I’m overly aware that he’s still holding my hand, his fingers strong around mine. Feeling a little shy, I murmur, “You choose.”
“Burger and fries.” Instead of placing the order, he stares at me, and when I give him a questioning look, he whispers, “It’sbeen a rough day. Looking at you is calming.” Lifting his other hand to my neck, he flicks the bowtie. “This is cute.”
I smile as I glance down because I think so too.
“Look at me,” Augusto orders, his tone suddenly deeper than usual. When I meet his eyes, he shakes his head. “Smile again.”
A nervous tension fills my stomach, and I can only manage to lift the corner of my mouth.
His irises turn darker as he stares at my lips, and when a weird current passes between us, my heartbeat speeds up.
A phone rings, and it feels as if a bubble pops as it draws Augusto’s attention away from me.
Letting go of my hand, he gets up as he removes his phone from his pocket, and walking out of the kitchen, he says, “Is the body disposed of?”
Lowering my head, I look at my hand where I can still feel Augusto’s touch.
What just happened between us?
My heart is still beating faster than usual, and there’s a fluttering in my stomach as if a kaleidoscope of butterflies has been set loose inside me.
No way. I feel attracted to Augusto?!
Just as I begin to worry that it’s too soon, I remember everything he’s done for me and how much he’s changed my life.
I would’ve died if I had stayed one more week with my father.
Besides, I’m married to Augusto. It’s a good thing if I can develop feelings for him.Right?
“Yuki?” My eyes dart to Augusto as he comes back into the kitchen. “Is everything okay?”
I hesitate before I push through and ask, “What will happen once I’m ready?”
Slowly, he comes closer. “Ready for us to take the next step?”
I nod, the spinning in my stomach increasing.
“We’ll transition from this to being intimate.”
Just to hear what he’ll say, I ask, “What if I’m never ready?”
He stares at me while he thinks about his answer. “I’ll find a way to live with it.”
“But that’s not what you want?”
He stops right in front of me, and bringing his hand to my face, he brushes his fingertips over my jaw and down my neck.
“No, and I don’t think it’s what you want either.” He keeps touching me, his eyes locked on my face, and when tingles erupt across my skin, I slap my hand over his, a gasp bursting from me. “I think you want more than a loveless marriage, where we continue to live like roommates.”
He tilts his head, the green of his irises darkening again. The push and pull I felt earlier returns, making my heart beat even faster.
His tone is deep and rough as he asks, “Am I wrong?”
“No,” I whisper, my eyes searching his as I try to figure out how he feels about me.
Moving his hand, his thumb slowly swipes over my bottom lip. I wrap my fingers around his wrist, and when he begins to lean down, I can’t stop my breaths from coming in short, quick puffs.
Suddenly, Augusto wraps his other arm around my lower back, and bending lower, he pulls me up against his body.
