Page 88 of Bound in Ruin

I don't ask where she went. I don't ask why she took so damn long.

"Did it stall?" I ask, keeping my voice smooth and indifferent as I toss the rag back onto the bench.

Rosalia steps out of the car, tossing her hair back, her cheeks flushed from the cool night wind. She looks at me, slightly guarded. "It stalled twice."

"Okay," I say simply, nodding once.

“Thanks.” She unclips the key, holding it out toward me. "I'm going to go upstairs and shower."

"Okay," I repeat, taking the keys as her fingers briefly brush mine.

I stand there, rooted to the spot, watching her silhouette disappear through the doors leading back into the main house.

A moment later, the soft thud of shoes signals Helena walking into the garage. She stops a few feet away, crossing her arms, a knowing, triumphant smirk playing on her lips.

"Are you more relaxed now that she's back safely?" she asks, her voice dripping with amusement.

I glare at her, my jaw tight. "I'm not in the mood for your snark tonight, Helena."

Helena laughs quietly, shaking her head. "You can easily take yourself out of this misery, you know. Plan a romantic date for her."

I pause, my eyes snapping back to her.

"I happen to be friends with Rosalia," Helena continues, raising an eyebrow. "We talk. And I know for a fact that she would appreciate something like that from you right now."

Interest ignites instantly in my chest, burning through the lingering anxiety. I step toward her. "What type of date?"

Helena just shakes her head, stepping backward toward the door. "Oh no. It's up to you to figure that out, Dominic."

Before I can demand a straight answer, she turns on her heel and walks away, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.

A while later, I make my way up to the master suite.

Rosalia is already in bed, propped up against the pillows, freshly showered.

I head into the bathroom, take a quick shower to wash off the dirt from the day, and pull on a pair of black briefs. Slipping quietly back into the bedroom, I climb onto the mattress, keeping my distance as I lie down beside her.

I reach out, my fingers gently brushing against the smooth skin of her bare arm. "Rosalia..."

She flinches instantly, pulling her arm back as if my touch burned her. "I don't want to have sex tonight, Dominic."

The words hit me like a physical blow right to the chest, leaving a sharp, bitter ache in their wake.

Is that really how she sees me? An animal who only comes to her when he wants to take?

God, I just wanted to talk to her. I just wanted to hold her, to feel her heart beating against mine so I could finally sleep knowing she was safe.

I swallow down the sudden, painful lump in my throat and pull my hand back entirely.

"Okay," I whisper into the quiet room.

I roll onto my side, away from her, reach over to the nightstand, and switch off the light, plunging us both into absolute darkness.

I don’t sleep. I can’t. The sting of her words lingers in the quiet room, a sharp reminder of the distance still stretching between us. I stay completely still, staring blankly into the shadows, listening to the silence until her even breathing tells me she has finally fallen asleep.

Hours pass. I don't move an inch, keeping my distance on my side of the mattress just like she asked.

Sometime in the middle of the night, the bed shifts slightly.