From Hate Flourishes Love

Loving You is Near Regret

Zander's POV

I feel as warm tears wash my cheek. I draw back my lips from Kai's, leaning in to gently wipe the tears beneath his eyes.

"What's wrong?" I ask him.

"Nothing," he whispers. "Let's just go home."

Kai scoffs away from me and climbs into the passenger's side of the car.

I get in beside him."Are you okay?"

He rolls his eyes at me, scoots off to the edge of his seat, and looks out the window; ignoring me.

"Why are you ignoring me ?" I try touching his leg, but he brushes my hand away.

"Don't touch me."He hisses with a hard pursing of the lips, his frame heaving with annoyance.

"Did I do something wrong?" I replay the last few moments in my head, searching for some misstep that left him so upset with me.

Kai glances over at me, but he doesn't bother answering my question.

I drive us home, keeping my hands to myself, not wanting to make Kai feel uneasy.

He's silent for so long that I go as far as playing his favorite song, thinking he would sing along but he gives me an irritated look over.

My actions did nothing for the scorn steaming through his expression. Kai folds his arms over his chest and stares out the window.

We finally make it home and Kai heads for upstairs. I finally get fed up with the silent treatment."Tell me," I yell."Why are punishing me like this?"

Kai cuts me off."Am punishing you?" He points to himself."I'm the one being punished! Imagine having  such a crass man for a husband."

He hisses and turns in the opposite direction of our room.

"Crass? . . . That's what you think of me?" I grip his arm, stopping him.

"Yes, that's exactly what I think of you! he yells.

He releases his arm out of my grasp, and bares his teeth at me."How dare you reduce me to some sort of object in whatever pissing contest you're having with Victor?"

I step back."You're mad at me because of that Victor?"

"I don't give a damn about Victor," he shouts."I care about you! How could you ever think to kiss me just to spite another man?"

For a moment, I think back to our kiss in the parking lot . . . I can't deny that I hadn't intended to make a show of being Kai's husband in front of Victor.

"Kai, I wasn't trying to hurt you. I just can't help feeling possessive of you." I try getting close to him.

"Well, aren't you romantic?" he scoffs.

I caught onto the sarcasm in his voice.

"You're really upset over a kiss?" I ask him."Are you forgetting that I am your freaking husband? I shouldn't have to justify my reasons for kissing you. I'll kiss you whenever I damn well please."

I grit my teeth, I shouldn't have said that.

Kai inhales sharply, "I am done talking to you." He walks away.