Chapter 25 ~ Alexander #2
She sucking the syrup off her fingers and I have to adjust myself in my seat. I should ask if we should make a rule about sexy food, cause I want to grab her hand, suck the syrup off her fingers and taste that syrup and her at the same time. Fuck!
Popping her thumb out of her mouth, “Oh, but the way I am spending the day with Anna, I have a hair appointment.” She points to the top of her head. “No more skunk look. Since you already found me, I can go back to my natural color now.”
Those words sting. I know she didn’t say them to hurt me, but they do all the same.
I cut my ham, putting a chunk in my mouth.
She is going to be gone all day today. I didn’t have any plan for us, but the thought of her off without me makes my insides shake.
She won’t run, at least I hope she won’t.
But that's the thing about trust. It has to go both ways.
“So, will you be back later tonight? Do you want to have dinner together if you don’t have any plans?”
Isabella stops mid roll of her second burrito pancake and looks at me, her eyes rolling up at the ceiling as she thinks, then back at me
“How about I text you. I’m not sure what Anna planned. I'd like to pick up some clothes today as well. I seem to be growing out of things faster than I can wear them. But I should be home by dinnertime.”
I relent. “Okay, well, if you need me or a driver, I can always drop you off and pick you up.”
Stuffing the big mouth full of food in her cheek, she covers her mouth with her hand.
“Crap. I might need a driver. I haven’t tried to fit my belly behind the wheel of the car yet.”
She looks down at her tummy and rubs it as syrup drips out of her pan-rrito onto her plate. Here is my chance and I'm going to take it.
“Well, I have no problem with you driving. Like I said, you are free to come and go. But I can drop you off with no questions asked and no pressure. I’d like to make sure you get there safely.
We can take the SUV. I also have your new bank card, and no arguing with me about this.
It’s your card. You use it and buy whatever you need. ”
I can see the turmoil in her eyes. She wants her independence from me, but at the same time, she’s my wife. I provide for her and the baby, always will. I glower at her.
She glower’s back. “Alexander.”
I raise one eyebrow. “Isabella.”
She looks at me, and then tilts her head. A smile breaks out on her face.
“Fine. I would love a ride and thank you for my card.”
Her pink tongue darts out and she licks the syrup up her wrist to her palm and then takes a bite and my dick jumps.
God damn, that was sexy. I can’t help it.
I put my fork down, get out of my chair and kiss her.
I swipe the tip of my tongue over her bottom lip, tasting the syrup and then I kiss her once hard and sit back down.
Isabella just stares at me with her fish lips puckered out, her face is flush.
“Rule 1. I can kiss you whenever I want. And you're welcome.”
I pick up my fork and continue eating like nothing happened. Isabella finally begins to chew the food in her mouth and we remain silent until it is time for her to go change to take her to Annas.
I dropped her off over seven hours ago. By the time she texts me for a ride home, the carpet will be worn out in front of my desk.
I didn’t think it would be this hard to let her go.
Now that I have her, I just want to be with her all the time.
She’s funny. I didn’t realize how funny she is.
And it is natural things just pop out of her mouth in the most ridiculous way of saying the truth. You can’t help but laugh.
Six thirty. It’s well past dinner, so I guess she’s eating with Anna.
Pulling out my chair, I pick up the phone, telling Rose I’ll have my meal in here.
I’ll work till my bunny contacts me. I flip up the laptop and bring up the security cameras for the front gate.
If Anna brings her home, I’ll see. Immersing myself in work, Rose comes and goes.
Mindlessly, I eat, I check my watch again.
It’s nine o’clock. God, it feels like forever since she left.
Scrolling through my emails, out of the corner of my eye, I catch headlights in the camera feed from the front gate. It’s Isabella and Anna. My heart races and I follow them, clicking on the camera by the patio, watching Anna park in front of Isabella's house.
Isabella steps out of the car, reaching in to grab a few bags, and I smile. There is my Isabella, her black hair shining in the light from the front porch. She looks happy, carefree. Something I’ve never seen on her face before.
Anna hops behind her, her hands full of more bags, poking her ass with her finger to hurry Isabella up to unlock the door and the girls disappear inside.
