Page 53 of Hale's Pawn
Oran
During the firstweek of our honeymoon, I realized something. Ainslee is a complete psychopath. From the second day here, my Energizer Bunny wife has me going on all these damned tours.
Today, she swears, is the last damned tour for the week. Jagger and Karessa opted out. I wish I could’ve too but noooo, I have to suffer because my wife is in love with ancient civilization. I glare as the tour guide and her talk about everything in rapid Spanish. If they were speaking slower, I could understand but this isn’t it. I roll my eyes as she laughs and the tour guide sighs like he’s in love.
“Can you go back to what the fuck we were talking about? Tell us about this damned place.” I give him his last warning with my eyes.
Ainslee says nothing, but she moves closer, standing in front of me. “Baby…”
“What?” I grit through my teeth.
“I want to tell you a secret, come closer,” Ainslee says.
She wraps her arms around my waist. I lean lower and she meets me halfway, kissing me tenderly. I can tell the differences in her kisses and this one is herI love youkiss. She pulls away and smiles. “Better?” she asks.
“Much,” I answer.
“Good, because you’re always going to be the man I try my best to impress.”
“You fucking better.”
After exploringand taking pictures at the Chichen Itza, we’re brought to the cenote; an underground swimming hole formed from a collapsed limestone cavern. There’s not that many people here. Ainslee removes her jean shorts and her shirt, revealing her swim wear. “Is that swimwear or a panties set?” I ask her.
Ainslee laughs. “You’re so extra. Come on.” She pulls me towards the water.
“Okay, hold on.” I strip until all I have on are the damn swimming shorts she made me wear underneath my linen pants. I shake my head and follow her into the water.
I take in the scenery. Ainslee has her camera and she takes pictures of everything. I look around, loving that for once in my life, I get to relax. No boardrooms, no hearing my phone go off, none of that. I lean back, floating. I hear the camera clicks and something makes me stand back up. I look at Ainslee holding her camera, taking pictures of me. “Are you going to pay me for this model shoot?” I ask her.
Ainslee laughs. “Hell no. You’ve got enough money in your bank account.”
“Should I even ask, Ains? Do you guys not know anything about me?” I shake my head, trying to fight the grin on my face.
She shrugs. “Hmm, whatever I didn’t want to check into, I didn’t. We all deserve a little privacy. Now, pose for me, baby. Show the camera some love.”
I narrow my eyes at her and she takes a picture. I feel my brow naturally lift and she takes another. It doesn’t matter what I do, she just keeps going. I can’t help but laugh.
My wife’spsychotic tendencies are showing again as we make our way back to the villa. The tour guide has learned to talk to Ainslee less as he engages the driver in conversation. I turn to face my wife again and I shudder as she bites into the ice cream she wanted so badly that we had to stop. I watch her as she chews the ice cream she just bought. Ainslee turns to me. “Yes?”
I blink. “Please tell me that you don’t chew ice too.”
Ainslee snorts. “Yeah, I do. On the rare occasion that I’m feeling low. Who doesn’t chew ice?”
“Everyone else, you psycho-ass woman,” I say with no bite in my tone.
Ainslee laughs hard. After she’s calmed, she scoots closer to me and plants a kiss on my lips. She licks her lips, “This psycho-ass woman loves you nonetheless, so get used to it.” She smiles wider and goes back to swaying to the music while chewing her damned ice cream.
I’m stuck there, just staring at her. Did she just tell me she loves me? I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised because I know she does, but to actually hear her say it out loud? It just feels different. I grab her jaw and make her look at me. “Say it again,” I command.
The tone in my voice is serious and my voice is a bit hoarse. Ainslee tilts her head. “Say what again?”
“Don’t fuck with me, Bug.”
Ainslee smiles wide. She leans in even closer, leaving barely any space between our lips. “I love you, Oran Hale.”
I gaze at her for a moment, taking in the look she has while she says it. Her eyes shine with adoration and I can tell she’s happy. “I’m happy,” I say to her. “You make me happy, Ainslee, and I promise you I will never hurt you. I heard you the first time you said it to me and baby, I’ve got you. I love you, Ainslee Margot Hale.”
Ainslee takes a deep breath in. “Why does it feel like this?” Her eyes are already misty.
