Page 59 of Forced Mafia Bride
“You were part of the best things that could have ever happened to me after Father died. There was almost nothing to laugh or smile about, but you managed to bring smiles to my face. When they pushed me around, you were always there to catch me. When I was freezing cold, you always had a blanket on standby. When I was sick, you made sure I was taken care of. Silent but observant. Cold yet warm, just enough to heat me up. I might never have believed in guardian angels if it weren’t foryou. Aiden, I’m forever grateful for those times. I am thankful that, even if you’ve never expressly admitted it, you loved me.”
“I still do.”
His outright, sudden confession dealt a sharp blow to my chest. I sucked in a deep breath, the weight of what I was about to do almost crushing me.
“Aiden…I’m letting go.”
“Rosalyn, wait—”
“And it is a bit ironic that I am letting go when, really, neither of us were hanging on. But it is for the best. I will always cherish the friendship we had. But knowing that you….”
I swallowed, shaking my head though he couldn’t see.
“You have to move on. That way you’ll get to see that there’s a woman out there specially made for you. You might disagree, but you have such a good heart, Aiden, and you deserve only the best. So, I wish you well. Thank you for everything.”
A blanket of pregnant silence hung over us until he spoke again, and when he did, a resigned sigh followed. “Understood.”
With a smile of relief, knowing that the chapter had been closed with no grudges between us, I dropped the phone.
“Who was that?”
I gasped, my hand flying to my chest. “Jesus,you scared me.”
His hard chest pressed into my back, and his lips found solace behind my ear. “Who was that?”
I didn’t turn around, scared of what I’d see in his eyes. “No one.”
Nervously, I tugged the hem of my clothes, suddenly conscious of the length of the dress.
“No onemade you smile?”
When I remembered that I was the one holding the angry card, I kicked my shoes off and turned around, face-first into hischest. My eyes met his with a defiance that excited me, and I poked his chest.
“What’s it to you who makes me smile, huh? Last time I checked, we don’t have that kind of relationship.”
He snatched my finger in the air and tugged me until I was flushed against him. “Really? Then tell me what kind of relationship we have because the last time I checked, I was your fucking husband.”
I pushed him back, walking away. “Doesn’t mean a fucking thing when it’s just on paper. Don’t tell me you’re jealous now?”
In a flash, strong arms effortlessly lifted me off the ground, bridal style, taking me into the bathroom. He dropped me on the cold tiles in the shower, cuffed my wrists with his big hands, and pinned them on the wall above my head.
My eyes bulged, my heart racing a marathon. “What are you doing?”
Niko’s eyes glinted dangerously under the dim lighting, and he unbuckled the belt linked around the waist of his pants. “Are you scared? I thought you were spitting fire a few seconds ago.”
“Niko….” I struggled against his hand, but he wouldn’t budge. Perks of being stronger than me. “Let me go.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Quit struggling and stay put.” He tossed the belt aside and worked the zip and button on his pants. A dangerous yet delicious shiver ran to my toes, secretly anticipating seeing him naked. But rationality came knocking on the door, and I blinked away my infatuation.
“Why are we here in this bathroom?”
“I am hot and need to cool down.”
“Well, that’s your business, not mine, Nikolai, so let me go.” I wriggled like a salted earthworm, and when his angry gaze snapped back to mine, I knew he’d had enough.