We had palpable sexual chemistry, but what had me falling was the way Zeno cast me a soft possessive look when he thought I wasn’t looking. The way he taught me how to shoot a gun and wield a knife because he worried for my well-being. The way he ran his fingers through my hair when I laid my head on his chest at night. The way he let me win most of our chess games because seeing a smile on my face made him happy.
And the way he’d catcall whistle every morning after I got dressed. Telling me I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen and that he wanted to marry me again.
One morning I actually slid off his wedding band as a joke with the intention of ‘marrying him’ again…when I caught the initials engraved on the underside of the ring.
DIH
I didn’t know when he got them added, but safe to say my throat tightened and my eyes stung a little.
I realized Zeno and I both crossed a fine line. While I was still unsure where he stood, my own feelings became obvious a few days later, when he took me out on a date one Saturday evening.
He was waiting for me outside the manoir, leaning against his Lamborghini and looking devilish in a black tux and bowtie. I crossed over to him in my six-inch heels, the train of my gown flowing in the wind.
I threw myself into his arms and he caught me as always, whispering in my ear, “You look beautiful, baby.”
How was I ever supposed to protect my heart around this man? “Where have you been today?”
“I had some important business.”
“You’ve been saying that a lot.” Sometimes, Zeno would disappear late at night to conduct urgent business and wouldn’t come back until the early morning hours.
“I know I’ve been busy lately, but I’ll make it up to you.” He opened the door for me and I slithered inside.
We peeled out of the driveway and I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. I loved watching my husband do small mundane things like driving, which he did with such masculine confidence. “Where are you taking me?”
“We’re having dinner with Ella and Cade.”
I was taken aback. “Really?”
“They are important to you and you’re important to me,” he said. “So I want to make an effort to get to know them.”
“Thank you. I’ve really missed those two.” I shifted closer in my seat to peck his cheek, when my feet snagged on something. I stared down to find a pair of gold flats. “What are these shoes doing here?”
Zeno cut a quick glance and his jaw clenched when he noticed my exposed thigh through my high slit. “You once mentioned having a three-hour window in high heels. I kept them in the car in case your feet hurt and you wanted to change into something more comfortable.”
Swear to God, I melted into a puddle. I could picture this big man rummaging through my walk-in closet and stealing a pair of shoes so he could have them in the car for me.
I closed my eyes on a short exhale.
It wasn’t about the shoes.
It was about the fact that Zeno did everything in his power to always put me above all. Because I was important, I was cherished, and I was branded in his soul.
Never in my life had anyone treated me with such reverence.
I was undone.
He wove our hands together and brought them to his mouth for a kiss.
My heart twisted and echoed the wordlove.
CHAPTER 31
Goddess of Spring
Zeno
It was like déjà vu.