I step inside. The bathroom is echoing the concrete grey, beige, and white oak palette of his room. Polished white oak cabinets line the walls, a freestanding tub rests against a grey concrete accent wall, and the floors are a warm beige marble. A walk-in shower with frameless glass and rainfall showerhead gleams under the recessed lighting.
A huge bathrobe hangs, undoubtedly his. Nearby are neatly folded towels, his shampoo, body wash, and all other essentials. Next to his things are mine, the same brand of body wash and moisturizer I use, my complete hair care kit perfectly arranged. It feels oddly intimate, seeing his things next to mine.
Without me telling him any of these details, he has prepared all this. It should feel creepy, but all I can feel is heat rising in my gut. I suppose it’s because I’m relieved that I won’t have to worry about managing any of this myself.
chapter 21
Matleon
Dad gives me another look across the table. He’s been giving me look after look since the wedding. He thinks I forced Iselyn into this marriage, which is absolutely true, but I can’t admit it to him. If I do, he’ll glare at me for days, maybe throw in a few words of anger about how he doesn’t like it. My father never forces me to do anything or forbids me; he just lays out the consequences.
I ignore Dad and focus on Ma and Pa’s bickering. Pa is enjoying it, as always, while Ma seethes. Later, he’ll use this opportunity to coax her, something he loves doing. I used to find it bothersome, but now I understand Pa’s side perfectly. After all, I also have a wild kitten in my life, sitting now between my mom and Aunt Avi. They’re whispering something to her that’s making her flush, their giggles rising in response. They need to stop teasing her, or she’ll turn into a glowing tomato, which, admittedly, is my favorite state of her.
I sigh and look away.Just a few more minutes, and she’ll be all mine.I’ve been avoiding her since our wedding because I don’t trust my own control around her, and she was still in Russia, where I had to maintain the image of a gentleman.With her, I’m many things, but a gentleman isn’t one of them.
I check the time on my watch, it’s half past nine. Dinner has long ended, now everyone is just chatting, sitting around, wasting time. Zo is lucky to be in a state where he needs someone by his side all the time, or at least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality, he’s using it as an opportunity to keep Avi glued to him.
Mom gets up, drawing everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone, it’s time to go to sleep. We have a newlywed among us, it’s not good to keep them apart for so long.” I return her grin. She winks at me. She must have noticed me checking my watch. She always knows what I want, even without me saying a word.
I get up, and everyone follows, chuckling. Wen nudges me with her elbow as we walk toward Mom, while the others head off to Uncle’s mansion.
“If you won’t treat her well, I’ll take her to my room,” she says. I glare at her. She gives me a tight-lipped smile. I mimic it.
After kissing Mom and Dad goodnight, she takes my wife with her and walks out of the dining room. I don’t miss the glint of sadness in Iselyn’s eyes when Wen kisses Mom and Dad. I wish I could do something about it, but there’s no solution. She loves her parents, and she has to live away from them. All I can do is bring them here and take her there once a month.
I kiss Mom on the cheek. “Good night.”
She squeezes my cheeks together, then kisses me on the cheek. “Good night.” I’ve told her multiple times over the years not to do this, but who can make her stop?
Dad comes toward us.
I sigh as soon as our eyes meet. “Come on, Dad, for how long are you going to give me this look?”
Mom looks toward him. “Why are you giving him looks, Alessio?”
Dad wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “Why don’t you ask your son, sole mio?”
Mom turns to me with narrowed eyes. “What have you done?”
I shrug. “Nothing. Your husband is imagining weird things.”
Her eyes narrow further. Mom trusts Dad the most in this world.
“Treat her well in the future. I want this marriage to work. She is a good child,” Dad says.
I nod. “Don’t worry, this marriage will work first class.” I grin. “Now let me go so I can work on it,” and walk past them.
I know Mom will try to question Dad later, but he won’t tell her anything. He knows she wouldn’t take it the way he does, she would give me thousands of lectures and tell Iselyn to report if I do anything wrong. And I don’t want that to happen.
I open the door to my room.I don’t want my Angel believing there’s anyone who could save her from me.She’s not there. I approach the bathroom, the sound of running water coming from the other side of the door. I lean against the wall beside it, crossing my arms.
Fifteen minutes later, the sound stops, and soon after comes the click of the door unlocking. My smile widens. And the door opens.
I swipe her off her feet as soon as she comes out, a shocked cry rings in the room, then in my mouth. The smell of her vanilla body wash fills my senses, the humid warmth from her hot shower surrounding me completely.
She recovers from the shock and starts pushing on my shoulders, her lips relaxing against mine as I suck and lick them.
Damn it. She feels so right in my arms—struggling to break free but unable to.
