Page 19 of Night Wedding
One arm was free. I shook it out. “So, what’s the deal?”
She worked on releasing my other arm. “You’re not into this?”
I blinked at her. “Areyou?”
She bit her bottom lip. “Not really. But I thought, you know, we should try something new.”
“I’m more than happy to experiment, but something doesn’t seem—right.”
She groaned. “I know, you’re right.” She hastened to remove a cuff off my ankle. “What a disaster.” She threw the cuff to the floor and worked on the last one. “I feel like such an idiot.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought I had to spice things up for you. But clearly, my attempts turned out to be disastrous.”
“You don’t need to do anything special to turn me on. Don’t you know how sexy I think you are?”
“You do?” She removed the last cuff and threw it on the floor.
Able to move again, I rolled over and sat up, pulling the sheet over my lower body. “Hell yes. I’m turned on just being near you.”
Nova took off her mask and turned away with a sheepish look.
“Did something happen to make you think my feelings had changed?”
“Um, well…” She pursed her lips. “I thought you might be getting bored with us and that’s why you were acting strange lately.”
“I have? How?”
“Yeah. Kind of jittery and anxious. And distant. I thought you might be thinking about breaking up. And then with Diana showing up…” Nova shook her head and exhaled. “I guess I felt I needed to compete.”
“With Diana?” My eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? Iloatheher.”
Nova brought her fingers to her chin. “I know that, but hate is a passionate feeling.”
“Not a good or healthy kind. Not the kind of passion I feel for you. I’m in love withyou.”
She bit her lip and glanced at the floor. “I feel ridiculous.” She gestured at the front of her body. “Just look at me. Ilookridiculous.”
“You look incredible and super-hot. I don’t care if you’re wearing sexy lingerie or your superhero pajamas, what turns me on is you.”
Her lips trembled before spreading into a modest smile.
I rubbed my forehead. While thinking about proposing to my girlfriend, she sensed I wanted to break up with her. Talk about smooth. “I’m the one who should feel like a fool.”
Nova tilted her head and gazed at me. “Why?”
I took both of her hands in mine. “Yes, there’s been something on my mind, and no, it’s nothing for you to worry about. I can’t tell you yet, but trust me, soon. It will all make sense.”
She stared at me as if trying to read my meaning. I needed to get my shit together. While contemplating proposing to Nova, she thought I was pushing her away. That was so far from the truth. I couldn’t let my past disaster of being engaged deter me from a future with Nova. I couldn’t lose her.
That was it, tomorrow I was going to the jewelry store with Lucas. I was ready to buy Nova an engagement ring.
I picked up one of the cuffs that ended up on the bed. “Where did you get this?”
“I went to an adult store with Gianna.”
“I should have known,” I teased. “You two getting into trouble together.” I spun the cuff through my fingers. “Next time, you go with me.”
