Page 31 of Objection

Serenity

That Weekend

“ B aby, no,” I whined as laughter bubbled up within me.

Kaos and I were keeping up with our commitment to deepening our palates and becoming more cultured.

We were taking a class together to learn Italian, and he was learning to play the piano, while I’d taken up the hobby of salsa dancing.

Tonight for our date night, we were trying a new restaurant, and this man was gagging and on the verge of throwing up his stomach from the smallest bite of foreign food.

“Oh God. What the fuck was that ?” he asked, wiping his mouth in disgust.

I laughed so hard I cried. “Kaos, I think you have a sensitivity to certain textures with food. You don’t eat eggs or blueberries, and we can officially add avocado to the list.”

“I’ll take your word for it. I’m not trying that shit again. People be acting like it tastes so good. How do y’all put that in your mouth? Ew.”

Between his serious expression and the disgust on his face I couldn’t help but laugh again.

“How about I put something else in your mouth to take the taste away?” I flirted.

“Ooh . . . I love the sound of that.” He looked around for a bathroom, making me laugh again, but my laughter faded when a strikingly beautiful woman sat down next to him.

Tall, thick, stallion.

Ebony skin, curly hair.

Structured cheek bones.

The woman was beautiful, that I wouldn’t deny.

But the scowl on Kaos’s face?

That was ugly.

“Hey, lover,” she said to Kaos. “Feels like fate seeing you here.”

“It’s going to feel like death if you don’t get your hands off my man,” I warned, gripping the seat cushion to keep from hopping over the table as she cupped his cheek.

“There’s no need for that, princess,” Kaos said calmly. “You know you’ll never have to come out of character around me or for me.”

“Princess? That’s cute,” she said as he lowered her hand and shoved her out of the benched seat.

“I’m not sure what gave you the courage to come over here and talk to me let alone touch me, but don’t ever do that shit again, Fedora.”

“Aww come on, lover. Don’t be like that. I was hoping this truce between your uncle and Mason would be the key to us getting back together. I’ve been missing you and—”

His hand lifted and silenced her as he laughed.

“Like I told him, what we had is over. Even if I wasn’t with the best woman I’ve ever met in my life,” he winked at me, and dammit if it didn’t make me smile, “there’s absolutely no place in my heart or life for a woman like you.

” He stood. “Now, spare yourself the embarrassment and leave on your own before I have to make you.”

Her nostrils flared as she swallowed and blinked rapidly. Looking down at me, her jaw clenched.

“There’s really no chance we can try again?”

“None. At all.”

Fedora’s head bobbed once before she took a small step backward. “I think you just want me to work for you to prove I regret the way things ended. I can do that.”

“That’s not what this is,” Kaos roared, slamming his fist on the table. “You need to go, Fedora,” he seethed. “Now.”

All eyes were on us as she quickly walked away. Kaos motioned for the waitress and our check as he sat back down. Silence swirled around us as we waited. The moment she set it on the table, Kaos tossed a few bills on it and stood.

“Let’s go,” he commanded, and I stood, cupping my hands in front of me instead of accepting his waiting hand. Chuckling, he wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked out, keeping me from putting space between us.

Kaos waited until we were in the car to speak. “It’s clear you’re upset. Can you share why?”

“What was that about, Kaos? I feel completely blindsided. Who was she, and why does she think she has a chance to get back with you?”

He sighed and ran his hands over his fade.

“That was my ex Fedora. We dated years ago. Before I left the mafia. We broke up because when I told her I was leaving, she cheated and got with one of our enemies—Mason Henry. Fast forward to a few days ago, and my uncle summons me to tell me he wants to start a partnership with Mason. Mason isn’t completely on board, but Fedora assured him that she could change his mind in exchange for me.

Apparently, she planned to leave him after the deal was done if she had a second chance with me. ”

“And you said no?”

He frowned as he stared at me. “Of course I said no.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it wasn’t something I felt was worth mentioning. I didn’t expect for us to run into her. I realize now the error I made. Had I told you, you would have been prepared. For that, I apologize.”

Nodding, I looked out of the window. I felt like I had a right to be upset, but I also didn’t want to overreact, so I chose to remain silent.

For a while, I allowed myself to believe there were no other women in Kaos’s orbit, which was na?ve.

He was one of the most sought after bachelors in The Hills.

I was sure there were plenty of women before me, and there’d be plenty of women after me if I left.

“Do you accept my apology?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Do you need time to process what just happened?” Nodding, I swallowed back my tears .

. . afraid if I spoke my voice would crack.

“I can give you that, but I meant what I said back there, princess. There’s nothing between me and Fedora.

” When his hand rested on my thigh, I closed my eyes.

“The only woman I want, for the rest of my life, is you.”

Thankfully, the conversation ended there.

When we got home, I felt better. I knew in my heart that he was telling the truth.

More than anything, I felt insecure over the thought of him leaving me for someone else, regardless of the reason.

This was the best relationship I’d ever had.

He was the best man I’d ever had. I didn’t want to even think about it ending.

I didn’t want to be healthy and mature and say I’d appreciate the good memories and let him go easily.

Fuck that. He was mine, now and forever, and I’d be damned if I let him leave me after giving me the best loving of my life. I believed Kaos was a man of integrity. A man of principle. A man of his word. If he told me this was nothing for me to worry about, I believed him.

“Hey,” he called softly when I tried to walk toward the kitchen for a bottle of wine. As his arms wrapped around my waist, chills covered my arms. “I’m sorry for the way our date ended.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“Yeah, but still. I take accountability for her behavior. I’m sorry, princess.”

“You make it very hard to be upset, Mr. Montgomery.”

He smiled, then kissed the corner of my mouth. My hands slid up his arms, then I wrapped my arms around his neck. Kaos accepted the signal and kissed my lips.

“Good, because I don’t want you to be upset about anything if I can help it. I’m so happy with you, Serenity. I hope today won’t make you question that.”

“Just promise me that if you decide to leave for any reason, just leave. Don’t switch up on me. Don’t change the way you treat me. Just . . . give me a kind goodbye and leave.”

“I can promise you that only because I have no intentions of leaving you—ever. You’re stuck with me for the rest of your life, princess. The sooner you trust that . . . the better.”

“Hearing that you said no makes me believe it. Not because of her, but because it means you went against your family. I know you probably did that for yourself, and our relationship was safe because of the overflow of that choice but—”

“Nah, I’m not gonna let you downplay the role you had in my decision.

Yeah, I said no because I didn’t want to do it, but I definitely said no too because of you.

Because I don’t want anyone but you. I will never intentionally make a choice that will hurt you.

I meant it when I said all of you was safe with me.

” He caught a tear that slipped down my cheek as he asked, “Do you understand me?”

Nodding, I smiled as more tears fell. “I understand, baby. Thank you for communicating and not letting me get too in my head.”

“Always. C’mere.”

I giggled as he picked me up and held me close. A soft moan escaped me as I settled into his embrace. God—this man . . . he was safe .