Page 80 of King

It’s our wedding night. Can’t I enjoy one night?

I set the phone back down and lie down again. Zina mumbles quietly. “Where did you go?” in a soft, sleepy voice.

“Nowhere. I’m right here.” I reply, but my body is tense.

She wraps her arm around my waist and snuggles again, but for some reason I hold back. She’s lying in the cradle of my arm, but I can’t bring myself to brush my fingers over her skin, to touch her with love -

My heart is beating harder than it should be.

She notices my discomfit and lifts her head to look at me, her long hair messy around her face.

“Gio,” She whispers my name. “Are you ok?”

I should tell her about the message, but what good would it do?

“I’m fine, my angel. Go back to sleep. I’m sorry I woke you.” I mutter.

She shakes her head. “I can see that something is wrong, why won’t you tell me what it is?”

“Zina, I need you to leave it alone please.” I say, too harshly.

She bites her lip and lies her head back down on my chest. Now I can sense her discomfort as much as she can sense mine.

Sighing I force myself to wrap my arm around her properly.

“I’m sorry.” I whisper. “I’m just thinking about things.

She nods but says nothing.

Zina is asleep again, breathing softly. I’m watching her naked back, the gorgeous curve of her spine and the delicate outline of her ribs moving as she breathes. Her perfect, smooth skin. Her long dark hair.

What if I made a mistake?

I was so desperate to convince myself that I could trust her that I forced the wedding to go ahead much sooner than it should have. Maybe I should have waited. Maybe I needed more time to learn about who she is.

With all the warnings, and threats - I should have looked into it first. I should have cleared it up before making her my wife.

I think I’ve made a huge mistake and there is no way I can take it back.

The bedside clock is glowing red, telling me it’s past three. The house is dark and quiet, and I have not found even a moments sleep yet.

My head is swimming, my heart is turning colder the more I consider all the things I should have considered before.

I’m going numb with worry.

And the only option I have left - the only way I can fix this is to prove to myself that all of those warnings are false.

I need to find evidence, something, anything, to prove that there is no truth to any of it - that someone is just messing with my head to throw me off.

Then, I can love her.

Realizing that sleep won’t find me tonight or give me a moments freedom from this worry - I slip away from her and make my way down stairs to make coffee.

Without turning lights on I stand in the dark kitchen, my eyes already adjusted to the night hours ago, and quietly go through the motions of making coffee.

I’ll have to keep my investigation to myself. I don’t even want Santino or Fabio knowing. If anyone finds out I’m looking into my wife’s past they will have confirmation that I don’t trust her - and it will give them permission to doubt her too.

I have enough on my hands with Santino being so openly against our marriage. And Fabio still warning me not to let her control me.

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