Tova is quiet as I lead us down the path to the garden. The sun has long set, and the lights I had installed a few years ago keep it illuminated. Night or day, Tova makes her way out here often. I know my grounds are secure, and there is nothing I should have to worry about, but you can never be too safe. The lights had been a must, and so had the cameras.
I had to get her out of that dining room. With each question about the wedding, I could see my girl retreating into herself. The attention made her push food around her plate without eating. I know she has to be comfortable around people to come out of her shell. I hated that she was uncomfortable in what was to be her own home.
“I’m not allowed in here. I’ve been grounded for a few days.”
“Grounded?”
“Your note to my parents.” Ah, is that why she is so mad at me? I thought maybe it was the barging into her bedroom. I suppose I could have knocked, but I hadn’t wanted to. I needed to get my eyes on her, and that was the quickest way. I won’t apologize for that. It would be a lie to do so.
“It’s for your own good.” Everything I do is for her sake.
“How do you know what is for my own good?! You don’t know me.” Tova raises that chin of hers.
That’s laughable. I know more about her than I do anyone else. All the small details, everything she does. I soak it all in like a ravenous animal. I have to fight not to dig deeper into her. That’s why I keep my distance. It would only make my obsession with her grow more, but I suppose that doesn’t matter anymore.
“Don’t be so sure about that, little mouse.”
Her nose scrunches. “Mouse?”
“Always curious and slipping in and out around the farm.”
“Except the garden.”
“You’ve been in the garden far too much.”
“What does it matter?” She throws her hands up. “I mean, why do you even care?” I don’t miss the hurt in her tone.
“You burnt your cheeks and here.” I lift her arm to show her.
“It’s a sunburn.” Her expression turns to confusion.
“And you didn’t wear your sunscreen. You can’t spend hours outside without protection.” How can she not see that? Her skin is so fair and lovely. “You are now under my care.” If she won’t watch out for herself, then I will.
She has been under my protection from the second I laid eyes on her, but now she truly is. I don’t have to make up excuses and reasons to keep her tucked away safe here. My father’s idea might not be so horrible after all. I get to keep her closer than ever, but I can pretend to the rest of the world she is merely a wife I was forced to marry. That way no one will ever know the depth of my feelings for her. If my enemies think she doesn’t mean anything to me, they won’t hurt her to get to me.
“You’re really worried about a sunburn?” Tova’s whole face softens.
“I worry about a lot of things.” I reach up, brushing one of her curls the wind blew astray out of her face. “Sit with me.”
Tova sits on the bench next to me. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I always worry about you.”
“Always?” Tova tilts her head, having caught my slip of the tongue. A stupid one.
“I’ll always watch over you. You’ll be my wife,” I say. She already doesn’t want to marry me. If she knew all the things I’ve done, she would run from me. Not that she’d get far.
“Right.” Tova wrings her fingers together in her lap, her gaze dropping there, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing.
“This upsets you?” I want to know how to fix this, but maybe I can’t. That’s not acceptable.
“It is what it is.” She shrugs one of her delicate shoulders.
“I like this.” I touch the ribbon strap on her dress.
“Really?” Her eyes brighten, and she sits up straighter.
“I say what I mean.”
“So no lies?” She cocks a brow like this is a challenge.
“No lies, I just won’t answer.”
“You know, I’ll take that.” A small laugh leaves her. I let myself soak in the sound.
“Now, tell me why it upsets you that I will watch over you.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does,” I snap back harsher than I mean to, making Tova lean back. “It does matter to me,” I repeat but softer this time. Tova sits there not saying a word, and I know I can’t order her to speak. She is not one of my men or employees. I take a page from my father’s book when he’s pissed off Mom. “Please.”
“Please?” She peeks over at me.
“Please.” I repeat the word. I make a mental note that the word pleases her. So did I when I complimented her dress.
“It’s silly.”
“I still want to know.”
“Fine.” She puffs out a small breath. “It’s the idea that my husband watches out for me because he has to.”
“Every husband should.” I’m getting the sense this is one of those moments I’m missing the emotional part.
“They should want to.” There it is. Her wanting me to care tells me so many things.
“And you think I don’t want to?”
“I’m just another one of your responsibilities or jobs. However you see it.” She waves her hand around at everything. I grab her hand, linking my fingers with hers, taking a note from Z.
“I promise you that I want to take care of you, Tova.”
“And you wouldn’t lie to me.”
I move without thinking, my other hand coming to cup her cheek. “No,” I tell her. “No, I wouldn’t lie to you,” I quickly add.
Another giggle bubbles free from her.
“Did you add that last part so it wasn’t a one-word answer?”
“I did.” I lean closer, breathing in her sweet, flowery smell. The hint of sun is still clinging to her. “Know this, little mouse. You come before all others now.”
Her eyes search my face before they drop to my mouth. The overwhelming need to kiss her floods through my body.
“Are you going to kiss me?”
I stare into her amber eyes. This close, I can see specks of gold in them. “Yes,” I tell her before brushing my mouth against hers. Lust surges through my body. Tova’s eyes fall closed. “I’m in unfamiliar territory here.’ I press my mouth against hers again, this time deepening the kiss.
Tova’s hands come to my chest, but she doesn’t push me away. Instead, her delicate fingers grip the front of my shirt as she leans farther into me.
I swipe my tongue across her bottom lip. A small gasp leaves her, her mouth parting for me. I slip my tongue into her mouth, needing to taste her. A deep groan leaves me when her tongue meets mine, matching my strokes.
It’s a fight to not grab her and pull her into my lap. I don’t want the kiss to end. I had no idea how intoxicating kisses could be.
Tova pulls back slightly, her eyes fluttering open. We might have stopped kissing, but I don’t pull away.
‘This is unfamiliar territory for you?’
‘I don’t want you to be upset.’ Tova lets me press a kiss to her cheek and then another.
‘Are you kissing my sunburn?’ She giggles. I suppose I am. I’m just not ready to pull away yet.
‘I enjoy my mouth on you.’ Reluctantly, I lean back.
‘I might enjoy it too.’ Tova gives me a smirk.
‘Good,’ I tell her because soon I’ll taste every inch of her.
