Page 70 of King of Ashes
“Naked. Bold choice,” he says, my man emerging from the clutches of a past just as unyielding.
Maybe we were meant to be, to heal, to learn to live once again. If that’s the case, I’ll take this chance gladly.
“I have unfinished business to see through in the morning.” I tilt my head, hoping for a seductive expression as I send him a flirtatious smile.
He throws his head back and laughs so wholeheartedly that it feels like the greatest achievement possible. His happiness ignites mine, as if they’re interconnected.
Strange.
Divine.
A dream.
“Who am I to stand in your way, wife?” He sounds like a man accepting his fate, undressing to his boxer briefs and sliding into bed next to me.
He erases the space between us, and I welcome it, loving the press of his chest against mine. He kisses my neck and nibbles along my shoulder. “Sleep well, mi sol.”
“Get some rest, husband. We’ll test something else tomorrow morning. Your stamina.”
His chuckles accompany me into sleep as I close my eyes, feeling like the luckiest woman—only to wake to an empty bed and a note.
Something came up.
I crumple the sheet. This asshole. I expected to wake up to him, only for him to ditch me.
Frustration mixes with confusion, leaving me in a foul mood. Why would he pull this? I made it blatantly clear I wanted him. What am I missing?
He wants me. That can’t be the reason. What is it? The answer eludes me, igniting a spark of fury, and I snatch up my phone, typing a text before deleting it. I refuse to let him know he hurt me.
I won’t leave. Fuck him. I am no coward, but I guess he is.
Going through my contacts, I call his cousin, and Noemi answers on the second ring.
“Hi,” she says in a melodious voice.
“Hi, want to grab some coffee?”
She squeals, saying, “Give me a few.”
I change into a romper and slip on some sandals while she appears like a pop of color in her peach top, white jeans, and pinkish-blonde hair.
She looks at me as if she can’t believe I am real.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” I ask, brushing my cheeks instinctively.
She clears her throat and shakes her head at me. “No. I was just waiting for you to call me. It can’t be easy with the sudden change.”
“Your cousin drives me insane.”
She purses her lips to hide her amusement. “I’ve heard that one before.” Her eyes widen, and she quickly adds as she drags me away, “Typical for men to drive women insane.”
Yes, of course. I don’t know why for a moment I thought there was something else.
Spending time with her is like standing in front of the sun. She’s radiant, open, and a joy to be around—so different from her cousin.
At a coffee shop nearby, I rummage through my purse for my phone and find five calls from him and dozens of text messages.
I silence it, fully immersing myself in the discussion with Noemi, even if he pops up now and then like a pesky thought.
