Page 89 of Worship

“Get out. You’re done here—thanks though, it was great. But I’m hungry, and I would like to eat alone.”

He shakes his head.

“You promised me a talk, and I just said I was sorry for the other night.”

His eyes search mine for the submission he’s not going to get.

“I didn’t hear any apology,” I huff before I turn away and take the lid off my food, steam rising from the container.

His breath is hot on my neck as he closes in behind me.

“I didn’t use words, Angel.”

He plants a kiss behind my ear, and I shiver.

I roll my eyes and grab my fork from the counter, stab the contents, then take a bite. What the fuck am I doing? I can’t keep playing this little game, letting him fuck me, acting like it doesn’t mean anything, because to me it means everything. I can’t cut myself loose of him.

Turning, I look at him expectantly.

“What the fuck are you going to tell me that will make one difference, Luca? The fact is, you’re married. And I was stupid enough to believe the ‘always’ bullshit.”

“Angel.”

His eyes urge me to be reasonable, but I’m hurt, and I want him to feel it, so I shake my head.

“Goddammit!” he yells and smacks the counter on either side of me with both hands.

I lock eyes with him and take another bite of my food. I’ve run his patience out, and the devil’s finally shown his face. Too bad I’m unafraid.

“Can you not? My neighbors will hear.”

I look at his arm, and he lifts it as I walk past him with my food. Luca takes my container of calamari from me and tosses it in the sink, then grabs me by the waist and pushes me forward, almost too quickly for my legs to keep up, toward my room.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I demand, grabbing his wrists.

“I told you I’d tie you to the bed. I’m going to do that and then force you to listen to me,” he roars back.

“Are you crazy? You are crazy! Would you stop it?” I bite out, smacking back at him.

He pulls me to a stop and spins me around, bending to look me in the eye.

“You, Angel, are the most irritatingly stubborn woman I’ve ever known. And I love you with every goddamn fiber of my being. Please stop trying to make me pay for something I didn’t do. Listen to your gut, Angel. You know me. More importantly, you know us. We don’t lie. We don’t manipulate. Please let me explain.”

His words make me gnaw on my lip.Shit.It’s everything I feared because I have been lying, to myself and him.

“You don’t get to manhandle me,” I say firmly.

He just shrugs, but I push his hands from me.Fucker.

He keeps my hands in his, and I look down at how strong they are and how small mine are in comparison. He could crush me. I laugh to myself.He already has—just not with his hands.

I know he loves me, and I believed he’d hold me—us—above everyone and everything else…except he didn’t, and that’s why I walked away. He chose her by way of choosing his hate above our love, above me.

“No lies, no manipulations,” I breathe out.

It’s sick, but I need him to say it all, tell me what happened in that room. I want all the sordid details because then maybe I’ll be able to really walk away.

He smiles a sad smile.