Quinn
IT WAS GETTING INTO the late afternoon when I returned to the penthouse to see Aldric coming out of the shower, his hunky body dripping wet with water droplets and a towel around his waist. He looked... delicious.
He stiffly came to a stop the moment he saw me. What was up with that reaction? Was he shy or something? But why would he need to be? We were married and had been sharing a room and a bed, too.
I glided toward him and wrapped my arms around his neck, standing on tiptoe so that my face was close to his. I was begging for a kiss.
"Hello," I said. "Are you getting ready for dinner?"
"Mm-hmm." He nodded, and firmly, with his expression dark, he unwrapped my arms from around him. "I need to make haste. The men and I are having a meeting before dinner commences."
Disappointed since I wasn't getting my kiss, and furthermore, was receiving what could only be considered a standoffish treatment, I said, "Oh, right."
He stepped past me and walked into the walk-in-closet, shutting the door firmly behind him.
I blinked. Did Aldric just shut the door of the walk-in-closet? When he never had before while getting changed? What the hell?
My mind raced with confusion. Only this afternoon, he was telling me how blessed he had felt to see me happy and smiling, and now this? That ridiculous, mystifying behavior of his had surfaced again. One moment he was acting chummy around me and the next, he was cold and distant. Was I expected to encounter this on a regular basis? Was this just Aldric?
I was about to march up and bang on the door, demanding, politely, to know what this was all about when I held myself in check and took a deep breath.
Okay, there was no time for that right now. I should get myself ready for dinner.
I was about to head into the en suite when the door of the walk-in-closet opened, and there was Aldric. He was already half-dressed in a pair of dark pants and a white formal shirt that fitted him perfectly, showing off his fine body. Damn, but the man was a hunk. He ran his fingers through his wet hair and said, "I apologize for my behavior earlier. I understand you must be confused."
I raised a quizzical brow. "You know I'm confused?"
He said bluntly, "You wear your emotions on your sleeves, Quinn. You're easy to read."
I harrumphed. "Well, excuse me for being open with my emotions. But. I'm pretty sure I'm not an open book when it comes to dealing with other things."
"When it comes to other concerns, no, you're not an open book," he said.
"I'm glad to hear that. And anyway, apology accepted. But honestly, Aldric, when it comes to us, you're acting rather strangely. I can't gauge what you're thinking. One minute you're acting nice and the next, you're cold and distant."
"I'm told often I'm not a romantic," he said. "I know I'm not. When it comes to love, I have fear..."
Yes, I knew he wasn't the type to show affection since he was a stoic person. Flowery words of endearment and romantic gestures weren't things he'd do. He was the type of man who only knew responsibilities. Then again, he did tell me he loved me. Perhaps that took a lot out of him just toexpress that?
I stepped toward him and took his hands with mine. "It's okay, Aldric. I understand. You're not good at expressing yourself when it comes to love."
I smiled at him. "Then I'll do it for the both of us, you know, showing affection and stuff."
