Chapter 27 A Night To Remember
Night fell quicker than I expected. I slipped into the black dress Carlos had brought me at the very last minute. It is a sleeveless black tulle gown with golden flowers, sequins, appliqué, and a deep V-neck. The fabric is smooth and silky, and it hugs my body like a dream. The plunging neckline is daring and adds a touch of allure, while the open back adds a hint of elegance. The dress also has a thigh-high slit that adds a sexy and confident vibe. Even though it’s not my ideal type of dress, I absolutely love it.
I started to put on my earrings, when I heard Carlos’s voice from behind me, "Wow."
I turned to find him staring at me, eyes dark and full of something intense. He smirked at me, as his eyes moved from my face to my body and returned to my face "You look beautiful." He said, his voice tinged with lust.
"Thank you," I replied, managing a polite smile. The way he looked at me made me feel really weird but not in a bad way. "So… are we doing the dinner now?"
"Absolutely." He reached for my hand.
"Where are we going?"
He grinned, then handed me a blindfold.
"You’ll see. But for now, put this on."
I looked between him and the blindfold. "You want me to cover my eyes?"
"It’s a surprise. Trust me."
"Okay." With a deep breath, I took the blindfold and slipped it on. Carlos gently took my hand and guided me out of the room. He kept close, one arm around me to make sure I didn’t stumble.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked as we walked up the stairs. It seems like he’s taking me to the last floor.
"You’ll see. Just a few more steps and we’ll be there," He said, his voice warm.
Next thing, I heard a door creak open. A breeze brushed against my skin. Then he stopped. "You can take it off now."
I lifted the blindfold and my breath caught. The rooftop terrace was glowing. Strings of fairy lights danced above us. A small table for two stood waiting, candles flickering, plates already set. The air smelled like grilled meat, butter, herbs… it was heaven on earth
"Carlos… what is this?"
He stepped beside me, proud. "Dinner. You can’t leave the house, and I wanted it to feel special. So… rooftop it is." He nodded toward the table. "Also, I cooked. Like I promised."
"You actually cooked?" I arched an eyebrow as I sat.
He grinned, pouring drinks into crystal glasses. "Why are you acting so shocked? I told you I’ll cook."
"Yes you did but I didn’t think you’d actually do it."
He laughed lightly "I did, although I almost burnt the steak but don’t worry, it’s edible."
I looked down at my plate. Perfectly grilled steak. Creamy mashed potatoes. Roasted vegetables.
"Is this your specialty?"
He shrugged. "It is now. Hope you like steak."
"Who doesn’t like steak?" I chuckled and took a bite. Shockingly, it was good. Really good. I don’t even cook this good.
For a few minutes, we just ate in silence, the soft clinking of forks and knives filling the space between us.
"You like it?" He asked after a while.
"Surprisingly, yes."
He smiled and kept eating. A comfortable quiet settled between us, until I couldn’t help myself.
"How do you even know how to cook?" I asked
He leaned back slightly, sipping his wine. "Learned when I was young. Don’t tell anyone this, but I was a total mommy’s boy. Stuck to her like glue. Learned the basics by watching her."
I stared at him, amused. "A mafia king who’s a mommy’s boy? That’s new."
"That’s why I said don’t tell anyone," He said with a playful smirk. "There’s a lot about me you’ll be shocked to know."
"I’m suddenly so eager to know everything."
He laughed "Don’t worry, I’ll save that for the next date we go on." He shoveled a piece of steak into his mouth as we continued to eat.
After eating, he stood and held out his hand.
"Dance with me."
"There’s no music," I said, hesitantly.
"Doesn’t matter."
I let him pull me to my feet. His arm slipped around my waist. Our hands met and just like that, we started to sway under the lights. Slowly, quietly as the soft night air brushes past us.
"I haven’t danced in forever," I whispered.
"Neither have I," He said, looking down at me.
His gaze softened. "I’ve never done this for anyone before."
I couldn’t help but smile feeling special. "Why me?"
"I don’t know," He answered, voice barely audible.
Our eyes met and held, and then his lips found mine, soft, tender, like the flutter of butterfly wings. The kiss lingered just long enough for me to breathe him in, to feel the warmth of his skin, and taste the sweet trace of wine on his lips.
As I pulled away from the kiss, my eyes were drawn to him, mesmerized his looks. His sharp jaw. Those striking blue eyes. Lips I now knew tasted like temptation.
"What?" He asked quietly.
"Why are you doing all this?" I breathed.
He smiled faintly. "Do I really need a reason? You’re my wife."
I smiled at his words, for some reason being his wife doesn’t feel scary anymore.
Carlos kissed me again, this time deeper, bolder. As if trying to devour every inch of my hesitation. It was beautiful but I just had to ruin it. I pulled away, my voice barely a whisper. "Are you sure it’s because I’m your wife, or is it just another way you want to keep close for your selfish reasons?"
Carlos’s face immediately changed. The warmth in his eyes faded, replaced by something harder.
"Why would you even think that?" He asked; his voice heavy.
I didn’t answer right away. I just looked at him.
"Don’t say things like that." He muttered, stepping back.
"Why? Because it’s true?"
He clenched his jaw, looked at me for a second longer, then turned and walked away without another word.
I stood there, confused, shocked, wondering why he just switched up like that.