Page 9

One month later…

The house, though. It was something out of a brochure.

The day after the wedding, Lo took her to their new residence that sat on a hill overlooking the ocean.

The beatific views were a great tradeoff for her lackluster marriage.

Lo had downplayed the house when he initially told her about it.

He made it seem like it was a one-bedroom shack when it was more than that.

It had five bedrooms, six bathrooms with a gym, sauna, and open-floor kitchen.

There was soon to be a dance studio for Bria once the contractors were finished renovating it.

Everything about the house was perfect but the union that dwelled there was uninspiring.

Bria possessed this wishful idea that they could grow closer.

She envisioned them having long talks at night and her waking up to cook him breakfast. Her actual reality was an empty bed at night and sometimes in the morning.

Lo was always gone. He rarely spent time with her and the only time she heard from him was when he sent her You straight? text messages.

Granted, it had only been a month, but Bria was exhausted with the course of her marriage. She wanted the GPS to lead Lo to her so they could form a bond. However, he had his own map, and she obviously wasn’t one of his destinations.

“One more set,” she whispered, picking up the twenty pound weights and squatting.

Fitness had become an escape along with dancing.

Seeing that Lo wasn’t going to invest any time with Bria, she had submerged herself in work.

She had a ballet performance in Miami the following day.

It was a solo act, so Bria wanted to make sure she had the endurance to kill it.

Training and working out had been her routine for the last month.

It was a great distraction from what wasn’t transpiring in her life and that was Lo.

Once Bria finished her workout, she glanced at her Apple Watch and saw a text from her sister.

Cali: Drinks at Liqarish?

Her sister always had perfect timing. She instantly replied yes and headed upstairs to the bedroom.

Entering into the bathroom, Bria showered then walked into her massive closet.

Lo had his own and she had hers. Bria grabbed a little black dress that had a peek-a-boo cutoff at the breast area.

Her shoes were high, black stilettos with a gold bracelet, her wedding ring, and a high ponytail.

Bria applied her makeup and completed it with a pink, glossy lip.

She was shocked when she heard the heavy footsteps of Lo in the bedroom.

She didn’t see him much during the day and sometimes at night.

Grabbing her clutch, she inhaled a deep breath before stepping out of the closet.

When Bria’s gaze landed on Lo, she sucked in a deep breath.

He had just come from the barbershop. She could tell by his crisp lining and sharp beard.

He even smelled like the scent all men inherited once they visited the barbershop.

Everything about him was so attractive to her.

From his towering six-foot-three frame down to his thick calves that she desperately wanted to rub.

Lo stood in front of the mirror, brushing his hair.

When he turned to her, he studied her with the eyes of a professor.

Bria couldn’t tell if he liked what he saw or not.

That’s how hard it was to read him. He was a closed book; one that she would never be able to finish reading because it was too much of a slow burn.

Bria continued her quest to get the hell out of there.

She couldn’t even get a ‘ you look good’ from Lo.

It broke her heart every time he didn’t connect with her emotionally.

“Where you going?” he asked, peering at her through the mirror.

“Out.” She kept it short, trying her best to hide her attitude.

“Out where?”

“Out, Lo,” she hissed, facing him. “Why do you care? You don't tell me where you're going.”

Still brushing his hair, he asked, “Are you my protector or am I yours?”

“Oh, I didn’t know you were protecting me.”

His eyes narrowed as he put the brush down. Slowly, he turned to her, peering at her so intensely that goosebumps embellished her skin.

“You got beef with me?”

Yes, I have big beef with your inconsiderate, emotionally-unavailable ass…

Mentally, Bria couldn’t handle an argument with Lo. She just wanted to leave her misery and get some relief from this overly complicated man she was married to.

“I don't have anything. I just want to leave.”

Lo turned back around. “You can leave when you tell me where you’re going.”

Smacking her lips, Bria walked out the room, refusing to divulge any information to him.

How could he demand her whereabouts when he barely connected with her emotionally?

He had no right, morally. Yes, he was her husband, but that seemed as if it was only valid on paper.

A husband didn’t ignore his wife then command that she inform him of her locations.

