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I’d met plenty of women who’d had arranged marriages, including my own mother. Since they knew I’d have one of my own one day, they’d all told me how they “trained” their men out of bad habits and behaviors. I was in this damn marriage, so I couldn’t keep running off whenever Roman acted like a jerk. I had to confront him or cajole him. Or something.
I sure wished my mother was still alive to give me advice, because she and my father had always seemed happy. One thing was certain: she’d tell me to stop hiding. But first, I had to make sure I wasn’t still in a bad mood, and get rid of some of my jangly nervous energy. A dip in the pool and a few quick laps would work it off, then I’d grab a sandwich. Maybe I’d bring something to Roman, wherever he was hiding out.
It wasn’t in our bedroom, and I hurriedly changed into my swimming suit, before heading out to the pool. The door to his home office was shut, so I figured he was in there. Still peeved, I flipped off the door, then felt silly since we had cameras everywhere. Well, if he saw me do it, he should know he deserved it.
I followed the curving path leading to the pool, and as soon as I got past the decorative palms, I saw him sitting on one of the lounge chairs, the umbrella tilted to keep the late evening sun out of his eyes. I ducked back behind the palms, hoping he hadn’t seen me. So much for a swim to work off my anger. He was even going to ruin that.
“Karine.”
I froze, as if I’d become invisible if I stayed still. Of course, I had on a siren red bikini, certainly standing out like a beacon through the green fronds.
“Come here,” he commanded in a voice I couldn't disobey.
Keeping a neutral—well, probably somewhat irritated face, I walked with my head held high to the edge of the lounge chair. He looked up at me with his hand shielding his eyes, and I scowled down at him.
With a sigh, he stood up and took my hand. “I’m sorry. I said horrible things that you didn’t deserve. I was an insufferable asshole, and I’m really sorry.”
He looked like he had just eaten something sour, but he sounded sincere. When his eyes scanned my nearly naked body, I got a warm, tingly feeling, really wanting to forgive him and get back to the honeymoon phase. I still remained silent.
He put his hands on my waist, a feather-light touch. “What do you want to do?” he asked, a hint of teasing in his voice I couldn’t resist.
He was trying, and I got a mischievous streak I couldn’t deny, any more than I could deny the way his grip on my waist was making me weak. I planted my hands on his chest and shoved him backward into the pool. He went under like a stone, sending a splash of cool water over my feet. When he surfaced, spluttering, I held up my hands as if I’d had no choice.
“I want to go swimming,” I said, daring him to get mad at me.
He swam over to the side with two long, slicing strokes, the muscles in his back straining against his soaked dress shirt. “These were six hundred dollar shoes, Karine.”
I could tell he didn’t care and jumped out of the way as he made a grab for my ankle. “Then you should get cheaper shoes for around the pool,” I said, skipping out of his reach again.
With a shout of frustration, he hoisted himself out and scooped me up before I could get three steps away. Seconds later, we were both underwater, coming up laughing. He ducked under again and tossed his sodden shoes out, then started unbuttoning his shirt.
“Are you going to skinny dip?” I asked, reaching around to unhook my top.
“I’m not swimming in my Gucci suit pants,” he said with mock bitterness.
His eyes shined when I slid my bottoms down and tossed them onto the edge along with his clothes. When we were both naked under the clear blue water, he swam up next to me, caging me against the side with his muscular arms.
“I really am sorry,” he said, leaning in to kiss me.
“I know,” I told him as our mouths touched. I dropped my hands below the surface to wrap around his waist, enjoying the lazy way his tongue played against my lips.
“This is so much better than fighting,” he said.
“Mmhmm,” I agreed, moving my hands to his chest. I let him kiss me for another few seconds, then when his guard was down, I shoved against his chest with my palms.
He floated back, his eyes comically wide. Ducking under the water, I swam around him and headed for the waterfall. The crashing sound echoed as I fluttered my feet like a mermaid to stay ahead of him, resurfacing in the grotto behind the tumbling water.
His head popped up a few seconds later, and he smiled as he reached for me. I paddled to the side of a ledge that had been created to look like we were in a natural cave. It was perfectly smooth, though, with tiny lights set into the fake stalactites on the ceiling. Once we were further away from the waterfall, the sound wasn’t so loud. With the twinkling fairy lights up above and the last of the sun sparkling through the flowing water, it was very romantic.
Even though the water was only up to my chest and a little above his waist near the edge, he still lifted me onto the ledge and hoisted himself up beside me.
“We should camp out here,” he said, pushing my hair aside to kiss my neck.
One hand slid up my side to cup my breast, and I sighed, laying back while wrapping my arms around his shoulders so he’d be drawn down with me. He smiled and kept kissing his way across my jaw to reach my lips.
“We can pretend we’re the only people in the world,” he said, his eyes dreamy in the shadowy grotto.
I didn’t want to say it might be the only way we’d never have another fight. It seemed like every time we were separated something came between us. He noticed my furrowed brows and kissed me between my eyes before drawing back to look down at me.
