She looked hurt, and it made me want to take back my words. If there was anything I disliked about her, it was how she caused a whirlwind of clashing emotions inside me. Aelin side stepped me and marched out of the room. I followed her, my anger bubbling to the surface again.
"We aren't done talking," I called out after her. She didn't respond. Instead, I heard the banging of a door and when I got out of the studio, I saw she had gone into her room. "Are you going to run away like a little girl?"
Silence. A few minutes later, I was ready to give up until she came out dressed in jeans and a tank top. "No," she huffed and stomped past me. If I wasn't in the midst of an argument, I would have found it cute.
"Hey! I followed her and was closing in on her when we reached the kitchen. I grabbed her hand. However, I might have been too harsh, or she stopped a little too soon because instead of stopping her, I swung her into my arms. "I said—Fuck." Her head bumped my chin.I gazed down at her. She cringed and rubbed her forehead with her free hand. "Sorry," I muttered.
Her eyes softened. "It's fine." Her words, barely a whisper. My gaze fell to her chest, noting the way her tight white tank top showed off her cleavage. The room appeared small again. Everything disappearing leaving nothing else to concentrate on but Aelin and I. She moistened her lips. My groin tightened. Fuck. I shouldn't. But I wanted to. Would it matter if I tasted her lips again? If I got lost in that intoxicating haze? We were married after all, I thought as I lowered my head to kiss her.
Something banged and crashed to the floor, making an ear piercing noise that yanked me out of Aelin's cocoon.
"Sorry." Magnus stood up, a pan and a large silver spoon in his hand. Suddenly, I remembered where I was. Aromatic scents of red meat, red wine and spices registered, and I let go of Aelin's hand. I was so concentrated on Aelin, I forgot all about Magnus. She strode away from me and I watched as her sweet ass swayed towards the fridge. She took out a bottle of water and guzzled it down. At least I wasn't the only one hot and bothered.
"Dinner is done, Mr. Nolan," Magnus said. He had put the pan and spoon down and was now removing his black chef's apron, which looked comically small on his meaty, muscular body.
"Thanks. We'll serve ourselves."
He gave a curt nod and arranged the bowls of food on the counter into a neat row before leaving. The mood in the room shifted, now that it was Aelin and I alone again, but that earlier electric energy had dimmed a little. We stood for a long time staring at each other. Daring the other to make the first move.
I was the first to fold."We weren't done talking."
Aelin finished the remnants of her water bottle and tossed the empty container into the bin. "You mean the interrogation?"
"Rich coming from a manipulator."
"Fine." She folded her arms, pushing her cleavage up. "Tell me what to say and I will say it. You want a sorry? Sorry, I spoke with my father about you. Sorry, I wanted a child with you. I am sorry."
I had felt those breasts pressed against me only a few moments ago, and still I wanted to feel them again. Rip that fabric straining against her chest and feast on what's underneath. She should have remained in her overalls. Maybe I could concentrate. But who was fooling? I had practically mauled her while she was wearing one.
"You missed one important thing. Sorry I tried to baby trap you."
"There's nothing in that recording about baby trapping."
She was right, but that didn't mean that's not what they meant by it. "Gaslighting doesn't look good on you." There was something off about her. About the recording. About this.
"We need to talk."
"I thought that's what we were doing."
The food was growing cold. I strode further into the kitchen and took out two plates from the cupboard. In the distance, I heard Magnus shut the main door. He was gone. "l meant as adults."
She rolled her eyes and left. I thought she was going to her room, but she ventured into the dining room and slumped into a chair. A few minutes later, I finished plating the food and brought it to Aelin. Magnus was an excellent chef and, as angry as we were, we both could not ignore the sumptuous feast in front of us.The fillet mignon was tender and the mushroom red wine sauce gave it an added depth to the flavor. And the buttery potatoes were a perfect compliment.
"So, what did you want to say?" Aelin asked as she assaulted a piece of meat with her fork and knife.
"We have to be honest with each other."
Her meat cutting slowed down to a stop. "Okay."
"First, let me start with an apology."
