✔️ SLANDEROUS INTENTIONS | +18

Chapter 30

HELENA

I flower like his pomegranate.

Like a little girl, I beam with happiness. Because my happiness is attached to him and his endearment. I know it's not healthy. I know it's toxic. But I cannot help it. His detachment from me put a wound on my soul, making me feel rejected and lonely.

Yet, I need his validation, his subtle love to survive. I apologized for weeks, but he didn't fall for my tears this time. My femininity couldn't soften him immediately like other times. I felt... powerless. There wasn't any make-up sex like last time.

He didn't turn a blind eye to my insolent words, but I knew I had gone too far. I knew his possessive nature; I witnessed how he almost killed his best hunter when I played him dirty the morning after the event. Yet, I spat in his face, saying how unimportant he is to me. That the sex between us isn't special.

But it is. When I am with him, my mind is at ease and at peace. I know I am safe. That's also why I approached him with such confidence in the morning. That's why I didn't flinch when his hand wrapped around my neck, knowing it would take him just a snap to break me. Yet, I snapped at him, as my eyes grieved for him.

And then, he finally touched me. He finally kissed me. He finally let me breathe. He finally let me smolder. He finally made me bloom. I missed him. I missed his touch. I missed his kisses. I missed how well he stretched me.

Now, I shower in the aftermath of our lovemaking, my hands tracing over the marks he left on my body – his marks. His lips were on my body seconds ago, and I already miss him. A foolish grin spreads across my lips as I leave the shower with a towel around my body.

My eyes sparkle with happiness as I comb my long hair and let it fall down my back, blow-drying my waves, making my hair smooth. I apply concealer to cover the lilac hues on my cleavage, but they are everywhere.

Sighing, I give up and decide on a demure floral dress when I reach the closet. Completing my appearance with a trench coat, I walk out. My eyes find him, sitting on the couch. Tiptoeing right behind him, I plant a kiss on his cheek.

His eyes lock with mine, and I grin at him. When I'm done, I leave the bathroom. "I'm ready, we can go," I say to him with a shine of delight, happy to spend more time with him.

I smile as his hand finds my neck and he pulls me in for a kiss. I sigh into the kiss, loving the touch of validation. He wants me. I am not barren. I am not lonely.

"Let's go," he hums into the kiss before his hand traces down my shoulder and grabs my hand. Getting up, he leaves our room with me, going downstairs. I see Roman waiting for us at the front door.

"Oh, what a surprise? You guys finally made up? Or is he taking you out to get yourself a dick? Since his isn't special..." he taunts me with a ridiculous smirk on his face I want to punch off.

I squeeze Antonio's hand and pull my body closer to his, seeking my confidence in him because I know he's going to have my back, always.

"Why don't you get a life?" I hiss at him, annoyed, hating how he brings up our fight weeks ago, just as we made up. He just smoldered for me, and I don't want him to turn back into a hollow brick.

"I have a life, as I don't make others my life," he hums with a dark smile. The way his eyes narrow at me makes me almost think he has a crush on my husband.

"Enough. She's going to accompany us to the meeting with Packson," Antonio cuts him off, ending his warped remarks about our relationship.

"All right, she can help us choose the packages he's going to represent," he agrees with a subtle nod, his eyes veiling some intentions that my mind tells me are slanderous. "After all, she has great taste, based on her voodoo supplements."