Page 40 of Claiming His Wife
“I understand. Enjoy your night.”
Enjoy it they did. Her lost enthusiasm returned and, when they hit the streets, the joy was almost manic. She had dragged him to the old port for dinner and then they strolled through Saint Catherine Street as well as the underground city. They walked around until she began to feel the effects of her sudden effervescence. The tiredness slipped up on her as suddenly as it had left. She couldn’t hide it from him and when he suggested that they return home, she was relieved.
When they reached the door, Jonathan stopped Kalilah from opening the door to her condo.
“I want some time alone with you before we go in.”
“Oh.”
He took advantage of her surprise and tugged her into his arms; she looked up at him. He looked so happy. It was difficult to keep eye contact with him. She feared what he may see in her eyes.
“I love you,” he said suddenly.
“I know you do,” she responded, and brushed her lips to his. He kissed her then – a slow tangle of tongues. She finally pulled away from the kiss, feeling guilty. Who was being unfaithful to whom in this situation?
Sleeping arrangements had been surprisingly easy to manage, with Jonathan opting to take the couch. Kalilah tossed and turned all night. She spent the bulk of the night paying court to doubts that had her fretting until the blush of dawn hit the sky. Even if she had been happy to reconnect with Jon, she spent the night in quiet contemplation of her future. Somehow, she had lost sight of the reason she had returned home, and that thought was disturbing.
When day broke completely, Kalilah got out of bed with her head and her heart still in a jumble. She was determined to make the best of the day, though.
“You’re up early,” said Jon as she stepped into the kitchen. She treated herself to a long look at his face, drinking in the love that shone in his eyes.
“Good morning to you as well.” She smiled back at him. Kalilah heard the doorbell ring and the patter of her sister’s feet as she went to answer it.
Jonathan moved to kiss her, and she sidled into the embrace. His mouth covered hers and his tongue probed her mouth. She was only too eager to duel with him, matching every movement with a couple of well-timed bites. Her hands had wound around his neck without her being aware that she moved, and he held her in a firm embrace with her face tilted up, a move that robbed her of ease of movement. She gave as good as she got, trying desperately to feel the sensations that she felt in Finn’s kisses. She never felt them. Jon’s kisses didn’t give her those butterflies.
She finally pulled away from him to catch her breath. He leaned into their embrace and she pressed further into his body still searching for a spark of those tingly sensations she felt with Finn. She felt the proof of his passion and immediately became embarrassed by the bulge between them. Jonathan smiled down at her with an almost apologetic look.
The next sound that came was growl, and it shattered the air around them. It came from behind them and it startled them both. Jonathan and Kalilah jumped apart, and she whirled to find Finn regarding the two of them with fury in his eyes.
Kalilah stumbled backward, farther from Jonathan. Shame and disgust fought a tug-of-war in her stomach. She shifted to the side and tried to make introductions.
“Finn this is…”
“Jonathan Sawyer,” he completed without inflection.
“Finn Tremblay.”
“You’re Kalilah’s ex-husband,” Jonathan offered. She wondered if she’d ever told Jon Finn’s last name.
“Is that so,” Finn turned his attention to Kalilah but only for a second.
Kalilah couldn’t help but feel as if the universe was against her. Her sister looked amused at the entire situation.
“Jonathan decided to surprise me with a visit,” Kalilah said in response. Why was she even explaining herself to him?
“I see. Well, I was hoping for your companionship at breakfast.”
“And why would you hope that?” Jonathan asked.
The room was silent for a full second, and Kaiya moved away from Finn and closer to her sister. Kalilah saw it as a show of solidarity, and she was thankful to have her sister here.
She resolutely faced Finn and grabbed hold of Jonathan’s hand; a move Finn didn’t miss if the tightening of his jaw was a sign to go by.
“I’m sorry Finn but I can’t have breakfast with you this morning.”
“She has plans with me already,” Jon said.
“I believe Mrs. Tremblay can speak for herself.”
