An image I didn’t dare conjure in my head was one of him chuckling or remaining calm beside me. But that was exactly what he did.
Mikhail chuckled, and I turned to face him.
“I can’t say I’m surprised to hear this. I mean, I’ve always had a vague idea,” he disclosed.
A confused frown crossed my face.
“Come on, you were ready to have my head at your brother’s funeral. And then all that fire was suddenly nowhere to be found; it couldn’t have been random, could it?”
“How can you be so casual about this?”
“Isabella, your actions are totally understandable and expected for someone in your position. Only a crazy person would have been all smiles with the person they assumed killed their only sibling.”
“You mean…you’re not mad?”
“I'm not mad at you,” he assured. “I appreciate you telling me all this. You didn’t have to. So, thank you.”
I swallowed, not quite knowing what to say in response.
“There’s nothing to feel uneasy about,” he persuaded. “You’re no longer going through with your plan, are you?”
“Hell no. Why would I? I now know I’ve been blaming you wrongly all this time.”
“I admire how brave you are, baby,” he stated, claiming my right hand with his left one, bringing it to his lap. “And I’m not talking about you telling me this alone. I’m talking about how you hold your own regardless of what situation you’re thrown in. I’ve seen it in many instances, and I must say it’s one of the many things I find endearing about you.”
“Thanks, I guess,” I uttered. “You said I had no reason to tell you. Well, you were wrong. I have.”
He raised a questioning brow.
“Mikhail, I care about you. You’ve come to mean so much more to me than I could have ever thought. It’s not just about how you embrace all my quirks and make me feel valued. It’s more about how you’re…human, with me.”
“Human?”
“I know one or two mafia bosses, and their frozen composure is impenetrable. They relate with everyone, like the tiniest show of feeling makes them less dangerous. But with you, it’s all warm and cozy. You don’t hold back from me, and I don’t think there’s anything I love more than that. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you’ve become a part of me I wouldn’t want to be rid of.”
“You drive me crazy and make me speechless, have I ever told you that?”
“Maybe,” I uttered.
“I don’t know much about love. But I know without a doubt that my whole being opens up to you. I know that every part of me is attuned to you. All you have to do is be in the same space with me. And, yes, I never want to be separated from you.”
After a silent second, he went on.
“If you, however, want out…”
“No, Mikhail. I thought I made it clear just now.”
“I just wanted to put things out there,” he uttered.
“Forever is the destination,” I told him.
“Careful, darling wife. You keep throwing these words around, I’ll be tempted to resound my affirmation,” he said, his voice going lower as he added, “And it won’t be with words.”
“It’ll be with what, then?” I asked, my tone equally low.
“You already know,” he answered, a sly smile on his face. “With my body.”
“What if that’s exactly what I crave right now?” I inquired, shifting closer to him.
