Page 150 of Perfect
“I’m going to take you up on that tonight.”
He flashes me a crooked grin. “Yeah, you fucking are.”
***
“Theodore, absolutelynot.” He ignores me as he brings another bundle of gift bags in from the trunk, placing them with the rest of the pile on the dining room table. “Seriously, returneverything.” He laughs.
“I can’t. I bought most of these months ago. There are only two new things.”
“This is insane. You’re insane.”
“Sweetheart, I need you to be a little forgiving here, okay?” he says, pulling me closely, his lips grazing against my neck. “I love you, and this is how I show love.” He kisses me just above my collarbone. “I’m going to make you a nice dinner while you go through these, because that’s also how I show love.” His lips trail up my neck as his hands grip my waist. “Then I’m going to tie you down and make you cry before I fuck your brains out, which is yourfavoriteway I show love.” I moan a little as he bites the soft skin just below my ear.
“I can’t believe I gave you a chance,” I tease.
He pulls back, his face instantly serious. “Me, either.”
I lean up to kiss him, smiling at him as I pull away. “Will you be telling Dr. Mills about this development?” Theo shoots me a dirty look as he steps away and walks into the kitchen to open a bottle of wine.
“Don’t mention that horrible woman to me right now. Let me be fucking happy this weekend,please. I’ll go back to being a better, more miserable person on Tuesday, I promise.” I laugh as he hands me a glass of wine before pouring one for himself. “Now go open gifts. And maybe put some of them on? Especially the lingerie.” I groan and start in on the pile of gifts.
I want to say I didn’t miss this, but I did, because Theo’sverygood at gifts. The bags contain an assortment of nice things I looked at in shops months ago, along with some books I want to read, someverynice paints and brushes, alotof lingerie, some of which I change into, a pair of spiky black heels, and two small black velvet boxes.
I stare at them, freezing up.
“What the fuck are these?” Theo pops his head out of the kitchen and smiles shyly.
“Um, I bought those for your birthday, but I can’t wait to give them to you. You don’t wear much jewelry, and you’ve never really looked at it, so I had to guess. If you hate them, I’ll returnthem, and you can pick out whatever you like.” I stare at the smaller box, picking it up delicately and holding it out to him.
“Theo, is there a ring in here?” He levels me with a serious look.
“No. You want to go slowly, so we’re going slowly. Minus this weekend, which I’m going to spend spoiling the shit out of you because it’s your birthday on Monday, and you’re going to fucking take it because we’retogetherandyou love me.” He grins at me before glancing at the box in my hands. “That’s not how I’m going to propose, by the way.” I nearly choke on my wine. “Also, you’re stilltechnicallymarried,” he says, rolling his eyes and making a face. “For now,” I hear him mutter as he ducks back into the kitchen. I shake my head at him, amused, before I turn back to the table, eyeing the velvet boxes with apprehension.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath before I pry them open to reveal a matched set of earrings and a necklace. They’re minimal and elegant, large rectangular emeralds set in thin gold bezels, and I relax as I look at them. They’re beautiful, and exactly my taste. With Danny, jewelry was usually an apology for hitting me, but it was always diamonds, always platinum, always something that looked gaudy to me. This is different. This is Theo being fucking insane, but not like that.
I look down at them, considering his choice.
“Emeralds?”
“Uh, yeah,” he says, dragging out the vowels. “So, the first time I saw you, you were wearing this green dress, and it’s always been my favorite color on you. Also, my birthday is in May, so I couldn’t help it.” I laugh and clasp the necklace on. He’s so ridiculous. I’m getting more used to his gifts being a show of love. He was apparently raised this way, which reminds me of what Catherine said this morning.
“Baby, why did your grandparents buy this house? Catherine said not to ask you.” I hear a disgusted sound coming out of the kitchen.
“Donotmake me think about that.”
“Come on,indulge me,” I say, mimicking his low voice as I enter the kitchen. He looks at me in the jewelry and his eyes soften, his smile small and crooked.
“Do you like them?” I lean up and kiss him gently.
“Ilovethem, but no more jewelry, please. There’s a reason I don’t wear it.”
“Will you please tell me why?” I shrug, sipping my wine. I can talk to him about this stuff now. Iwantto talk to him about it now.
“In my marriage, gifts were apologies, and jewelry was the big apology. I had alotof jewelry.” Theo chokes and gives me a horrified look.
“What?”
“Yeah.” He looks furious.
