Chapter 12
I was happy. The smile wouldn’t leave my face as I practically skipped toward my apartment, ready to kiss God and the whole world along the way.
The day had been very productive, pleasant, and happy. Insufferably happy.
Whoever said revenge doesn’t pay was certainly a colossal fool. No, wait… Crime doesn’t pay—that was the right saying, but I could change it.
Today I can do anything!
Small revenges, great pleasures.
I even bought an expensive wine. Oh, never before had I ended up poorer twice in the same day and felt happy about it. I wasn’t drinking, my exception had been Pietra, but I could give myself this little luxury today. I was going to celebrate having my bed all to myself.
Just stretching out in it, arms and legs wide open.
No more wet aches.
No more provocations.
No more self-sabotaging desires.
No more torture that turned me into a witch in the morning.
I had freed my bed from him, and next I would free my apartment.
I walked into my sweet home ready for a fight and dirty looks.
The first wrong thing was the smell. It smelled delicious, like really good food, the kind that makes your mouth water and your stomach growl loudly.
Three steps in, I stopped and peeked toward the kitchen.
Thor was… cooking!
What the hell?
Thor walked toward me, smiling from ear to ear. I smiled back, an automatic expression, speechless. This wasn’t right.
My skeptical gaze ran over him.
Dark jeans and a blue T-shirt, with the addition of a black apron. He looked very sexy in the domestic role, yet still radiated aggressive masculinity.
“Welcome back, baby.” He left a kiss on my forehead, took the wine, and read the label. “Perfect… Are you drinking already? … Never mind. A little won’t hurt. It’ll be great with the dish I’m making. Now go shower and nurse our boy. When dinner’s ready, I’ll call you.”
Why the hell was Thor so happy?
Part of me was excited that he was taking this so well. Then why did the thought of him being happy to leave my bed bother me so much?
Confused, I walked to the suite and did as he said.
Lucca fell asleep early. He was exhausted. And I wondered from what.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Thor said, pulling out the chair for me.
“A little.”
He left, and when he came back, a plate appeared in front of me. It was simple: tomatoes cut into wedges and half of a roasted baby onion with basil.
I placed the napkin in my lap with slight apprehension.
“This was what I was doing.”
I lifted my gaze from the plate to Thor seated on the other side.
“What?”
“My outings.”
“What about them?”
His eyebrow rose suspiciously.
“Weren’t you curious?”
“No,” I lied, masking my sudden relief.
“No?”
“We don’t owe each other explanations, Heithor. You’re free to do whatever you want… just like I am,” I added the last part, smiling.
He kept looking at me, unchanged.
“We haven’t been free since our paths crossed, Ella. And I’m afraid to say it will be that way until the end of time. I will always belong to you, and you to me.”
“If you want to think that,” I scoffed.
“How does the lie taste?”
“Tell me.”
The lazy smile transformed his firm features into a cruel beauty.
“Then we’re both good liars.”
“Are you trying to pick a fight?”
His gaze pierced me, sending heat through my body. “I want many things with you, Ella, but fighting isn’t on any of the agendas, unless it includes a reconciliation involving nothing but our mouths and naked bodies.”
I blushed, annoyed, suddenly caught by a wave of tension engulfing my stomach. His words… there were so many meanings there…
With nothing to say, I stayed quiet.
“I’m taking cooking classes. The last time I cooked dinner for you wasn’t something I can be proud of, but I promise this time you’ll lick your fingers.”
“Why did you decide to take cooking classes, besides the obvious, of course?”
“I wanted to cook for you.”
“You’re taking classes just because you wanted to cook for me?”
“Yes.” He pointed to my glass. “Wine?”
“Please.”
After that, I needed an entire bottle, but I restrained myself with the half glass he poured me. I took a sip and held myself back from taking another.
I looked at him, still speechless.
“Are you surprised?”
“Well, yes.”
Thor arranged the napkin in his lap and ordered:
“Eat.”
I did and nearly cried… from pleasure.
“Oh my God, this is so good!” I moaned, taking another bite. “And it’s just tomato and onion,” I added, awestruck, with a little laugh.
“I’m glad you approve,” he said mysteriously.
Thor didn’t stop there. He made a main course that nearly killed me not to go back for seconds, and a dessert that, despite the plating not turning out right, almost pulled a tear from me. The dishes weren’t just presentable; they were delicious.
We had a good moment. No one was forcing anything, just being ourselves and pleasant with each other. I felt pampered, and I loved every second of it.
“You cooked, Thor. It’s only fair that I wash,” I argued, controlling myself so I wouldn’t stomp my foot when he stopped me from washing the dishes.
