“I can live with that. But why a trophy?”
“Because you made me into a woman, and I will stand you high on my shelf to appreciate the milestone.”
This time I wink and he shrugs. “You are kind of my trophy, too.”
“In what way?”
“Because you soften my edges and present a challenge no other woman ever has.”
“When I gave you the slip, I’m guessing.”
“No, Alice.”
I’m surprised at the expression on his face that chases away the lighthearted one of before.
“You have made me want to be a better man. To please you, to chase away your demons, and rebuild your confidence. You are also the first woman I have married, and for a self-styled bachelor, I commend you for your triumph.”
He winks again, but my heart is racing at the sincerity in his tone. To disguise how touched I am, I say slowly, “Your first wife.”
“Of course.”
He grins and slides the mug my way. “There will be no prisoners here, Alice. If I am not the perfect husband to you, I’m guessing you will head for the nearest exit, and I will not prevent that.”
“You wouldn’t fight for me?”
I am crushed, and he shakes his head.
“No, I would not because if you even think about leaving me, it’s because I’m the asshole who ruined a very good thing. I would not deserve to fight for you, so my mission is clear. Never to stop fighting to keep you, to save me from the heartache of watching you walk away from me.”
“Simeon.” The mug hovers in the air between us, and he jerks his head toward another corridor off the hallway.
“Come, bring your coffee; there is more to see.”
He chases away the intimacy of the moment, leaving me reeling. It’s almost as if he cares, and that’s a powerful gift to bestow on a woman who has never been wanted before.
I follow him, and we head through his apartment, and with every room, I fall a little more in love with the place. He is obviously proud of his home, and as we reach his huge bedroom, I immediately feel at home.
“I can tell this space is yours, Simeon.”
“How?”
“It’s masculine, unapologetic and bold. A statement, if you like.”
The huge bed, draped in silk and fur, dominates the room. Bare wooden floors are strewn with rugs, and the warm lighting creates a smoky atmosphere. There are pictures of naked women in brush strokes on the wall and mirrors everywhere that reflectthe light around the room. Steel furniture is softened with lamps, and a huge black couch is softened with fur throws and cushions.
It’s dark, intimate and moody, and a shiver of expectation passes through me as Simeon sits on the couch, setting his mug on the steel table in front of it.
His hooded gaze strips me bare, and he leans back, a picture of masculinity in his prime.
“So, you’ll stay?”
“Why would I leave my husband so early on in our marriage?”
“Because this isn’t the life you dreamed about, perhaps. Not many women lie in bed at night and ask for an apartment over a strip club with a monster in their bed.”
I laugh out loud. “True, but life works in mysterious ways, and I’m glad I got to learn the value of my husband before I realized how he lives his life.”
“I take it you fell in love with me the moment I massacred a jet full of people and dragged you from the wreckage through their blood.”
