Page 64 of Till Death Do Us Part

Why isn’t he angry?

I dropped my forehead to his wide chest. “I’m sorry.”

He lifted his embrace to the middle of my back, pulling me closer to him. Keeping my arms against my chest, I settled into his warm and fresh-scented bubble. It was at that moment when I realized the erection I’d felt earlier was no longer an issue.

He must have masturbated in the shower—again.

I was a failure as a wife.

I lifted my gaze. “I’m sorry,” I repeated.

“I’m not good at this.”

My lips twitched. “Definethisbecause earlier you were very good.”

“I think you can take not-coming-with-oral off your list.”

“I didn’t hate it.”

Aléjandro’s laughter filled the air and floated out to sea. “That was obvious.”

“I didn’t mean to…” To what? “…freeze. I wish I could be different for you.”

“Be you, Mia. What I’m not good at is this—talking isn’t my forte. Actions are where I excel. I’ll probably say it wrong.”

“Say what?”

“Be you,” he repeated. “Be the you who slapped me in the hallway and the you who told me you didn’t want this marriage. That’s who I married. And I fucking signed up for you. If I have to wade through some shitty, scum-laden waters to get to that self-assured firecracker, then I’ll put on my boots and do that because I know you’ll be worth it.”

Swallowing became more difficult. I sniffled. He was better at talking than he gave himself credit for. Yet, I still had questions. “Why aren’t you…? I expected you to be upset.”

His eyes narrowed. “Should I be? Did you purposely set out to anger me?”

“No.” My neck straightened. “I didn’t…I was…it was…I’ve never come twice in one night before. We were kissing and I liked that.” I exhaled. “But then your erection…when I felt it…I froze. Then I couldn’t take my reaction back, and I thought you were mad.”

“I told you it wouldn’t bite.”

Sighing, I let my head drop to his chest. “I feel like I need to keep apologizing.”

“That fucking asshole should apologize for what he did to you. I won’t, but I’ll hold you, touch you” —he ran his hands up and down my back— “and stay with you until you forget everything about him.”

“I panicked. I was so afraid.”

“Of me?”

I nodded against his warm skin.

Aléjandro shook his head. “I don’t hurt women, Mia.” I looked up, seeing his growing smile. “Mi mamáwould never forgive me.”

“I like her.”

“That’s good. She likes you.” He inhaled. “When you froze, I knew I’d fucked up.”

“No. It wasn’t you.”

“I’m not him.”

“You’re not him,” I repeated.

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