Page 115 of Between Love and Loathing

Words never showed anyone anything. I knew that. I built structures that inspired the masses because they wouldn’t believe it if I just drew it on paper.

They needed to see it. To witness it.

So did she.

I wouldn’t say more. Not now.

Not yet.

I cracked my neck before I looked down at the food. “Was your meal good?”

“Before I was so rudely interrupted?” Her foot under the table nudged my leg in irritation but it also seemed to be a sort of truce. We’d discussed enough tonight. Plus, any touch from her was wanted, and I smiled at it.

“If my girlfriend goes on a date with someone else, I’m going to interrupt.”

“Fakegirlfriend. And now ex.”

“You really think you’re breaking up with me?” Fuck, it hurt even when it shouldn’t have. This had been the plan before. We’d break up and Valentino would swoop in. I’d predicted and pushed for it at one time.

Now, I’d die before I let that shit happen.

She didn’t answer as she glanced around. “Was there a reason the restaurant closed?” She lifted a brow.

“Other than because you were sitting here with a man who’s trying to fuck you? No. I own the restaurant. And I’ll close it any time another man glances in your direction the wrong way.”

“Possessive with all your exes?” I saw the sparkle back in her eyes.

“Just one ex… because she’s not going to be an ex for long.”

“What’s she going to be?” Her voice came out a breathy whisper.

“My fuckingwife,” I growled, no hesitation at all. I wasn’t letting her go, and I knew I was gaining ground because her breath caught at my words.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She finally said softly.

I let it go for now. “Plus, I figure I’m saving them from a fight, cupcake. Protecting the public, actually.”

She smirked and then glanced around. “The restaurant is beautiful.”

“Have you seen the chef’s kitchen?”

She shook her head and I stood, holding a hand out. I needed her to take it, to accept who I was here as much as who I’d be in the future. This was the first gesture of many I would make, but I was establishing a boundary too. She needed to know she was mine or that she was at least learning to be mine.

When she set her soft hand in my palm, my whole body relaxed. I pulled her close and walked her back through the steel doors. With only a few of the staff left, I commanded that everyone leave, and the kitchen emptied quickly.

Clara’s eyes twinkled as she took in the stainless steel, bright lights, big stoves, and the large metal island top in the middle. She let go of me to drag her hand across it. “The setup is perfect. He’s got everything he needs in here.” She turned her eyes on me. “He’s an amazing chef, Dominic. I really do like his food.”

“So, are you saying I shouldn’t fire him?”

“You’re not going to fire him,” she said as I placed two hands on the table behind her so that I’d caged her in.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, because it’s his restaurant and if you do, I’m going to be furious.”

“Hm. You know I love when you fight me, cupcake. Go ahead, be furious,” I murmured as my lips touched the soft skin of her neck and she shuddered. Then, my hand went to the back of her neck, and I grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling it to expose the column of her neck to me.

I sucked the skin there as soon as she did and then bit hard. I wanted it to be painful, to show her the pain she’d inflicted on me over the past week, to show her this skin was mine, even if she kept it from me.