Chapter 8
1208 Words
Peter is relaxing under the hot, bubbling water along with me, but it feels more like observing rather than relaxing.
We have been staring at each other for almost ten minutes, a few uncomfortable moments here and there, but his eyes never leave my body.
It was sexy a few minutes ago, but it is starting to get creepy.
It's like he doesn't trust leaving me alone.
He places both arms on each side of the tub and stands up, my eyes following his every move.
"I have work to do. You can stay longer if you'd like," he brushes his forefinger against my chin and gets out of the tub, giving my eyes a little treat as he is out of the water.
My face betrays me as he chuckles once he looks at me.
"No need to be ashamed. You'll get used to this," he winks at me and I look away, not being able to look at his naked body anymore.
How will I get used to him walking around naked?
Does he even know how hot he is?
Maybe he does and he is tempting me.
"Okay," I whisper and keep my eyes closed, waiting for him to leave.
God damn it, we were far more intimate than looking at each other naked just ten minutes ago and I went back to being ashamed and scared.
What is wrong with me?
A sudden hot breath and a low whisper in my ear, startle me and I scream bloody Mary, splashing water all over the bathroom.
I open my eyes and see Peter standing there, watching me with a very weird look on his face and now I just want to disappear under the water.
"I'm sorry I scared you," he apologises, scratching his head uncomfortably.
"No need to apologise. I just . . . I am not used to, . . . It's okay," I finally say and he presses his lips together.
"Okay, then."
He opens the door and walks out, leaving me alone and I cover my face in embarrassment.
"What is wrong with me?" I recall his face, looking at the disturbed person in the hot tub, splashing water everywhere because she got jumpscared.
"How will I ever survive this?"
I am not supposed to get married. I am supposed to stay at my father's and be a loner forever.
Oh, I am sure Peter is regretting getting married to me already.
I decide to get out of the tub, before I drown myself.
"I'm so stupid," I whisper to myself and try getting out, but my foot slips and I just fall onto the ground, making a loud noise as I do so.
I quickly stand up and find a towel to wrap around me.
Just as I thought, Peter comes in all dressed up now and looks around for clues.
"What happened?" He asks when he finds nothing out of the ordinary.
"What do you mean?" I say uninterested as I brush my hair, looking in the mirror.
"I heard a loud noise coming from the bathroom. I thought you fell out of the tub."
And now he thinks I can't even get out of the tub like a normal person, which I can't, but still, he doesn't need to know that.
"Maybe you imagined it. Nothing happened," I shrug and turn around to look at him.
He crosses his arms in front of his chest and nods slowly.
"Everything okay?" I ask him.
His eyes find mine and he stares at me for a while.
"Yes," he finally says.
"Let's get you to bed. It's late and we have a lot to do tomorrow."
"A lot to do? I thought we were going to spend some time at my folks."
"We are, but we still have a lot to take care of before we head home."
"Like what?" I ask him and he sighs.
"Can you please go to the bedroom? I do not have the time nor the patience for questions right now."
Is he mad at me? What did I do?
I give him a hearty smile before I walk past him and head for the bedroom.
Once I am inside I close the door behind me and let a breath out I did not know I was holding.
"What did I do?" I whisper to myself and soon I am crying over a man I barely know.
I slip into my pyjamas and lay down.
"I knew I hated this day for a reason," I talk to myself and wipe the tears away.
My breaths become slower and quieter as I start falling asleep.
The door of the room opens up and I am immediately on high alert, but decide to keep my eyes closed so he doesn't know I am awake.
A few minutes later, I feel him beside me.
"I am sorry I snapped at you. It's been a stressful day," he says quietly.
"Unfortunately, this will happen a few more times and I know you are not going to like it, but it's our nature. We lose control. Quickly."
He shifts so his left arm is around me and brings me closer to his body so that we are cuddling.
I hear him smelling my hair and softly kisses my head.
"I truly am sorry," he says and it feels like he is apologising about something else entirely.
Should I say something or should I just keep pretending I am asleep?
"I know you are awake," he says and turns me around, so I lie flat on the back, startling me.
With his hands he pins down my arms above my head so I can't move them.
"What are you doing?" I snap at him.
"I know you heard me."
"So I did."
"I really am sorry."
"Fine, you are sorry. May I have my hands back please?"
He lets me go and I try pushing him away from me, but he is way too strong.
"Why were you pretending to be asleep?" He asks out of nowhere and sits down on the bed, ready to have a 'midnight talk'.
"I thought you could read people," I mock him and lie down, looking away from him.
"I can but that doesn't mean I can't ask you about how you're feeling."
I sit up and look at him staring at me, bare-chested and hot.
"Well, I was feeling uncomfortable after you snapped at me for asking you questions."
I sigh and he tilts his head slightly to the left.
"Why didn't you tell me upfront that it made you uncomfortable?"
I don't know. Maybe because I was embarrassed that a strange man, who happens to be my husband scolded me as if I were a child?
I shrug and he crosses his arms which means I have to give him an answer.
"What do you want me to say?"
I think he gives up, because he lies down and covers himself up.
"Have a good night, Valerie."
"Good night," I say back and lie down.
Just when I thought he was mad at me again, he comes closer and cuddles me.
"Good night," he whispers in my ear, giving me goosebumps all over.
- Writer
