Chapter 31
Elena
The tension in the air’s so thick you could cut it with a butter knife as we get ready for bed. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Good god do I want this man’s body, but I can’t bring myself to say the words, to tell him what he wants to hear.
Maximo seems frustrated, but not angry. I just need a little more time to sort through this tangle in my head and in my heart. I won’t allow lust to cloud my decision-making.
Dressed in a short, soft nightgown, I snuggle under the covers, but I can’t relax.
Every fiber of my being tracks Maximo’s movements around the cottage.
He snuffs the candles, then he’s in the bathroom doing his nightly routine.
The fairy lights flick off. I swallow my gasp when he slips into bed behind me.
The bed’s large, but he still manages to take up most of the space.
His heat sinks beneath my skin, warm and inviting, as he lies on his back.
I peek at him over my shoulder. He’s staring at the ceiling, head propped on one arm.
I wish I knew what he was thinking. Is having regrets?
Or does he plan to stubbornly wait me out.
I’d take a bet on the latter. Maximo doesn’t back down.
Ever. I’ve never met a more bullheaded person.
Though his apology earlier was sweet, and I believe he meant it, we can’t just sweep everything under the rug and start fresh. Can we? No, life doesn’t work that way. There are always, eventually, consequences for your actions.
I understand what he wants during our honeymoon, and I will give him a chance to prove himself. But until he has, I’m not going to spread my legs for him and pretend that everything’s fine.
He’s set the stage, but will he really be content to read for hours on end? To sit in silence with me? To let me enjoy all of this on my own terms? Only time will tell.
His breathing evens out, telling me he’s dozed off. So I gradually relax on my side, mere inches from his body, and let sleep claim me.
Tonight my nightmares leave me alone.