Page 75 of Reverence

“Yours.” I tightened my grip on her jaw. “Everything is your fault. My downfall will be your fault.”

She peered at me with those pretty brown eyes again. The eyes truly were the window to the soul because I could see everything.

Beneath her strong facade, she was merely a broken woman with high walls she’d built to protect herself. “You’re the cause of your own downfall.”

“You’re the cause of my madness.” I countered. “My insanity. My possessiveness. My jealousy.” It took everything in me to remain controlled while I lowered her onto the ground.

“I don’t recognise the version of myself when I’m with you,” I said, fixing the top part of the silky dress.

She observed my movements, pursing her lips. “What kind of man would I be if I only removed your clothing but didn’t help you put it back on?”

When she didn’t look at me, I gripped her chin. “Amala.”

“This is all wrong.”

“What is?” I frowned.

“You’re not meant to be a gentleman.”

“Then what am I meant to be?” She pushed me away, running a hand through her black and grey hair.

“An arrogant, self-centred man.” Normally those words wouldn’t have affected me but tonight it stung. “A man who doesn’t care about anyone other than himself.”

“If that’s how you’d like to perceive me, who’s stopping you?”

“You’re stopping me!” She snapped, breathing heavily.

“You run me a bath, fix my clothing, help me during a medical emergency, came to me when you needed medical attention, feeding me all these lies about how I’m the reason you’re behaving in this manner. You’re being nice, the man I’ve been working with for the past few years was never nice.”

I ran my tongue along my upper teeth, then breathed through my nose. “Is that what’s upsetting you?” I asked, stepping closer. “The fact that I’m no longer the villain in your story?”

When she didn’t answer, I continued. “Or is it the fact that you finally have someone in your corner? Someone willing to do anything for you.”

She looked away, swiping a hand across her face.

“Maybe you’re upset that you finally let someone in and that someone is me. The man you’ve always abhorred.”

The silence stretched between us like an endless void. “I understand it now. You paint me as the villain in your story because it’s easier to loathe me, than to admit you feel anything other than disdain towards me.” More silence. Deafening silence. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

Amala looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with an unknown emotion. She pursed her lips, a deep frown settling on her beautifully sculpted face

“Take me home.” I expected her to make that demand but it didn’t hurt any less.

“Is that really what you want?” I asked and when she didn’t look at me, I gripped her chin and forced her to make eye contact with me.

“Answer me.”

“Yes.” She responded swiftly. “Just take me home, Ares.”

I dropped my hand to my side, clenching my fist and creating space between us.

She already seemed distant so the physical space only made matters worse.

I didn’t mean to be so cold but the words just tumbled from my lips. “Get dressed. We’ll leave in five minutes.”

Twenty Three

Ares