Leila forgot how to breathe. She forgot how to be Leila.
Her husband was kissing her. His lips were pressed to hers and his tongue was seeking entry into her lips. She moaned and his tongue slid into her mouth. A sound barrelled out of her lips when he lifted her off the seat to his lap, he swallowed that sound too and continued kissing her.
His groan snapped her out of her trance, she palmed his face and kissed him back with a foreign urgency. Her fingers slid into his hair, she tugged on it from the roots, loving and loving the sound of approval he made. He tasted like wine mixed with chocolate. She loved it. His lips were officially her favourite part of him.
They broke apart for air and his hand lowered to her back. The pad of his fingers brushed her open skin and she arched her back in response to his touch. Her body ached for more of him. Their foreheads touched, her fingers caressed her swollen lips and he chuckled. His lips were swollen too so it made them even.
Desire clouded his eyes. "I want you, Leila."
The words were spoken in a throaty, deep whisper that had Leila jumping out of her husband's lap. She nearly toppled the wine in her haste to get away from him. A flash of hurt crossed his face, she mumbled an apology and edged farther from this sexy, sinful man.
"Leila..."
"Let's take a walk," she blurted out.
She scrambled to her feet before Kelvin could reply. Her heart pounded and her pulse skittered. Leila hid her shaky hands as she took the first steps out of the room they were dining in, no idea where she was marching to.
Footsteps from behind made her quicken her pace but the heels stopped her from moving as fast as she wanted. Kelvin caught up to her.
"Leila. Please stop." She stopped. The wind rustled her hair, spilling it over her face but she was too rigid to move. Her husband's breath warmed her neck. "Did I do something wrong?"
It wasn't him. It was her. She had never done this before. Sure, she had kissed her ex but this felt too new and different. It shamed all her past kisses. She wanted to go that next step with him, but at the same time she didn't. She wasn't fully ready to commit to him.
Kelvin stood in front of her, his eyes were glazed with hurt but Leila didn't know how to help.
"Did I do something wrong?" he repeated the question she ignored earlier. "Talk to me, Leila."
Leila bit her lips. The guilt stopped her from meeting his gaze. "No. Let's just take a walk."
In a clipped tone, he replied, "Okay."
She didn't need a fortune teller to know she hurt her husband's feelings, she reached for him but he stepped away from her reach. No. Not this again.
"Kev."
His smile was too fake. "Let's take a walk."
She was the first one to suggest taking a walk but why did it hurt hearing him say those words back to her? Was it his tone? It was too final, too dismissive.
"Okay," she answered.
They didn't hold hands but they walked side by side. Leila noticed for the first time that they were at a fountain. She stopped to admire it. To break the tension or strike a conversation about the design. Anything that didn't involve a silent Kelvin.
Colourful lights surrounded the fountain. Water gushed out of the lion's mouth, flowing down to form a small pool. On another day, maybe today, if she hadn't ruined it, they would have taken some pictures here. She sat on the empty bench a few feet from the fountain and Kelvin occupied the space beside her.
"I'm sorry," she heard herself whisper to him.
The lack of response only intensified her guilt. She looked up when his jacket landed on her shoulders.
"Take it so you don't get cold." His tone was curt. She wanted the sweet, funny Kelvin who spoon-fed her. Her eyes watered and he broke their staring bout. "We will be heading to the house soon. If that's okay."
"It's okay." What wasn't okay was him calling it house. It was home, not house. "Kev..." She licked her lips when she noticed him staring at them. "I'm sorry."
"For what, Leila?" She made to talk but he finished for her, "Don't be. If you're done here, we can leave."
Dragging the jacket closer to her chest, she shook her head. They left the house in a good mood, they would return to it in a good mood. At least she hoped they would. She pushed one tired foot forward. Her feet hurt from walking that long distance on stiletto heels.
The cold wind rustled her hair. She would have put her hair in a bun to prevent this but he liked it down. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she removed the flower and rolled it between her fingers. Without thinking, she gave it to Kelvin as a peace offering. But Kelvin didn't take it.
With her heart heavy in her chest, she laid it on the metal bench. Her eyes stung too much and a single tear rolled down her cheek. Leila wiped it subtly to avoid calling his attention. That was if he still cared about her. It was unfair of him to treat her this way after promising he would wait.
She wanted him too but she wasn't ready for it. Why couldn't he understand that?
"I think I'm ready for the presentation." It was a last attempt at a civilised conversation with her disgruntled husband. He once said he liked the idea of the project. His confused expression made her add, "For Stars Glow project."
"Okay."
She slid her hands into the pockets of Kelvin's jacket to keep them warm. "What day is fine with you?" His monotone response annoyed her but it was better than his silence. "I can be ready tomorrow or next."
"Okay."
Kelvin wasn't looking at her. His gaze was focused on the fountain. Leila wasn't sure he heard her or was interested in this conversation.
If this was how he would behave if he couldn't get his way with her, he should never have given her a choice. With this silly attitude, Kelvin was no different from that scum she spent months trying to forget. Why did Kelvin make it seem like she had an option when she really didn't?
"Okay," she whispered.
The quiet of the night was interrupted by his fingers moving across his phone screen. "I spoke to some people about the project." Leila's ears perked but she didn't look away from her feet. "They are interested in sponsoring the project, increasing the reach and audience. We can get it to more broadcast stations. Have it showing in all household."
It was good news for Leila, especially the use of the word-we. Leila loved how her husband included himself but his tone made it hard for her to rejoice. They were a team but he was being an entitled brat right now and she didn't like it. She lifted her shoulders in a half-shrug to let him know she was listening. His voice already took on that bossy tone he used at the office.
"You can present the slides to them. The correct one."
Of all the things he said, one thing stuck with her. Them. He didn't use the word: us. The last presentation didn't go so well because he was present but she would feel much better in a room with him than a bunch of strangers. The project no longer appealed to her. Why couldn't he sponsor it himself?
Hiding her hands between her legs, she asked, "You won't be there?"
As usual, he didn't look at her when he said, "I won't." His words drove a blunt dagger through her heart. Leila felt betrayed. He commended the project and now he won't even be there. "I'm calling the driver."
He could call his pilot for all she cared. She stood before him, hands deep in the jacket pockets. "Okay."
The driver came around with the car and he shot to his feet. The short distance to the car was the quietest between them. Kelvin opened the door for her but she walked around the car and opened the other door for herself. Throughout the ride home, they didn't speak to each other.