“This was for you, Ella.”
“But…”
His index finger pressed against my mouth, his head tilting down with intimacy. “I’m not going to let you fight me over this, baby.”
I went still, no reaction except for my heart hammering frantically.
His big, hot, rough hand slid along the contour of my body, setting fire to my skin and raising goose bumps, down to my hip.
He held me there. It was all I could do not to shudder, caught in his jet-black eyes.
I could smell the delicious scent of his cologne.
He was beautiful, all masculine intensity.
I still didn’t know what to do…
Thor caught me off guard with a quick kiss. It was only the light pressure of mouths, enough to leave my lips burning. I wanted to lick them to soothe the ache.
“Go rest, baby. I’ll take care of this. I’ll come in soon.”
Thor took a step back, and I blinked, flattered and dazed, having to repeat the command to my brain several times before I was able to move.
I stepped into the shower needing the relaxing comfort of the warm water.
Thor didn’t only leave me tense, he left me on the edge of an eruption.
I almost wanted to fall into temptation and give myself to him again, but while I watched him be kind to me, spoil me with gestures and words, try… this bitterness would take me over.
I wanted to be able to let it go…
I hardened, cranky with myself.
… I couldn’t… I wiped a patch of fogged glass, and my jaw dropped. Shocked, I watched Thor walk to the toilet, lift the lid, and start peeing.
“What are you doing?” I shouted through the glass.
He glanced sideways, and I felt studied by his heated eyes, despite the steam fogging the glass. I felt more naked than I was.
Our truce dissolved with the steam.
“Pissing.”
“And you couldn’t go to the other bathroom?”
“And why would I do that when I always use this one?”
“Because I’m using it,” I shot back angrily.
“Not the toilet.”
“You understood!”
“Ella, I’ve done more than see you naked.
I’ve come inside your holes more times than I can count, and on none of those occasions were we dressed.
Well, aside from a few exceptions,” he mocked, the smile in his voice impossible to disguise.
The sound of his piss stopped, the toilet flushed, and a faucet opened.
He even brushed his teeth. “See? No loss.”
Maledetto.
I pressed my lips together, keeping the curses inside, and finished my shower.
Nothing was going to ruin my perfect day…
I entered the bedroom and came upon Thor in bed, wearing the damned boxer briefs.
I wanted to bite his ass. Out of anger.
“Why are you here?”
He lowered the laptop screen.
“We already settled this, Ella… Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing.”
I changed quickly. I needed to check the other rooms.
“Are you going to the kitchen?”
With my hand on the doorknob, I looked back, trying not to grunt.
“Yes.”
“Can you please bring me a glass of water? My back is starting to hurt, and I don’t want to wait until it gets worse to take the medicine.”
I ran to check the other rooms…
NOT A DAMN BED!
It wasn’t possible. I thought about calling Giulia and asking if anyone had come, but remembered it was her day off. Thor had been in the apartment all day.
I handed the glass of water to Thor, indifferent to the ugly look on my face.
“Were you in the apartment all day?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t go out for anything?”
“No.”
“For nothing at all?”
“No.”
“Not even to take Lucca and Lola to the park?”
“Sorry, I should have, but I had some unexpected issues and ended up spending the whole day working on the laptop. Why?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Yes, nothing.”
I slid into bed and turned off the lamp with a huff.
Thor rolled, his strong body pressed against mine from head to toe, making me aware of him, his voice thick and rough at the shell of my ear. “Good night, baby.”
***
“Good morning, ma’am!”
“Cut the crap!” I growled at the damned salesman, hands on my waist as I leaned toward him, furious. “Why the hell didn’t you deliver the mattress like we agreed?”
His smile died, and he looked at me, confused.
“But I sent it.”
“You didn’t send shit!” I shouted violently, my hands flying. “I paid very dearly to have that damned mattress yesterday, sir!”
His eyes swept around, smiling awkwardly at the other customers looking curiously at us. He looked at me, flustered, gesturing with his hand.
“Ma’am, please calm down!”
“I don’t want to calm down. I want my money back! I will never buy here again, and I’ll make sure no one close to me buys so much as a needle here.”
“Ma’am, I swear the mattress was sent yesterday.”
“And I’m here because I’m crazy?” I mocked, laughing nervously.
“Come, sit here and calm down, yes?”
Mr. Ferro led me to his desk. I went, displeased, stomping hard. I took a sip of the water he gave me and slammed the glass down.
I waited to hear his excuse.
He shuffled some papers on the desk and showed me. “Look here on this line. The mattress left the store as agreed,” he said, smiling, satisfied.
“But it didn’t get there!”