Chapter Twenty-one #2
I listened and realized I didn’t really know him. Maybe if I’d seen this side before, I’d have fallen even harder. There was something about his mix of charm and roughness that got to me. Fuck! I needed to cool off. My pussy was screaming, and it was way too loud.
“Okay… I have to admit, I’m surprised. I’ve never seen this side of you before.”
“I know. Nobody knows this part of my life. Not even Krash or D, and they’ve known me since I was a kid.”
I just shrugged and kept eating, doing my best to keep conversation to a minimum, because I really didn’t want to think he was adorable. Even though, honestly, he was fucking adorable.
Fucking fuck!
“What’s your favorite food?” Konflict asked, clearly refusing to let silence settle between us.
I looked up at him, studying his face. “Why?”
“So I can make it for you. In case you forgot, I need to rack up some points to keep my wife. I heard the way to the heart is through the stomach. I want to try that route.”
“It’s pointless,” I answered flatly, trying to hide how fast my heart was pounding.
“Pointless because you’re already in love with me?”
I glared at him, furious. He was getting on my nerves.
“No, because you’re wasting your time.”
“Good thing I’ve got plenty of time to waste. So?”
“I don’t want to tell you.”
He wouldn’t let it go. “I’ll just guess, then. You like poultry—roast chicken, turkey, or duck with honey and balsamic sauce.”
I looked at him, half-annoyed, half-impressed by how specific he was. If I’d ever doubted he liked cooking, there was no way now. Plus, the way he described those dishes actually made me want to eat them.
“No,” I replied, forcing myself to sound unimpressed.
“Okay, so you’re more of a meat person. I can totally see you letting out little moans over a beef filet Rossini.”
“What’s that—Rossini?”
“It’s a thing with foie gras and a wine sauce, really good, you should try it.”
“And you know how to cook that too?”
“Yup. It’s one of my favorites. You didn’t ask, but I’m telling you anyway.”
“Sure, I didn’t ask,” I murmured.
“All right, so not meat, not poultry. Maybe fish? Cod filet, beurre blanc.”
“No.”
“Truffle risotto? Pan-seared scallops with lemon butter and celery? Gnocchi with parmesan cream and mushrooms?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not going to quit until I tell you, are you?”
“Nope. I could spend all night rattling off every dish in the world.”
“You’ve got an annoying side I never noticed before.”
“It’s also pretty damn charming. My mom liked it about me. So, your favorite dish?”
“Fine. Tourtière. Just a meat pie. Nothing fancy like Michelin star food. Happy now?”
“Very happy. What’s your favorite color?”
That’s where I’d had enough. I put my fork down and gave him a murderous glare.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I told you. I want to know you.”
“Well, I don’t want to know anything more than what I already know about you.
And I don’t want to share anything else with you either.
I don’t know if this is just some game for you, but I’m serious.
You destroyed any chance we ever had. I’ll never forgive you for humiliating me, ignoring me, threatening me for a year, then stealing the only moments where I felt any control over my life.
A life that was never really mine to begin with.
Maybe that means nothing to you, but it does to me.
And no, I don’t want to spend my evening answering stupid questions trying to fake a relationship I don’t even want.
You ruined everything between us, so now you deal with the consequences. ”
I spoke firmly, making sure every word landed. Konflict just watched me, not saying anything. It took me a few deep breaths to calm down and swallow the tears burning at the edge of my eyes.
“One week,” he finally spoke into the heavy silence.
“What?”
“Give me one week, Serenity. One week for me to open up to you, and for you to open up to me. One week to really give us a chance. Not to fix what I broke, but just to show you what I would have shown you if there’d never been a war between our families.
If you were just Serenity, the girl I’ve been crushing on for years.
Just give me one week. Then, if you still don’t want me, I’ll sign the divorce papers. ”
My eyes went wide, my heart pounding so hard I could barely think. I hadn’t expected him to say that. I stared at him, searching for any sign he was bluffing. He looked completely serious.
“You’ll give me the divorce?”
“If that’s what you want after a week, yeah.”
I inhaled and exhaled, refusing to break eye contact.
“Okay,” I said, my voice tight.
“Okay?” he echoed, a small smile tugging at his mouth.
“Okay,” I repeated, more firmly.
His smile grew so wide it actually surprised me.
Why the hell did he look so happy over something so small?
