Page 56 of Serenity
It felt like a bomb of disappointment had been dropped on Portofino, unsettling the tranquil evening. Serenity cleared her throat. Sipped her water. Gave me a polite smile.
“Nothing. I appreciate the honesty. I just didn’t know.”
“Do you want children?”
Air fled her chest, causing her breasts to rise and fall. She looked good in the fitted Dolce & Gabbana tulle dress with corset details. Damn good. But her heart was heavy.
“I didn’t. Ahem. No.”
“You said you didn’t. What changed?” I probed.
“Nothing” fell from her lips, but a lie hid behind a wounded smile.
“As our relationship continues to develop and anything changes, will you tell me?” I wanted to know. Needed to know. Something about being unable to give her what she craved caused unrest in my fucking chest.
“Where is all of this coming from?” She deflected, making my chest constrict.
Her phone buzzed, lit up, and buzzed again in the darkened room inside the house. Seated nearby on the balcony, I heard the thump as it fell to the floor. Both our heads turned to the source of the disruption.
“Answer me,” quietly, she demanded, returning the focus to our conversation.
“Bee, did we not establish a thing between us before you walked your ass on that plane?”
“Are you asking me—”
“—Where do I stand in your world? Yes.” I sat up straighter, waiting for her response.
“Why?”
“Answer the motherfucking question. Stop deflecting.”
Again, the crescendo of her chest made its appearance as she prepared to respond. “You’re my duke. The sovereign of the drum thrumming in my chest. My man.”
“As your man, is it not my responsibility to know your heart’s desires and try to fulfill each and every one?”
“I—okay. You win.”
My brows shifted and dipped. “Win what? I wasn’t aware we were in a contest.”
“I don’t want to get married or have children!” Flustered, she rose. Her chair scraped against the concrete in tandem. Nostrils flared, breath heaving, petite hands flat against the table, she steamed a stream of air. With her napkin tossed on the table, she was prepared to storm off.
“Hey!” Swiftly, I, too, stood, grabbing her wrist. “We’re not about to do that. You don’t get to walk away without us having a proper discussion.”
Though bass coated my words, I was begging. Pleading for her to just talk to me. Ai out whatever she was holding inside. With her head dipped toward the floor, she avoided my eyes. There was so much anger dancing in her bones, though I couldn’t locate the cause. I wanted to say PMS, but this was more than that.
“Bee…”
“My phone is ringing.” She tried to pull away.
“Serenity, look at me.”
“Let me get to my phone. It might be an emergency.”
Reluctantly, my grip loosened, freeing her wrist. I watched her hurry inside and attempt to answer the call of whoever had been blowing her shit up. The lowering of her voice indicated she was speaking to someone of the opposite sex. Ignoring the green-eyed monster attempting to rear its head with that knowledge, I resumed my seat. Alone, with what remained of the Lambrusco, I sipped and wondered how the hell our dinner had exploded so unreasonably.
A few moments later, my phone rang.
“Yeah?”