“Like you care,” I snap, pushing myself to my feet and washing my chin. After rinsing my mouth out, I turn to him. “I don’t vomit often. It’s nerves, ok? Happy? I’m scared to be here tonight. That’s the truth. You wanted vulnerable, so here you go.”
Enzo studies my face for a long moment before he places his fingers under my chin, tilting my head up. “You’ve never looked more beautiful.” With those confusing words, he leaves me alone in the bathroom.
Chapter Seven
Enzo
Whenever I see Kira looking open and vulnerable, it does something to me. It happened at my club that first night we met when that man was harassing her. How scared she looked. How much I wanted to protect her in that moment.
And now tonight. When she cried and threw up. She’s normally fierce but it’s when she looks scared and small that it makes me feel for her. It makes me want her.
Not because I’m some freak who gets off on scared women. It’s because I like seeing her drop her tough façade. And I can tell it’s all a façade. She’s just putting on a show so she doesn’t look weak in front of me.
I slip my jacket, shoes, and shirt off and change into a pair of sweatpants for the evening. After a long time, Kira eventually leaves the bathroom. She freezes when she sees me shirtless. It’s cute how much she looks like a deer. It makes me question how many men she’s been with. There’s an innocence to her. Maybe she didn’t get into as much trouble as I think she did.
Without a word, she grabs her pajamas from her suitcase – a simple cotton t-shirt and pants – before rushing back into the bathroom. When she comes back out, she’s changed into her pajamas and I have to admit, she looks cute in them. They’re simple. Not sexy. But there’s a sexiness to the simplicity of her outfit that makes me want to grab her and kiss the life out of her.
But I doubt that’s happening tonight. Knowing Kira, she would just try to slap me again or kick me in the balls and I have no desire for that.
“I’m tired,” she grumbles. “But I’m not sleeping in the same bed with you.”
“It’s just sleep, Kira. We’re married now. We’ll be married forever. Might as well get used to each other.”
“No,” she states flatly.
“Fair enough. Then you can sleep on the floor if you want. But I’m sleeping in the bed.”
“No. You’re the man. You should be the one to sleep on the floor.”
“I am not sleeping on the floor. If you’re the one who has an issue with me, then you sleep on the floor.”
“No.”
I sigh. She is exasperating. Why did I agree to marry her again? “I have a solution. Why don’t we both sleep in the bed? I’m not going to rape you tonight.”
“Tonight,” she emphasizes. “Which means that you’re going to try and rape me another night.”
I shake my head and get under the covers. “You’re kind of crazy sometimes, you know that?”
“I’m crazy? You’re the one who shot my brother in the back. I have the right to be afraid of you. You’re the crazy asshole here.”
“I know what I did and it was impulsive of me. My anger got the better of me. But now that I’ve made peace with your brother, I’ll never shoot him again. So long as he doesn’t come for me. And I suspect he hasn’t come for me again because he doesn’t want you to get hurt. So we’re all playing nice for the sake of our families. Which is why I am not going to rape you tonight or any night. Now, get in. I’m fucking tired. It’s been a long day.”
“It’s been a long day for you? Well, it’s been a long month for me having to plan a wedding I wanted no part in.”
“This again,” I groan, laying down.
“Yes, this again. I had to plan it all myself.”
“I helped choose the cake. And your dress, which you refused to wear.”
“Because I wanted to wear my own,” she snaps. “Why don’t you get it? God. You’re so annoying.” With a huff, she grabs the pillow off the bed and wrenches the blanket off me.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“To sleep in the bathtub.” Her eyes flick down to my bare chest for just a moment before she rolls her eyes and goes into the bathroom, where she slams the door behind her.
I can’t help but chuckle. Kira is amusing, I’ll give her that. Even though she’s a pain in my ass.
