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Now I would see what the consequences of my actions would be. Whatever they were, I was ready.
Chapter Ten
Lilith
Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the ornate bedroom where Adrian and I lay entwined in the silken sheets. My fingers traced lazy patterns on his chest as I leaned in, my lips dangerously close to his ear.
“Good morning, my love,” I purred, my voice low and filled with playful desire.
My whole body yearned to have him close, to feel the touch of his hands on me, his lips on mine. It felt like an entire eternity since the last time we made love, and the absence of this sort of affection only seemed to make me more needy.
“Did you sleep well?” I asked, murmuring into his neck, inhaling his masculine scent, which made my blood boil with desire. He always had that effect on me.
“Mhm,” he replied. That was all he said, remaining strangely distant. His gaze was fixated on the window, and he seemed to be lost in thought, almost as if he wasn’t here at all. He didn’t respond to my affectionate advances, and his lack of attention stung my pride.
I tried to remind myself that something must be bothering him, something he wasn’t ready to discuss with me yet. I wanted him to know that I respected him, that I valued him as a person and that I completely understood his desire for solitude. But at the same time, how could I prove to him that I was here if he needed me, if not by actually being here and telling him all this? I felt like anything I did was wrong and nothing I said repaired the situation, but actually made it worse.
Still undeterred, I pressed closer, my lips brushing against his neck. “What do you say we stay a little longer in bed?” I whispered seductively. “We have the whole morning to ourselves.”
I watched in surprise as Adrian, still distant and preoccupied, responded curtly. “I'm sorry, love, but I'm quite busy today.”
Without meeting my eyes, he swung his legs out of bed and began to gather his clothes. The words hung in the air, leaving me with a sense of unease. It was rare for Adrian to be so dismissive, especially in the morning when we usually shared tender moments together. He loved staying in bed a little longer, while we welcomed the morning in our own special way. But I supposed with everything that had happened, I should have expected this. Still, it hurt. I would lie if I say it didn’t.
As he started to get dressed, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions, confusion, disappointment, and a growing sense of curiosity about what could be occupying his thoughts so completely that he had to leave in such a hurry. I just couldn’t understand it. I wanted to say so many things. I wanted to demand an explanation, anything he had to tell me, but at the same time, I didn’t want to have the same argument again. I didn’t want to hear him say that I was smothering him, that he was feeling overwhelmed by my love and attention. All I could do was watch him silently, wondering what had come between us.
He got dressed quickly, almost as if he were late somewhere, his movements deliberate and focused. The sense of unease that had settled over me grew stronger with each passing moment. He finished getting dressed within seconds, and immediately made his way to the door. I remained in bed, my eyes following his every step. It was as if an entire chasm had opened up between us, and I longed to bridge that gap, but I was unable to do it. I had no idea how. I felt like I had tried everything, and every time, I kept being pushed away, with the doors slamming right in my face.
Then, I noticed him pausing at the door for a brief moment. His hand lingered on the doorknob. He turned around and our eyes met. In that fleeting gaze, I saw a flicker of something, as if he wanted to tell me something, but changed his mind at the last minute. It was an unspoken message that left me even more perplexed. Then, without a word, he turned and left the room.
I was left alone in the quiet of the bedroom, my thoughts swirling with questions and uncertainties. What had just happened between us, and why had he left in such a hurry? The morning had taken an unexpected turn, and I couldn't help but wonder what the day would bring.
Fortunately, I was able to focus on something more joyful, such as spending the morning with Cass. We decided to take a stroll through the garden and plant a few flowers. I wanted her to feel as if nothing was wrong, although my own doubts and suspicions were eating me up inside.
“You are doing a wonderful job, darling,” I told her, as we were both kneeling down in the dirt, planting colorful blossoms in the rich, dark soil. I couldn’t help but smile at her, as she was carefully tucking a delicate pink petunia into the ground.
“This is my favorite flower,” she told me importantly. “But actually, they are all so pretty. I love planting flowers, mommy.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” I gushed, grateful that I was able to distract both of us, if only for a few precious hours.
We hadn’t spoken about Adrian, although I was certain that she had more questions about him and his behavior. Honestly, I wasn’t sure whether I would have had any answers for her had she asked me anything. Fortunately, we worked our way through the garden, our laughter filling the air around us as we dug holes, gently placed each flower in its new home and then, patted the soil around it tenderly. I didn’t know much about flowers, but the little that I did know, I was happy to share with Cass, and she was eager to listen.
Hours passed, but it felt like mere minutes as we planted, watered, and admired our garden. When we finally stepped back to admire our work, the garden had come alive with a riot of colors. There were vibrant reds, cheerful yellows, and serene blues.
Feeling exhausted but immensely happy with the work we’d done, we sat down on a nearby bench, basking in the beauty we had created together. A slight pang of sorrow gripped at me, as I sat there aware of the fact that Adrian would have wanted to join us. But that was before. Now… I felt like I didn’t know who he was any longer.
In an effort to somehow overpower that sorrow, I wrapped my arm around Cass and she in turn nestled close to me. We both savored the warmth and tenderness of this moment that seemed to bring us even closer.
“This is our little piece of paradise,” I whispered to her, and she nodded in agreement.
We gazed at the riot of blossoms swaying in the gentle breeze, their petals bathed in the golden sunlight. Bees buzzed contentedly from flower to flower, and butterflies danced in the warm air. It was a living, breathing testament to our shared efforts.
I squeezed Cass’ hand, and she leaned her head on my shoulder, both of us content in the silence that enveloped us. In that tranquil moment, I felt an unspoken connection with my daughter, a bond forged not just by shared experiences but by the simple act of being present with one another.
Once again, I wished that Adrian could have been there to share this moment with us. But even this sorrowful thought was overshadowed by the beauty around us. It was a most precious moment of serenity, one of the rare few I’d had in the past couple of days.
Then, Cass turned to me with a suggestion. “I feel like having some hot chocolate. What about you?”
I smiled. “Why not?”
