Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
My footfalls are heavy as I make my way to Cinder’s room the next day.
I’d never seen her angry before last night, and I hate the way she left me standing in that parking lot. I wanted to run after her car and demand she stay by my side. But at the same time, it was clear she needed space from me. I just hope she’ll feel like talking this morning.
When I reach the closed door of her bedroom, I hesitate before I knock. I hear shuffling behind the door, then it swings open.
“Hey.” She looks at me briefly, then at the floor.
Fuck. My stomach bottoms out. She’s clearly still pissed.
I clear my throat. “Can we talk?”
She doesn’t say anything, but she does swing the door open wider and gestures for me to come in.
I turn to face her and push my hands into my pockets. “I want to apologize for my behavior last night.”
She arches an eyebrow and crosses her arms. Clearly she’s not going to make this easy on me.
“When I saw the two of you together, it didn’t sit well because no one knows you’re mine. We’re pretty private about our relationship, which is fine, but… I don’t know. Looking back on it, I think me being upset had more to do with watching you smile and laugh at him than it did with the fact that he wants you. That he touched you.”
Her arms drop to her sides, and her shoulders sag, then she tilts her head. “You don’t actually think I was entertaining the idea of starting something with him, do you?”
I shake my head and grip her shoulders. “No. I know you’re not like that.” I push at the voice in the back of my head that says I didn’t think Maude was like that either. “You’re not deceptive. I know that.”
I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and her head tips back to look at me.
“I’m sorry I got heated last night,” she says.
“You had every right to be. I was an asshole, and I’ll apologize to Jarvis the next time I see him.”
She places a palm on my cheek. “You don’t have to do that. Just be nice the next time you come into the studio, and he’s there, okay?”
“Okay.” I place a quick kiss on her lips. “Does this mean we can get to the make-up sex now?”
She laughs and swats at me.
“I’m kidding. I have plans for us today. I know you’re not working at the bar. Think you can drag yourself away from the studio for the day?”
Cinder trails a finger down my chest. “I think so. Jarvis is getting all the materials together so he can get started in there. There’s not much I can do until his renovations are done besides deciding on a studio name and starting an online presence. But I think that can wait a day.”
I grin, excited about what I have planned for us today. “Perfect.”
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
“But how will I know what to wear?” She bats her big blue eyes innocently as if they hold the power to break me.
“What you’re wearing is fine. Now let’s go.” I take her hand and pull her toward the bedroom door.
“But I don’t have my purse or anything.”
“You don’t need it.”
We head through the manor, and I can feel the anticipation and excitement coming off of her. It’s not until after we’re in the car and we pull past the gates of the private airport that she tries to get me to divulge where we’re going.
“We’re flying wherever we’re going?”
I glance at her. Her mouth hangs open at the private plane that waits for us on the runway.
“We are. Have you ever flown before?” I ask, parking the car.
“Once when I was a kid and my parents took me on vacation, but I barely remember it.”
We both get out of the car and meet at the front, joining hands.
I squeeze hers. “Ready to join the mile high club?”
Her cheeks pinken. It’s so fucking cute when she gets embarrassed. Given her sexual experience, you’d think it wouldn’t happen so easily.
“How long is the flight?” she asks, ignoring my question.
I chuckle. “No way. If I tell you that, you’ll have some idea of where we’re going, and I want it to be a surprise.”
She pouts, and it makes me want to bite her plump lip.
“You’ll see soon enough.” When we reach the stairs leading up into the plane, I motion for her to go first.
The entire plane ride, she watches out the window as though the landscape might give some clue as to where I’m taking her. I’m not worried—she’s never going to guess.
The plane lands, and I escort her to the waiting vehicle that’s taking us to our destination. Once we’re in the back and the vehicle starts moving, Cinder shifts to look at me.
“Can I please have a clue?” She puts her hands in prayer pose in front of her.
I chuckle. “Were you like this as a kid before Christmas, wanting to know what presents you were going to get?”
She rolls her eyes. “Surprises make me itchy. I can’t stop wondering.”
I tap the end of her nose. “If you’re patient, you’ll find out in about twenty minutes.”
“You’re the worst.” She slumps back in her seat like a sullen teenager.
I barely contain my laugh. I guess I know how to get under her skin now—act jealous and arrange a surprise for her, then refuse to say what it is.
“Are we going skydiving?”
I arch an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t we have stayed at the airport?”
She twists her mouth. “Good point. Are we going to some fancy Michelin star restaurant?”
I glance at my casual clothes. “Dressed like this?”
She growls in frustration. “Right.”
“Wait… would you go skydiving?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe if I didn’t have time to think about it too much and freak myself out.”
Noted for another time.
She taps her finger on her bottom lip, and I watch the movement the way a cheetah might watch a gazelle through the grass. “I know! Are we going to a sporting event?”
“That’s a good guess, but no.”
Her arms flail out in front of her. “That’s it. I give up.”
I grin. “Good, because we’re here.”
Cinder’s head whips back toward the window as we pass the sign for the zoo. “We’re going to the zoo?”
I shrug. “I know how much you love animals, so I got us a behind-the-scenes visit to the zoo. We’ll be the only ones here today.”
Her eyes widen. “In the whole zoo?”
I nod, amused by her reaction. “Yup. Just us.”
“How did you do that?”
“With a very generous donation.”
“Wow.” She sits back, seeming to think for a moment. “Do you think we’ll get to see any otters? They’re so cute.”
I wrap my hand around the back of her head and pull her face toward mine. “I think you can see whatever you want today. You say the word, and it’s yours.”
Her palm brushes down my cheek before she kisses me, showing me how grateful she is. “This is the best surprise ever, Nero. Thank you.”
“Anything for you.”
When the words leave my mouth, I realize how truthful they are. “Are you ready to show everyone why you’re my queen?”