His whole face lit up like I’d just agreed to marry him, willingly.
I didn’t know this side of him. I didn’t think I’d ever even seen him smile.
Well, he did smile occasionally, but never this wild, happy, relieved smile.
Honestly, it was almost criminal to keep that kind of smile from the world because it was beautiful.
I’d never noticed the little dimple on his right cheek before.
Damn, he really is handsome.
“If you’re done eating, come with me. I have an idea.”
I frowned, instantly suspicious about what he had in mind. He got up, wiped his mouth, and held out his hand. I wiped my mouth too, grabbed my glass, and reluctantly slipped my hand in his. Konflict led me into the living room and told me to sit on the couch.
“There are two baskets here with a pencil and some pieces of paper. We’ll each write down every question that comes to mind. Doesn’t matter what it is. Stuff we’ve been holding in for years or just things we’re curious about.”
“Any question?” I asked.
“Any question. No exceptions. Then we’ll swap baskets, each draw a question, and answer it.”
“Is this some kind of truth or dare? Don’t tell me we have to take off a piece of clothing every time we don’t want to answer.”
“No, it’s not truth or dare. It’s not even a game for me. I’m serious. In fact, no one gets to skip a question. You have to be honest and answer everything. Are you in or what?”
I stayed silent for a second, then nodded. “I’m in.”
“Great. Write as many questions as you want. We’ll answer a few every night before bed, all week long.”
So I did. I didn’t seem too into it at first, but once I had the pencil in my hand, all kinds of questions started coming to me. Stuff I never thought I’d actually get to ask Konflict.
When I finished, I let him know. He was done too so like he’d said, we swapped baskets.
“You want to start?” he asked.
“No, you go first.”
“All right,” he said, picking a question from the basket. “How many times did you sleep with Eleana Sawyer?”
“Whoa, straight to the point, eh?” he said, giving me a look.
My face was unreadable. “Answer,” I said.
I still hadn’t gotten over seeing that video of her naked on his bed, touching herself.
“Never,” he answered, looking me dead in the eye, not even blinking.
“You said we had to be honest.”
“I am. I never fucked Eleana. I never touched her like that.”
“Kissed?”
“No.”
“You’re a liar,” I muttered, looking away.
He caught my chin, turned my face to him.
“Hey, look at me. I’m not lying. I never touched that woman.
I got close to her just so you’d think I didn’t care about you when every night I was fighting not to show up at the Korven estate and make love to you.
I needed to lie to myself that bad, just to resist you.
Nothing ever happened between me and Eleana. ”
“But she was naked in your bed, fingering herself right in front of you, then she pulled off your towel. She wasn’t shy about telling me you two fucked that night.
She even set up my kidnapping to get me out of her way.
You’re telling me she did all that and you never even touched her?
Didn’t give her a single bit of hope? Don’t bullshit me. ”
“Serenity, if we’re going to do this, to ask each other these questions, to make it work, you’ve got to trust that what I’m saying is true.
I have no reason to lie. I ghosted her after that gala.
That day, I saw how much it hurt you to see us together and for the record, I swear, I never wanted to hurt you like that.
I’m really sorry for how I made you feel that day.
But after that, I cut her off completely.
She broke into my place while I was in the shower.
I found her naked on my bed, and I didn’t know she was filming us.
There must not have been any sound on that video, otherwise you’d have heard me telling her to get out.
She tried to touch my dick when she snatched off my towel and I almost broke her arm.
If you didn’t see that, it’s because she really wanted you to believe something that never happened.
Serenity. Please, believe me. From the first night I made love to you, I never touched another woman.
I only wanted you. I’ve only ever wanted you. ”
God. Why was my heart racing? Why did his words hit me this hard? I should be cautious, but when I looked into his eyes, all I wanted was to believe him.
“Do you believe me?” he asked softly.
“Did you sleep with other women during our year of marriage?” I pressed.
“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.
Fuck, that hurt. I knew he’d been with other women while all I wanted was for him to want me. Hearing he’d ignored me to fuck other women, even though I half expected it, still stung.
“But they never meant anything. Most of them were escorts I paid for the night. They didn’t matter to me. I just… wanted to stop wanting you. But it was impossible.”
“Okay,” I said, voice tight.
A heavy silence fell between us until he broke it, nudging me to pick a question.
“Do you want children?”