Pink Is The Color Of Infatuation

Chapter 14

Xael awoke to any empty bed and sighed with relief. She wasn't sure what she would have done if she had woken up beside him.

She was still angry and quite simply unsure. She had made him angry and God knows what he would do to her next. The thought made her shiver and she wrapped her arms around herself. For a moment she contemplated running away but the thought of being away from her mother and leaving her to suffer Alexander's wrath quickly dissolved the very thought from her mind. She couldn't do that to her mother.

She slid down the bed, her feet landing on the hardwood floor as she stood. As she stood she placed her hand on her stomach, the motion was completely on impulse, and she froze at the reminder that inside her was a child that would potentially be thrust into a world of utter chaos. She had never expected her marriage to be this way. She had always imagined the opposite of what she was currently enduring. A loving husband, a cozy home, a happy marriage...but instead she was stuck in a vengeful marriage with a man who thought she was a money-grubbing harlot. She honestly couldn't blame him for the thought but it still hurt.

She shook off her thoughts and moved toward the door, stuffing her feet into her slippers, tilting her head up high, despite the anxiety pooling in the pit of her stomach. She took a deep breath, trying to strengthen her resolve.

She hesitated for only a moment before pulling the door open and stepping out onto the empty hallway. She ventured down the stairs, her heart pounding with anxiety. She was frightened of seeing Alexander but also very aware that she couldn't possibly avoid him. She clutched her skirt in her hands, each of her steps seemingly echoing in her ears. She moved toward the parlor and pulled the doors aside, only to find it...empty. She frowned slightly but still sighed in momentary relief. She walked further inside and sank down onto the nearest sofa, leaning into it with her eyes closed. She welcomed the softness of the sofa, her mind wandering to images of Alexander that were much gentler and softer than the man he portrayed in public. His smile could quite simply fill her with butterfly's and his touch...oh, his touch left her feeling wanted and yet...he was dead set on taking his ultimate revenge.

He could be so incredibly wonderful one moment and then a beast the next. He was a contradiction if there ever were one.

She sighed once more as she realized that if the circumstances had been different, she might have actually fallen in love with him.

The sound of heavy, almost frantic footsteps caught her attention and she sat up, jumping off the sofa. Alexander burst in, panic on his face until his eyes landed on her. He took a deep breath and groaned with what sounded like relief before storming into the room.

"Why aren't you in bed?" He demanded and she flinched at his tone of voice. He noticed and froze up, raking a hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry-," She mumbled but he cut her off, a frustrated look on his face.

"God, don't apologize, woman." He said in a low voice, his eyebrows knitted together as if he thinking too hard.

She stared at him with confusion. He was acting more than peculiar.

"How did you sleep? Are you...alright?" He started, his voice much lower and filled with guilt.

She looked down at her feet before glancing up at him beneath her lashes, "I'm fine." The image of him placing her over his lap flashed through her mind and she quickly looked away from him. It was a right that was his as her husband and yet she had never imagined that any man would ever perform that right on her. As if she felt his eyes on her, she stood up straighter and licked at her suddenly dry lips. "I'll go and have lunch prepared. You must be starving." She mumbled quickly as she attempted to run past him.

She didn't get far. He grabbed her by the arm, stopping her in her tracks. She couldn't help herself, she snatched away from him, taking a large step back.

The look that crossed his face at her swift action was one filled with angry and she stared up at him wide eyed, expecting him to lash out and threaten her with more news of embarrassment to come. But to her surprise he reached for her once more and hugged her against his chest. She gasped at the warmth of him. He squeezed her close, his face buried in her hair.

He wrapped one arm around her waist, locking her against him. With is free hand he buried in her hair, as if afraid of letting her go. She was surprised as the urgency of his grip and so she stayed still, completely perplexed by his sudden to hold her.

"I love you, Xael." He whispered as his lips grazed her earlobe. She gasped, stiffening up in his grip entirely. She jerked back out of pure reflex, disbelief on her face. Before she could stop herself she smacked him against the chest, tears pricking her eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" She shouted at him, anger engulfing her.

He tried to pull her back but she continued to push away until she had broken his hold.

"Why do you find so much pleasure in toying with me?" She snapped, her face blotchy with red.

"I'm not playing any games, I mean it. I love you...It's taken me longer than it should have to realize it but, God, I'm in love you. Believe me."

She sucked in a breath, taking several steps back. She was convinced that this was the worst joke he had ever decided to play on her. Did he know that she craved love? Did he know and had decided to torment her with what would never be?

He took a step toward, his eyes never leaving hers. "Xael...darling-," he tried once more.

She took a step toward him and raised her hand, seeing nothing but red before slapping him, her hand smacking his left cheek with absolute aggression. The impact surprised him. She was so tiny and yet he was sure that nothing had ever stung as much. His hair fell into his face and he cupped his cheek, his eyes meeting hers.

The anger dissolved from her face and a tear ran down her cheek. She looked down at her hand, staring at it as if it were a murder weapon, horror in her eyes. What was he doing to her? She had never hit anyone before...nor had she ever wanted to...until him.

She huffed, her face twisting up, before she burst into full blown tears. He reached for her but she slapped his hands away, sprinting for the parlor doors and down the hallway.

She heard him call her name but ignored him, refusing to spend another moment in the same room with him. She made to the front door, pulling it open and nearly knocking into a soft wall.

"Oh, goodness, are you alright? What are you running from? You scared the bloody hell out of me!" Lafayette said as she cupped Xael's shoulders.

Xael looked up at her, her cheeks wet and her eyes distraught. Lafayette froze before frowning. "What's the matter?"

The sound of hurried footsteps caught both of their attentions and the sound of Alexander's voice as he called her name made her stiffen up. She looked up at Lafayette, "Please take me away from here. I can't spend another moment with him."

Lafayette's eyes narrowed and she nodded, pulling Xael along with her back toward her carriage.

*Comment, like and share!!! I'm back, baby! I'm finally settled in college life, yass! HBCU life all day, folks!! I'm going to be updating regularly again, I have tons of new ideas that I've already started and all of my uncompleted stories will be done soon. And I have a new erotica that I'm going to upload soon! Always, stay tuned and peace, love and literature!!*