24 #2
“Alessa.” Roman's steely voice made her head snap up. Through her tears, she could barely make out his expression. As she furiously wiped her eyes, he sat up in bed, his narrowed gaze moving toward his phone in her hand. He looked frighteningly awake and aware of his surroundings.
“Give it to me,” he said with a calmness that sounded forced.
Despite her efforts to conceal them, a tear slid down Alessandra’s cheek, then another.
As she stared at her husband blankly, she felt white-hot anger engulf her entire being, from her scalp to her little toe.
Her brain did a one-eighty so fast she felt dizzy from the sheer violence of the feelings slamming into her.
With a force she had no idea she was capable of, she drew her arm back and catapulted the phone across the room. It hit the far wall hard—so hard it was a miracle it didn’t break apart on impact.
“Fuck you,” she gritted, turning around to flee the bedroom with the pulse hammering in her ears.
Roman caught up to her at the top of the stairs. Grabbing her by the waist, he lifted her up and carried her back into their room.
“Let go of me!” she yelled, struggling to get away. Her nails scratched the skin on his forearms as her legs kicked at the air.
“Calm the fuck down,” he hissed against her ear, not loosening his hold on her. “Want to explain to me what the fuck has gotten into you?”
“Read your fucking messages,” she replied through clenched teeth, her sharp nails still firmly digging into his skin. He didn’t seem to care.
“Watch your mouth.” He set her down on her feet unceremoniously. Alessandra whirled around to glare at him. She was livid , nearly trembling with her anger.
Giving her a hard look, Roman bent down to pick up his phone.
The screen was cracked, but otherwise the device still looked functional, coming to life instantly when he touched it.
He quickly pored over the texts Alessandra had read partially.
When he looked up again, his eyes burned with fury.
“Is this what made you act so fucking crazy?”
“Who is she?” she demanded, her voice shaking.
“First of all, you are not to touch my phone without my permission. Ever.” He took a step closer, forcing her to take one back. “And second, you should ask me for an explanation before jumping to conclusions.”
That was rich, coming from him of all people. She kept her mouth shut though.
“Who is she, Roman?” she asked again after a moment, convinced she was going to collapse right there on the floor by his feet if he didn’t give her an answer already. She was barely standing as it was.
“ She is a woman I haven't been in touch with for months.”
“Did you sleep with her?”
“Does it matter?”
“So that's a yes.” His face was all the confirmation she needed. More tears fell as her heart cracked wide open for him to see just how much that admission hurt her. She tried to leave the room again, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her.
“Listen to me.” He pulled her back to him, framing her face with his warm hands as he kept her gaze locked with his. “I haven't touched another woman since I married you.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I'm telling the truth. Look.” He lifted the phone between them, scrolling down through the conversations with her. “See the dates? Last time she texted before tonight was in June. We got married in July.”
Alessandra tried to focus on what he was showing her.
The most recent conversation was dated a few weeks before their wedding.
She was asking for a rendezvous, and Roman agreed to meet her in a few hours at her place.
While she used emojis and too many words, his replies were short and to the point.
Alessandra averted her eyes, deciding she’d seen enough. As irrational as that was, just the thought of him with another woman was enough to paint her world an ugly shade of green. “Why now? Why do you still have her number?”
“I don't know why she decided to reach out tonight, and I never thought to delete it. I'll do it right now.” Moving his thumb on the screen, he did just that, making sure she saw. “Happy?”
“Don't patronize me.” She tried to push him away, but his hold on her remained firm. He drew her a little closer, until her breasts were pressing against his hard chest.
“ Milaya ,” Roman murmured, his voice softening as his lips moved to her neck. “You are the only woman for me.”
The irony of the scene in itself wasn’t lost on Alessandra. Not even two weeks had passed since they’d had a similar fight regarding Luca. Now that she’d had a small taste of how Roman felt that day, she knew it must have hurt like a bitch.
Clearly, she couldn’t hold the man accountable for his past. And yet, that soft and vulnerable part of her heart that loved him with fierce passion couldn't be reasoned with. She wanted to strangle that Kate. To wipe her from existence and from her husband’s memory forever.
“I won't share you,” she whispered furiously.
“You won't have to.” His lips drifted from her neck to her shoulder, seeking to reinforce his assurance with affection. “I promise.”