Page 168 of Loving the Tormentor

"Of course not," I growl back as I shrug off her grip. I turn her head to the side, noticing there's no device in her ear. "I assumed you were wearing your hearing aid, but clearly, you're not. Did you never go to pick it up?"

She uses all her might to push me off her, and I take pity on her when she doesn't manage, so I get off.

"I picked it up," she says as she gets up and puts my hoodie on. Running to the ensuite bathroom, she comes back with a smile on her face.

"Do you still play?" she asks.

"Of course I do."

She stills. Her hand reaches for her left ear, then comes back down. She pretends all is fine, but her voice is coated with emotion.

"I have your concerto. Or should I say,myconcerto. I never sold it. Never played it. Never did anything with it."

I walk to her. "Because no one can play it as good as me?"

She laughs, slapping my chest. "Arrogant asshole."

"Don't fix what's not broken. Look, legally or not, it's always been yours. What do you want to do?"

"I want it to go to the New York Philharmonic, and I want you to be the soloist."

I chuckle. "I would love that. In fact, I've been desperate to play that piece there. I know it'll make me feel more alive than ever. My daughters, you, the violin. Those are the things that keep me going."

"Can you tell me you love me again?"

Nyx isn’t one to ask for that kind of reassurance, but her eyes are filled with unshed tears, so I say it right away.

"I love you," I say. "You're the woman who turned me into a dreamer. You gave my life meaning.I love you, Nyx."

I cup her cheek, and this time, I see the hearing aid. It's so discreet it's practically impossible to notice if you don't know.

"Have you never used this before?" I ask, shocked.

She shakes her head. "No, this was a gift from you. It didn't feel right. God, your voice is so beautiful."

I laugh, excitement spreading through my limbs like electricity. "You knew that."

"I'm just enjoying rediscovering it all over again."

"How does it feel?"

She thinks for a few seconds, her wide eyes looking up.

"Like watching a pixelated video online with bad internet, and suddenly the 5G is back and the video becomes HD."

"Poetic," I deadpan.

"It's the truth."

"Uh-huh. Now…" I wrap my hands around her waist, pulling her to me before I lean down so my lips are by her left ear. "Now let’s go pick up my daughter, please."

She snorts, walking to the door. "Which one?"

"I heard that!" I shout as I follow her.

Chapter Forty-Four

Achilles