Chapter 13

I sit silently on my balcony, feet planted on the railing, tea in hand and thoughts at play. I just love the warm almost cool air ,the morning is providing for me right now.

Something about this morning just feels nice, I'm in a content state and I don't know why.

'That's because Keith is sleeping here' My consciousness says and I blush at that.

I can't believe he actually rocked up here, when I thought he'd totally forgotten about me. I can't deny that I'm happy he's here, but him coming here when drunk bothers me. It reminds me of the time he was mourning his mother, well drinking his sorrows away and I don't want him to go back. It was hard for me, watching him go through that.

I have no idea when he got back , not that I'd know since having moved out and besides, why bother telling me when he has?

" Akiandra." I jump at my name, resulting in me spilling some tea on my self, totally burning me and causing me to shriek in pain.

"Shit, wait here." I hear him cuss, before he disappears back inside.

A few seconds later he's back and wiping off the spilled tea." Thank you." I say, taking the cloth from him and heading back inside with both cup and dishcloth.

"So this is it?" He says from behind me.

"What?" I ask, turning around to face him, leaning against the sink.

"Your new place." He says, surveying his surroundings.

"Yes. Um did you see your bag in the room, I left- "

"Yes, when did - ."

"This morning. " I cut in, when he looks at me, I blush feeling embarrassed to be cutting him off. Just when I open my mouth to apologise , he starts moving around and coming over to my side, standing leaned by the counter, just looking at me.

"Um I'm making breakfast." I say nervously, spinning around and mindlessly looking at the fridge as a distraction to keep away from looking at him.

Though I can feel his eyes on me.

I start taking out ingredients, thinking of making a feast for him as he's my very important guest. Gosh my own husband is my guest, it's crazy when I think about it.

Milk and butter in hand, I close the fridge and start moving around, avoiding eye contact. At mid close of the cupboards , a hand holds it still and seconds later I feel a presence behind me. It's him, I can feel his chest rise and fall behind me, his arm blocks my way.

His breath warms the back of my neck, giving me pleasurable tingles throughout my body yet making me nervous at the same time. Carefully turning around, I'm met face to face with his chest.

" Akiandra." The soft murmur of his voice calls me to attention.

Looking up, my eyes meet his face as he looks down at me. I watch nervously ,as he leans in close, his closeness making me quite dizzy and weak.

What is he doing to me? He's got such an effect on me.

"Glass." He says , his minty breath fanning my face before he leans further , forcing me to take a step back and be trapped between the cupboard and him.

Eyes locked to his, I feel him move, the sound of the cupboard door opening and closing before he moves back and walks over to the fridge, giving me space to regain my breath back.

Taking another needed breath, I start to move around, intent on making pancakes since craving them so much now that I think of them. I have questions, one main one surrounding his sudden decision to come by, in a drunken state.

"Do you like it here?" He asks me, settling down on the barstool.

"Yes I do. It's my own space and I like having something of my own." I say, adding ingredients into the bowl.

" Why didn't you wait for me?" I stop mixing and look up at him." W-what?" My heart drops at my feet.

I watch him blink a few times before he speaks."  Why didn't you wait for me to help you move?" Disappointing, I thought-. " I didn't want to bother you and you weren't there." Saying the last part, our eyes lock and some unknown message transfers between us.

A sudden knock on the door breaks the spell and I'm the first to break eye contact. Sighing I make way to the door, not really expecting anyone. Must be Alex, bringing something for Keith.

Opening the door, my eyes widen at seeing London on the other side. Gosh Keith's here and he can't see him or else he might recognise him from the wedding. Keith might get the wrong idea.

Quickly stepping out and quietly closing the door behind me, I pass a quick nervous smile his way, earning a confused frown from him.

"Hey Buttercup, ready to get going?" He asks.

"Where to?" I ask, confused. Did we have plans?

"You already forgot?" Scrolling my mind for something, my eyes widen, now remembering our plans." Oh I um, can't right now. " I say uneasily.

"Why not?. Is everything okay?" He finally asks, seeming to sense my nerves.