If Lo didn’t want to let her in, she would follow his lead and do the same.

Arriving on the lower level, Bria headed toward the garage. Opening the door, she got inside her AMG Benz and pressed the button to lift the garage door.

“What the hell?” she whispered, pressing it again.

For some reason, the door didn’t lift. So, she got out of the car, walked to the other side of the garage, and pressed the button. When it didn’t lift, she walked back to her car and pressed it again.

“Come on,” she complained, walking back inside the house.

Bria went to the front door and attempted to open it. Once again, she was met with resistance. All of a sudden, she couldn’t get out the house. She tried the patio door in the kitchen and the back door near the laundry room but to her dismay, they were locked as well.

“What the hell? Why can’t I get out?” she groaned, pulling at the knob.

“None of that is going to work, Bria. Did you forget about the state-of-the-art security system I had installed?”

Bria spun around at the sound of Lo’s deep tone. He stood at the bottom of the staircase as amusement danced in his irises.

“Why are you being a jerk?” she badgered.

“‘Cause shit don't move until I say so. You want to leave, then tell me where you're going. It’s really simple.”

A knowing expression covered her features. How childish of him to lock her inside the house because she wouldn’t let him know where she was headed?

“How old are you again?” she snapped.

Smirking, he retorted, “Old enough to lock your ass in this house until you do what I say. Now this is the last time I’m asking you where you going.”

“I’m going with my sister to get drinks. Damn, is that enough for you?”

Lo nodded, looking at her with eyes that made the place between her thighs swelter with desire.

Bria hated that she was so attracted to him.

Everything about Lo caused her insides to stir with a longing for him.

He was so oblivious to it though. So, she kept her desire tucked inside and made sure it didn’t make an appearance.

“Come here,” he ordered.

Bria wanted to rebel, but she was scared he would do more than lock the house down.

Slowly, she sauntered to Lo and stood in front of him.

Their eyes met, activating the yearning she tried to rid herself of.

His hand graced her hip, provoking the heat between her legs to travel all over her body.

Bria was dangerously drawn to Lo. How couldn’t he see it?

She was certain she wore it on her body like a garment.

Still, he was unaware of the effect he had on her and it saddened her.

“Don’t be out too late.”

Disappointedly, she stepped back, letdown from his lack of affection.

A kiss to the lips would’ve wiped out her attitude.

She hadn’t felt his lips since the wedding.

Besides a peck on the temple or forehead, their lips hadn’t reunited yet.

Although brief, their wedding kiss was burned into her mind.

Bria reflected on it often. She held onto that little piece of affection, wondering if that was the last time she would ever be able to feel him.

“You can go.”

Lo was dismissive but she wasn’t going to fight him on it. She gave him a subtle eye roll before going back to the garage. This time, the door lifted, and she was able to make her way to get drinks with her sister.

One hour later…

“Wait a minute. So y’all ain't had sex yet?” Cali asked, gawking at her.

Shamefully, Bria shook her head while sipping on her tequila sunrise.

“Sis.” Cali shook her head. “Ain’t no way y’all been married for a month and he ain't hit that. Something ain't right.”

“That’s the same thing I said. Like how is it that this man hasn’t touched me? He just comes and goes as he pleases. Then, he had the nerve to lock me in the house before I came because I wouldn’t tell him where I was going.”

Cali tipped her head back and cackled. “Oh, this man is a nutcase.”

Snorting, Bria replied, “A basket case. I’m so frustrated with him because I want more. I don't want no marriage of convenience.”

“Well, lil’ sister, I hate to break it to you, but this is exactly what your marriage is. Convenience. Something to wedge the families together. What were you expecting?”

“…To fall in love.”

Cali peered into her eyes before breaking out in a chortle. Bria hated how her sister found her woes funny. She took this marriage seriously. There were so many possibilities with her and Lo, but he wouldn’t budge, and it unfortunately caused Bria to feel unwanted.

“You know when you were having trouble in your marriage, I never laughed in your face, Cali.”

Her laughter ceased immediately. “You know what? You're right, sis. My bad. I ain't know you were serious about ol’ boy. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” she replied dryly.

“Is he gay?”