CHIARA

The next day, I decided to confront him and ask him to explain why he was acting this way and if he really regretted our kiss.

But that was easier said than done.

At the breakfast table, I thought of initiating that conversation but every time I lifted my head to speak, I just felt shy.

He should be the one to be ashamed but I don't know why I felt scared to bring up that. Maybe I was scared that he would confirm that he did regret that kiss.

I didn't want him to regret that. God, it was so amazing. I will forever cherish that memory.

When I finally gathered enough courage to speak, he was already getting up and leaving for work.

Tonight definitely. Now I have a whole day to prepare for what I will say to him and how I can emotionally blackmail him.

I spent my day roaming through the house and even writing down good points in my notes app.

• do you really regret kissing me?
• if you don't want me, just say so
• do you want us to remain friends throughout our whole marriage?
• I know I told you not to kiss me but I want you to do it now
• I want a real marriage
• I want you
• I love you

I deleted the last point immediately. I don't want to tell him that so soon.

Somehow, time went by and soon it was evening and the moment I heard the front door being opened, I practically ran down the stairs to meet him.

But I came to a halt upon seeing him. "Who the fuck did that?"

His suit jacket was draped over his forearm and on the collar of his white shirt was a huge red imprint of someone's lips.

I was fuming with anger, clenching my fists, tears forming in my eyes.

"No." He said firmly, stepping close. "I am going to explain, it's not what it looks like."

"Oh? I think I know what exactly that is."

Sadness glimmered in his eyes and he was about to touch my shoulders but I jerked back. "Don't touch me."

He flinched, his jaw ticked. "Listen to me. If I really wanted to hide this from you, I would have already wiped it away but I didn't because I felt guilty even though it's not my mistake and I wanted to show you this so I could explain."

He had a point which made me not run away and I stayed there, waiting for him to explain.

"I was in a club with Edgar, my assistant. This woman, she is a business associate of mine, I happened to run into her at the bar." He explained slowly.

I already hated this woman. I wanted to put her head in a tank filled with piranhas.

Gritting my teeth, I waited for him to continue.

"She has always been a little too friendly and I swear I have always tried to not talk to her about anything but business but today she caught me and she asked me a few things related to the business and she quickly switched the topic to non-business related things."

"And you kept conversing with her?" I asked sharply.

"No. I ended the conversation within a minute and I bid her goodbye and..." He looked disgusted with himself. "...she leaned in to kiss my neck all of a sudden but thankfully, I dodged that and her lips ended up on my collar."

I breathed heavily, all my anger now directed at that woman because Ezekiel looked really disgusted.

"Please, I am sorry", he said softly and genuinely, grabbing my shoulders. "If I really wanted to cheat on you, I could have done that before we got married. I am not lying. I am even going to cut all business with her and if you don't believe me just call Edgar. Or...or I can get you the CCTV footage of the club. Or you can ask Silvio to retrieve that if you don't trust me."

I wanted to give him a hug. I trusted him. After his explanation, I believed him because there was no way I couldn't.

"It's okay." I blew out a deep breath. "I believe you."

He looked relieved and planted a kiss on my forehead. "Thank you."

I loved having him kiss my forehead and I was glad he did that but we need to talk about something more important but right now he looked so exhausted mentally that I decided to postpone that conversation till we were in bed.

.
.
.

I stared at his back as he was busy plugging his phone for charging and having a sudden urge, I picked up the pillow and hit him with it on his back.

"What was that for?" He whirled around, frowning at me.

This is a nice way to take out my frustrations at him so I hit him on the chest.

"Chiara." He warned, giving me a slow shake of his head.

And I hit him on his face.

This time, he didn't warn me and picked up another pillow instead.

The pillow hit me on the side of my head, making my head snap to the other side.

With a funny snarl, I charged at him, hitting him on his face, especially his nose which made his eyes water.

Once he was done blinking away those tears, he gave me a scary look and shrieking, I jumped over the bed.

A chuckle escaped my mouth when he joined me on the bed and we both circled each other.

I hit him first but this time, he dodged it, giving me a smirk.

Groaning, I hit him on his chest, trying to disbalance him but he was too strong for that.

