As much as I wanted to go to my wife and hold her in my arms to chase the whispers of my memories away, I couldn’t. Duty called.
chapter Nine
Congratulations
Tiffany
Stepping out of the shower, I wrap the towel around me. I’ve been back in my home for a month now. And back to work only one week. I run my hand over the condensation on the bathroom mirror, clearing a path.
I thought it would get easier being back home. It has not. Every time he and I are in the same room together, we argue. It can be about the simplest of things. Last night, we argued over which of Noah’s toys he liked the best. Admittedly, Nico never starts the arguments. It’s just that every time he says something, I have to question it. I know it’s driving him crazy. Hell, it’s making me crazy.
And when we aren’t in the same room, I spend most of my time trying to distract myself from wanting to fuck him. I’m embarrassed to admit how horny I am for that man. My body and mind are at war. My head calls my body a dumb, horny bitch. And my body calls my head an overthinking dry prude.
Ugh! I can’t even rub one off. I swear I can hear him tiptoeing around the house late at night. The other night I tried to get myself off, and I swear I saw a shadow moving underneath my bedroom door. I quickly closed my legs and rolled over.
After finishing my morning hygiene needs, I headed into the bedroom to get ready for work. I nearly screamed when I foundNico on the bed. His shirt is off, his pajama pants are sitting low, the print lying against his thigh is calling my name. I cut my eyes away from his dick.
Clutching my towel to my chest, I glare at my husband. “Excuse you, knock before you enter my room.” I head to my dresser for some underwear.
“I know your body like the back of my hand. There is no hiding it from me.”
I turn to face him, my black panties in my hand. “Yes, but my body no longer belongs to you.”
I was being pissy for no other reason than to be pissy. Lord knows, this man would always own my body.
Nico chuckles, leaning back on the bed. “You don’t even believe that. I own your body just like I own your orgasms. Why else do you think you can’t get one at night without me?”
The shock of his admission has me frozen in place. I knew I wasn’t crazy. He’s been creeping around my room at night listening to me. For some reason, this angers me more. Hell, we could be fucking right now if not for his lies. He ruined us.
Lifting my chin, I stare at him defiantly. “I never had a hard time getting one before you.”
Nico’s gaze stays glued to me. He stares for so long I have to uncomfortably shift my weight.
“You and I both know, no one has ever fucked you like me.”
Still feeling defiant, I say. “You think so? I imagine Marcus would disagree.”
The energy in the room shifts. His brown eyes seem to go from chocolate brown to jet black. Slowly, he stands to his feet and walks over to me. I back up until my back hits the dresser. He stops right in front of me, his height towering over me.
A low chuckle leaves his lips. “Don’t let your anger get your ex killed…. Oh, that’s right. He’s already dead.”
I gasp. I was disgusted that he could be so casual about someone’s death. A life that he took. Despite the issues I had with Marcus, I didn’t wish him dead.
“You’re sick,” I snarl.
“No, I’m a realest, Tiffany. Marcus was a problem. As long as he was living, he would have continued to put you in harm’s way. Excuse me if I don’t shed a tear over putting a bullet in his fucking head to keep you safe.”
“I’m not asking you to shed a tear, Nico. I just want you to show some remorse for what you did. You haven’t even apologized for kidnapping me.”
He tosses his hands in the air. “And I won’t. You may not like how I went after you, but I did everything I knew to do to get you. To prove to you that I wanted you.”
I shake my head as tears well up in my eyes. This is how it went every day we were in close proximity. The simplest things turned into shouting matches.
“There were other ways to do it.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I see. Would you have preferred I made you wait nine fucking years for an engagement ring? Should I have set you aside while I built my basketball career? Fucked countless women behind your back while you silently and patiently waited for me to commit to you? Is that the bullshit you wanted?”
With each truth he tells, the pain slices into me. He’s right. Marcus made me wait years and never even hinted at marrying me. His career was always more important. Then, when the career was over, it was all about recovering and getting on his feet. And like a desperate fool, I stuck around waiting for any crumb of commitment and love. I stayed after multiple cheating incidents, a supposed baby, and his career tanking.
