Page 1 of Set In Stone

1

krystina

As I dressed for work,I looked out at the horizon through the floor to ceiling windows in the bedroom of the penthouse. The sky looked ominous. The blackened clouds off in the distance showed that a heavy snowfall was imminent. I absently wondered if it would be the last of the season. I was becoming tired of the cold winter winds and was looking forward to seeing New York come to life in thespring.

Alexander, my gorgeous and delectable fiancé, stood in front of the window and was buttoning the cuffs of his fitted Versace dress shirt. I shifted my attention from the threatening skies to admire him while he dressed. From the navy silk tie that hung untied around his neck to his perfectly tailored pants, he was dressing for business, yet he displayed the powerful virility of a man in his prime. His nearly jet-black hair was still damp from the shower, falling in soft locks that barely skimmed the top of his collar. When he casually strode over to the dresser to pocket his wallet and cell phone, his movements were confident, yet sexy as hell. I felt a stirring, my lust for him always shimmering just below thesurface.

As if noticing my watchful eye, he looked up at me and flashed me one of those lopsided smiles that I had come to love so much. He knew that he was gorgeous and knew that I loved looking at him. Sometimes it was hard to believe that he was mine. Allmine.

Embarrassed to be caught staring, I shifted my eyes back to the darkening skies and finished fastening the last few buttons of myblouse.

“Even with the nasty weather that’s brewing, I don’t think I’ll ever tire of this view,” I said, motioning to the Manhattan skyline. I truly loved my city, and its grandeur never ceased to amazeme.

Alexander glanced absently over his shoulder out the window before moving a few steps toward me. Wrapping both arms around my waist, he pulled meclose.

“I have all the view I need right here,” he said huskily before brushing his lips over mine. He hadn’t buttoned his shirt yet, leaving his chest bare for my touch. I skimmed my fingertips over his abdomen, up to the honed muscle of his pectorals. His soft shiver and low moan sent my heartskipping.

I returned his gentle kiss, unable to do anything but feel the touch of his lips on mine. It was as if the earth beneath my feet melted away and time seemed to stand still. His tongue grazed over mine and set me on fire. His kiss, always so possessive and domineering, consumed me. It was his signature. His stamp. And nothing else in the world seemed tomatter.

Except when itdid.

I suppressed a sigh as a wave of sadness overcame me and I pulled my lips from his. I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. There were times when I felt like I could stay this way forever, but those times had been few and far between as oflate.

I had once thought moving in with Alexander would be a big adjustment for the both of us. Surprisingly, we settled into an easy routine with very little friction. From our morning shower schedule to planning our meals, the stereotypical domestic life had come easily. Vivian, the housekeeper, would pick up the groceries while Alexander and I were at work. She used to prepare our evening meals daily, but I eventually chose to take it over. I enjoyed it. On the days when I was unable to cook, we would either get takeout or Alexander would make breakfast fixings for dinner, as he proved unable to make anything other than anomelet.

I smiled to myself at the memory of Alexander’s mad dash for the fire extinguisher after he nearly set the penthouse kitchen on fire. He had attempted to make a dish of Italian sausage and baby portabellas, but underestimated the amount of grease the sausage would produce. Grease overflowed from the shallow pan he used, making for a hard-fought battle. It was one that the kitchen inevitably won. I recalled watching my fiancé, a man who dominated everything in his life, be forced into submission by an oven. It may have been one of the most comical scenes I ever witnessed. I recalled laughing until my sidesached.

We were so happy thatday.

That moment in time, the laughter we shared, now seemed like eons ago. Something shifted over the past few weeks and it changed our dynamic. Our relationship had become strained, although I couldn’t quite pinpoint when it all began. I only knew that Alexander’s controlling nature was taking over our lives. I was beginning to feel lost, like I didn’t know who I wasanymore.

“Where are you?” Alexander asked, breaking me away from my thoughts. I looked up at him and cocked my head to the sideinnocently.

“What do youmean?”

“You seem far away inthought.”

I wanted to tell him what I was thinking. I knew I should tell him how I felt. He needed to know how much he was literally dictatingeverything. From the building of our new home to the discussions about our pending wedding, he wielded his full power and left me little room to express my wants ordesires.

No, Krystina. Not a good idea, Krystina. Don’t do that,Krystina.

While I understood that his past dictated who he was, his need for order and control was becoming stifling. Something had to give. I couldn’t breathe. Even still, I loved him so much that it hurt. The tension between us was killing me. I wanted my Alexander back. I wanted us back. I only wished I knew when the balance had shifted so I could fixit.

Not wanting to voice my concerns and start the day with an argument, I smiled and stared deep into the sapphire eyes that I adored somuch.

“Not far away,” I assured him. “I’m right here. Where Ibelong.”

I moved my arms up to wrap them around his neck. The light from the nearby lamp sparkled off of my left hand and caught my attention. Tilting my head up, I held out my hand to look at the diamond and sapphire ring that Alexander had placed on myfinger.

It was a symbol of hope and the dream of a white picket fence. I smiled every time I looked at it. It was a sign that even two people like us, as messed up as our pasts were, could still find happiness. I knew he would give me all that and more. It was a reminder that things between us would get better. Relationships were full of ups and downs. Lately, I felt like our honeymoon phase was already over, although we hadn’t even made it to the altar yet. I told myself that this was just a bump in the road and nothingmore.

I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck, pulling his hard body closer to mine. His hands trailed up and down my spine before coming to rest at my waist. I felt a tug and realized he was attempting to pull my blouse free from the waistband of myskirt.

“Oh, no you don’t, mister! We’ll never get to work on time if you start that,” I joked and untangled myself from hisarms.

“I kept you up late last night, angel” he said with awink.

I laughed at the devilish gleam in hiseyes.

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