Chapter 9
“Stupid, Colette repeated softly. It stung, but it wasn’t very different from the ‘attention seeker‘ label he had slapped on her just moments ago. She shook her head, feeling the futility of their conversation. “Maybe you’re right,” she sighed, letting out a self–derisive laugh. “Maybe I should get a job too. It would take my mind off you, and I won’t be the attention–seeking bitch that you so abhor. You’ll be left alone to spend your time as you please, and maybe I’ll get a lesson in working hard as well. If I have a life of my own, going on business trips with my boss, burning the midnight oil with him, maybe I’ll finally understand what this is all about and stop nagging you.”
“Colette!” Matheo’s eyes burned with intensity as he suddenly closed the distance between them. His hands, which had been gripping her shoulders, tightened further, stealing the breath from her lungs. Without warning, his lips descended on hers with a fierce force that almost staggered her. He kissed her with a passion she had never felt before, and Colette rejoiced in it. She felt her husband shaking in her arms, knowing she was affecting him on a visceral level. This was no longer just physical; it was deeper, more profound. Maybe his possessiveness, or something she had said, had finally penetrated his defenses. Maybe he had truly listened to her this time.
As their lips moved together in a heated dance, Colette could feel the raw emotion pouring out of him. It was a kiss filled with anger, frustration, but also
an undeniable need. Matheo’s hands moved to cradle her face, his grip gentling but his kiss remaining fervent. Colette responded with equal fervor, her
hands slipping into his hair, pulling him closer.
“Come here!” Matheo’s voice was a mixture of frustration and desperation as he dragged Colette away from the balcony and closer to his own warm body. Before she could fully process what was happening, he pulled her into another dark corner, shielding them from view.
Colette put her arms around his neck, kissing him back with all the power of her love. The kiss was intense, filled with the raw emotions that had been building up between them. Suddenly, the sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted the moment. “Matt, I’m sorry if I came at the wrong time, but the Alters are leaving,” came Iris’s voice, cutting through the darkness like a sharp blade.
It was as if a bolt of electricity had hit him. Matheo pulled away from Colette abruptly, setting her aside as though he had been caught doing something utterly foolish. “Go and stop them, I’ll be there in just a moment,” he replied to Iris with the coolness of the Arctic Ocean.
Hope is a terrible thing, Colette thought, because when it breaks, it brings much more pain than the numbness of hopelessness. She watched as Matheo avoided looking at her, a familiar ache settling deep in her chest. Was he really so ashamed of her? It felt like a time bomb had just exploded inside her, the pain unbearable.
Matheo avoided meeting her eyes as he took off his coat and draped it around her shoulders like a protective wrap. “Go home, Colette. I’ll come home as soon as I can, and then we’ll talk,” he told her with a sigh before turning away.
“Do you love me, Matheo?” Colette’s voice trembled, but she hoped he wouldn’t hear the break in her voice.
“Now, where is this coming from?” Matheo turned back to face her, looking utterly exhausted. His weariness only broke her heart further. He didn’t say he loved her. How hard was it to say those three words?
“I’ve traveled all day, Colette, and had to come here tonight just to catch another elusive CEO. Can we not do this now, please?” His voice was tired,
pleading.
Colette looked away, feeling the finality of his words. This was the end. “Of course,” she said softly, doing her best to hide her tears in the darkness. “I hope you achieve whatever you came to achieve tonight, Matheo.” And in your life,‘ she added silently, the words echoing painfully in her mind.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
