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She glanced at him, a brief, cursory look before she tap tapped her way to the bathroom. He watched her go, incredulously. Was she just going to ignore him?
“Veda?” He stood and followed her to the bathroom. “Where were you?”
She didn’t bother to reply, just walked into the bathroom and shut the door in his face. His barely banked temper sparked. He shoved the door open before she could lock it. Veda stood in front of the counter, calmly removing her makeup. Turns out she wasn’t planning to lock it. She certainly didn’t make any move to order him out of her space as she went about her business.
Agastya watched as she unzipped her dress and stepped out of it, the cream lace bra and panty she wore looking like weapons of Lucifer himself. Desire tempered his anger, but he shoved it back.
“I’m talking to you, Veda,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet.
She slid him an insolent look as she unhooked her bra and tossed it into the laundry hamper in the corner. The panty followed seconds later, leaving her magnificently, gloriously naked.
“I-“ Agastya stopped to clear his suddenly clogged throat. “I asked you a question.”
Veda shrugged into a nightshirt hanging on the hooks on a far wall, thankfully hiding the temptation of her body from his view.
She walked by him, clearly intending to leave the bathroom without speaking a single word. Agastya’s hand shot out, grabbing her arm and stopping her. She looked down at his hand encircling her upper arm and then up at him, one eyebrow arching in irritation.
Irritation? She was irritated?
“Where have you been and why didn’t you inform me that you were going out?” He bit out the question this time. “Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”
Veda laughed, a short, bitter sound. “Worried? About me?”
Agastya’s brows drew together. “Of course I was worried about you. I had no idea where you were.”
“Weeellll.” Veda dragged the word out. “I was right here at seven this evening. Dressed and ready. Waiting for you.”
Waiting for…Memory slammed through him like a ton of bricks. His hand dropped away from her arm. His sharp inhale of breath had her lips widening in a parody of a smile.
“Do you remember now husband?”
Shame washed through him, his face flushing a dull, brick red. He swallowed uncomfortably.
“Veda, I’m-“
“Sorry?” she asked before he could finish that sentence. “Sorry for forgetting about me? For ditching me?”
“I didn’t-“ He broke off and started again. “It was a shit day. I’m sorry. I fucked up.”
The mask of anger and insolence on her face slid off as she looked at him and all he saw there was hurt. It sliced through him. He’d put that there. He’d made her feel like this.
“You didn’t even text me. I was waiting here like a fool for you to show up.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again, even knowing the apology was worthless. It was still all he had to offer.
“It’s okay,” she answered, her face tired and drawn. “I understand. You’re a busy man. Far too busy for the inconvenience of a wife.” She walked past him and into the bedroom.
“That’s not true,” he protested, following her.
“Let’s just accept that you can’t give me what I want Agastya. If I don’t have expectations, then you can’t keep disappointing me.”
Agastya stared at her downbent head, a surge of self-loathing sweeping through him.
“Tell me what you want,” he said hoarsely, sitting down beside her on the bed. “Tell me. Give me a chance to try and meet your expectations.”
She shook her head, leaning back against the headboard and stretching out. “Let’s just get to sleep. There is no point in this conversation.”
“One chance, Veda,” he insisted. “Give me one chance.”
