Because Of Love

After a few seconds of silence, she decided to just ask again instead of just wondering, “What are you doing here Rafe?”

His eyes opened then. After a beat or two he said, “it’s my home.”

“Not for the time being it’s not. And I thought this was just one of your properties, don’t you live with your family?”

He snorted, then sipped at the mug.

This was one thing Talia always found unnerving when they worked together and even more when they dated. He didn’t talk much, only when he felt like he needed to. The rest of the time, it was as if they were to read his silence and understand what he wanted. It frustrated her at work but also posed a challenge. She wanted to be the indispensable employee who could decipher the boss’ silence and deliver results that he wanted. He was demanding, strict with high expectations but fair. That was why she fell for him, a character from her favorite romance novels.

Fairytales, according to her mother, they made women stupid. Talia hated when she was right.

When they dated, that silence was their own private language. When they were in public and she felt his gaze on her, her body tremble in anticipation. When it was just the two of them behind closed doors, it was the siren song that pulled her to him, the strings that made her move just as he wanted her too, the invisible hands that shed her clothing piece by piece to expose her for his appreciation. It was the heat that impatiently readied her body for his possession. And when they lay in bed, after they’d made love and his body enveloped her, cradling her against him, it made her feel cherished and protected.

Damn it! Her throat burned and she quickly turned away. The bloody box was out of the dark corner and opening. She needed to close it, and fast.

“You slept with Gabriella.”

There was no stronger adhesive than that.

“When?” he asked calmly.

She turned to him. It irked her how calm he was. Sure was quite sure they weren’t talking about the weather.

“The day I had the attack.”

He winced but nodded. She wasn’t sure what that wince was for-for getting called out on his sexcapade or her attack that he had admirably responded well too.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Is that why you had the attack?”

Talia wasn’t willing to answer truthfully to that. It was embarrassing enough without speaking it out loud.

“Exhaustion.”

He scoffed and she fought the urge to punch that perfect profile of his.

“How did you find out?”

“After Carrie listened in on the whole show you two loudly performed, Gabriella paid us a visit and recounted it. In detail. Among other things.”

Talia hadn’t forgotten her threat either, and she never would. She needed to know where Rafe stood on this for some reassurance. She’d taken a risk coming to Italy to find him but she never once thought much of the possibility that he would take her children from her. Somehow, she didn’t believe he was that cruel. But she’d said that before and got proven wrong, severely.

He moved then, placing the mug on the table. Mercy, the man’s slightest movement resemble a panther on the prowl. She could see every corded muscle stretch and bunch under his sleeve with each move he made.

He turned to her and she told herself not to react like a school girl when his gaze caught hers. “Among other things?”

“She said you’d take my children from me.”

“Why would I do that?”

Again, no emotions. No tale tell sighs. Just flat.

“Why do you do anything?” she shot back, “You’ve done quite a number of things to me since our breakup. You left me homeless for crying out loud!” her voice rose in anger.

He turned away, “I didn’t take your home from you.”

That was an admittance to what he’d done to her as any. But he was wrong about that single denial. “No. You took my job and made it impossible for me to find another. I put it on the market before I came here.”

He winced again and combed his fingers through his disheveled hair. Talia hoped he was feeling ashamed of what he’d done to her.

“You should get it back. We’ve already rectified your financial situation.”

What about my emotional situation? She wanted to rubbed her chest where her heart was to sooth the ache but she wouldn’t do that. There was a limit to showing weakness. She will not be needy.

“You don’t need to be concerned about Gabriella.”

Her heart leaped, but she dared not hope. “Why?”

Without a word he stood, and walked away. She watched where he was headed and her heart leaped for a whole other reason. He turned right into the hallway, not left.

She pushed herself off the couch and quickly followed him. She walked in just in time to watch him shrug his shirt off, step out of his pants and climb into bed in nothing but his black boxer briefs, where not even an hour ago she had been sleeping.

Panicked, she demanded, “What are you doing? There is another room here Rafe.”

He pulled the pillow-her pillow-under his head closing his eyes, “It’s a big bed Talia.”

After a few moments, she heard the soft deep breathes of sleep.

She threw her hands up with an irate groan, “Great, just great.”