A wave of relief washes over me. Isabella’s home. She did not run. According to the bags, she used her card as well, which I’ll take as a small reassurance she is accepting us as a couple.
My phone vibrates on my desk, and I flip it over, making me smile.
Isabella: Sorry we are late. We had a blast, time got away from me. I’ll meet you in the library for breakfast. Nite, butterscotch.
Alexander: I’m glad you had a good day. You deserve it. I’ll see you in the morning. Good night, Mrs. Russo.
Shutting down my laptop, I turn off the light as I leave, heading up to my room.
I take off my suit, put my track pants on and a t-shirt and grab a beer from the fridge by the TV stand.
I cross the hall and take up my seat in her window and watch the house.
Every instinct has me wanting to go down there and kiss her goodnight, smell her hair, run my finger through it.
The front door opens and Anna hugs Isabella as she leaves. Anna isn’t staying over? I thought Anna would just stay since it’s so late. I watch as Isabella closes the door. Anna is halfway to her car when she stops and looks over at the patio.
Danny walks around the edge of the pool, closing in fast on a stunned-looking Anna.
He picks her up and hugs her to his chest, burying his face in her neck just holding her.
Anna just hangs there, her legs dangling in the air for a few minutes, then she wraps her leg around his waist, gripping his neck, tight as she hugs him back.
I take a sip of my beer before heading back to my room. My heart goes out to the guy. He’s not much of a talker, or emotional. But with Anna, he’s lost without her. He loves her and he’s been trying to get her back for months. I should tell him to buy her a plant.
I just leave the door open as I head to my bed, tossing my shirt to the floor.
Stripping out my pants, I sit on the edge of the bed and plug my phone and hit the lights.
Rubbing my chest in the dark, thinking about breakfast tomorrow and wondering if Isabella will make her burrito pancakes and bacon again.
I might actually try one. I chuckled to myself as I roll over, punching my pillow and settling in for the night.
She is so fucken cute without even trying.
I blink in the darkness. Something’s not right.
I lift my head off the pillow and listen.
A slight hiccup noise? What the hell. I flip the cover off and sit on the edge of the bed listing.
A light from the hall shines dimly into my room, making a small rectangle on the floor.
I get up and go over to the door. Isabella’s door is open and there is a light on.
I step past the door and my heart stops and breaks all in the same moment.
The bathroom light is on. She’s curled up on her window seat staring into the yard; the letters crumpled in her hand as she wipes her eyes. I grab my chest; the pain is visceral. Oh my love, she read them.
“Isabella, love?” I come in slowly towards the couch.
“Please, just sit. I have so many things to say. Questions I need to ask.”
She won’t look at me, and I can see her damp cheeks in the dim glow of the light. I slowly pad closer to her. I want to take her in my arms and hold her. As I reach out, her voice hitches.
“Please don’t touch me. I need to get through this without falling completely apart.”
“Okay, love.” I draw my hand back as hard as it is for me to do and sit on the arm of the chair close to her.
She wipes her face and clears her throat. Her voice is weak, but I can hear her, feel her pain.
“I knew my father had died. Working in the library gave me access to lots of newspapers. I just kept looking for news from home. And one day his name was on the front cover. Shock was what I felt, but not sad, like I should have been. I felt horrible that me, his daughter, was numb to the feelings of loss his death should have made me feel. I grieved in my own way, I guess. The loss of what I knew we never would have. His love.”
She hunches her shoulder and wipes her eyes on her house coat sleeve. I look around and grab a box of kleenex from the coffee table and hand it to her, not touching her.
“My father was never what a father should be. He was cruel and liked to make me feel small and insignificant. I grew up believing it, I accepted it. My Nonno was the only one who made me feel like I was worth something to someone. I could feel his love was real. It wasn’t a lie to manipulate me. He loved me.”
She wipes her eyes again and my heart is splintering into a million pieces for her.
“I don’t remember the accident. Until tonight, I didn’t really know if it was real. All I remember is waking up on the floor. It was cold and dark and I was tied up and gagged. Days they would kick me, laugh and throw water on me or worse. I won;t go into detail, you can most likely guess.”
She waves her hand in the air, letting me know what worse would be. I clench my fists, wanting to kill the fuckers all over again.