Then he was charging at me again but it was a bluff because while I was focusing on dodging his blow, he put his leg around mine making me trip and fall back down on the bed.

So with all my might, I kicked him in his shin making him lose his balance and fall right on top of me.

With his forearms on either side of my head, he stopped himself from crushing me with his body weight.

We both were panting and I accused, "You cheated!"

He chuckled. "It was fun seeing you lose."

"Through cheating!" I slapped his shoulder.

He started to laugh softly and soon my anger melted away and I started to laugh too, gazing into each other's eyes.

My heart ached with carrying so much love for him. Whatever resentment I had towards him, washed away.

His laughter was magical, it had the capability of healing all the cracks in my heart.

But soon, our smiles faded away, an awareness hanging heavy in the air. He was still on top of me and so close that his body heat seeped into mine, warming my blood.

His palm came to rest on my cheek, his thumb tracing my jaw and slowly coming to a stop right under my lips, brushing them slightly.

His brows pulled together. "What are you doing to me?" He murmured, his voice full of desperation.

"I didn't do anything," I whispered back stupidly.

His eyes clashed with mine. "You don't have to. Your thought is enough to drive me insane."

I lifted my head at the same time he leaned down and our lips met in a kiss filled with longing.

He pressed my head down, fingers grabbing the back of my neck.

I tilted my head to kiss him properly and tangled my fingers in his hair, scratching his scalp.

He groaned and parted his mouth, his tongue caressing mine sensually.

"Ezekiel", I moaned into the kiss.

He kissed me harder at that, losing all control.

Only when it became difficult to breathe did he pull back and rested his forehead on mine.

"You...you..." I panted. "...you regretted our first kiss."

He looked guilty and caressed my cheek. "No, Chiara, I didn't regret it, not for a second."

"Then why did you push me away?" I wanted to cry just remembering that.

"I was being stupid. I was afraid I ruined whatever we had developed over the past few weeks, I was afraid to make it awkward. But I realised that I can't stay away from you, not after tasting your lips. I have never needed anyone the way I need you, Chiara."

A tear rolled down my cheek and he kissed it away. "I am sorry for hurting you. For making you think that I don't want you."

I sighed. "I cried so much, Ezekiel. It was my first proper kiss and I was glad it was with you but then you pushed me away and pretended like it never happened."

"No." He peppered kisses over my face. "It was the most beautiful experience of my life. The wait of eighteen years was worth it, worth every second of it."

He pressed a lingering kiss on my lips. "I sometimes feel angry at you too for taking away my focus. You are all I think about all day, I can hardly work anymore."

"Well, it's good you understand because it's the same with me."

He smiled against my lips on my confession and captured them in a deep kiss again.

This time my heart felt lightweight, all my questions were answered and I kissed him back passionately.

My hands roamed his back, slipping under his t-shirt to touch his bare back which made him grunt softly and pull back.

He kneeled over me and pulled his t-shirt over his head, throwing it on the floor and covered my body with his and kissed me again.

I loved how he responded to my touch, kissing me harder and faster, turning the kiss dirty.

He pressed his hips to mine and I gasped when his erection pressed into me and he grinded against me.

His lips left mine to trail kisses down my neck, sucking, biting and licking.

I was wet instantly and lifted my hips to grind against him faster.

His hands traced the path of his lips and he paused when they reached my breasts, his eyes flitting to mine. "Can I?"

I nodded eagerly. "Please."

His fingers shivered as he started to unbutton my shirt and I helped him with it.

I unclasped my bra too, throwing it away along with the shirt.

His eyes were dark and heavy with lust as they took in my breasts, his hands cupping them and kneading them gently.

I gasped when his fingers grazed my nipples.

He leaned down and started to press kisses in between my breasts and continued to trail them down to my belly until he reached the waistband of my jeans.

He stopped and moved back up, pressing his lips to mine.

His hand left my breast to cup me in between my legs. "Have you ever touched yourself?"

I gulped. "Yes."

"Did you make yourself cum?"

"Yes." My clit was throbbing.

He whispered huskily against my lips. "Show me."