"I -" the door suddenly swings open." Akiandra is - " Keith behind me , stops mid sentence. Noticing London, I suppose.

I notice London's eyes widen a bit, glancing at both of us before his now narrowed eyes focus sorely on Keith." What's going on here... Akiandra?" Keith directs the question to me, his eyes boring holes at the back of my head.

Closing my eyes for a second, preparing myself for a long explaination, I take a breath, glance over my shoulder at him and open my mouth to say something, only for someone to speak before me.

"Hi, I'm London....Buttercups neighbour." London says, holding out his hand to my now cold eyed husband.

There he goes again with the nickname. Wait...did he just call me - ." Keith, Angel's husband." Keith responds, shaking London's hand.

Wait, what?

I glance between the two men , frowning at their behaviour. One might think they're calm and cool yet I can sense some tension. What's going on here?

"So neighbour, what can we do for you?" Keith asks, his arm wrapping around me, pulling me to his chest. Earning a quiet gasp and hard beating of my heart.

"Oh Buttercup and I had plans." London responds, shoving his hands deep in his pockets.

"What plans?" The calmness of Keith's tone worries me. His fingers press at my waist, not hard in a hurtful manner thank God.

"Well we're going job hunting. You know, the normal for us hardworking people. " London shrugs his shoulders.

"Oh I understand, but my wife and I have pressing matters to attend to, so maybe another time." I frown, looking up at my husband who's gaze is stuck on London.

" I - " I'm cut off by the feel of Keith's chin on top of my head, rather soon , my body freezes in place when he moves his face along my hair, sniffing it and releasing a small growl right before burying his face at the crook of my neck.

My eyes automatically close at the contact and I almost moan in contentment and satisfaction, almost forgetting that we have company.

Oh my God London. My eyes pop open, to see London staring at us with a cool demeanor apart from his clenched jaw. Keith moves his face away from my neck, resting his chin back on top of my head.

" London I'm sorry, I didn't - "

"That's okay buttercup, I'll come back another time." London says, resting his palm against my cheek before walking off, leaving me alone with Keith.

I watch London's retreating back with a heavy heart, feeling so bad for turning him away and cancelling our plans like this. The feel of an arm being removed from around my waist has me blinking and turning around to face a retreating Keith.

Following him inside, the smell of something burning knocks me back to my senses, Lord the pancakes. Rushing over to the stove, I switch it off and throw away the burnt pancakes in the trashcans, placing the pan in the sink.

" I'm so sorry about breakfast, I'll just quickly...."

" Akiandra...." I quickly shut up.

Keith stands just a few steps apart from me, his one hand clenched into a fist while his gaze locks me frozen in my spot." You were going to look for a job." He states.

Fully turning to look at him, I nod, biting at my nail nervously. I hope I didn't do something against the contract or divorce month extension." Use your words."

"Yes." I murmur.

He breathes, his hand unclenching and resting his palm on the counter top." Where?"

What importance is there where I work, I frown at this." Um well I was thinking maybe waitressing, teaching, daycare or even being a bartender- " he holds his palm up, stopping my rambling.

"Okay...okay.." He breathes, closing his eyes for a second before looking at me again.

"Now you listen and listen to me good. By no means is my wife working in a filthy bar or serving - " he stops mid sentence, taking a breath." No it won't happen." He continues.

"But what's wrong with that, I was once- " I try saying, yet again I'm cut off.

" Once you were and now you are the wife of Keith Salvatore. And only the best for a Salvatore." He ends off.

"Now we're going out for breakfast. We have a meeting."

"A meeting?"

" Yes." He starts to turn away from me but I stop him." Keith?"

He looks at me, but I droop mine low, avoiding eye contact as I ask the one question I've held deep in my heart for the 2 years of our marriage." Have you any regrets...about getting married to me?"

Nothing. I receive no response.

I take a breath, preparing to see him gone, only to feel a large hand softly placed against my cheek. With a shaky breath, I glance up to meet his own.

"No, I have no regrets. Never have and never will." With this, he walks away , leaving me frozen and wide eyed.

He has no regrets and I'm smiling, with a tear rolling down my face.