Roman’s POV
I watched as the violet diamond ring slid onto her delicate finger. It fit perfectly...just like she did in my life.
Avah stared at it in awe, as if she couldn’t believe it was really hers. A part of me wondered if she had ever been given anything this valuable before. I had expected her to be happy, but the overwhelmed look in her eyes made me pause. Did she feel burdened by it?
"You don’t like it?" I asked.
She quickly shook her head. "No, I love it. I just… I wasn’t expecting this."
Good. I wanted her to be surprised.
That night, when we returned home, I noticed her hesitation as we entered our bedroom. She excused herself and rushed into the bathroom before I could say anything. I didn’t think much of it until she took too long to come out.
Was she nervous?
I was about to knock when the door finally opened.
And then I saw it.
The black lace. The way the fabric clung to her.
My body went rigid.
She froze too, as if she had just realized what she was wearing. In a panic, she grabbed a robe and wrapped it around herself, but it was too late. I had already seen everything.
She refused to meet my eyes.
"You can relax, Avah," I said, locking the bathroom door behind me. "We’re married now. You can wear whatever you’re used to."
She was so easy to fluster. I had to bite my cheek to stop myself from smiling.
In the bathroom, I turned the water to cold. Freezing, actually. It was the only way to cool off the thoughts running through my head.
When I came out, she was sitting on the bed, looking completely lost.
Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, droplets trailing down her neck. She must have been looking for a blow dryer but couldn’t find one.
I walked to the closet, grabbed one, and sat beside her on the bed. She jumped slightly when I took a lock of her hair.
"Let me help with your hair," I said.
She hesitated but didn’t refuse.
As I worked through her curls, I was careful not to tug. The scent of her shampoo surrounded me, something soft and floral. Her shoulders slowly relaxed under my touch, and by the time her hair was completely dry, she looked drowsy.
"There," I murmured.
She blinked sleepily, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something but decided against it.
I turned off the blow dryer and put it away, expecting her to fall asleep soon. But she didn’t.
Neither did I.
I wasn’t sure if it was the bed or the fact that she was next to me, but I couldn’t close my eyes. And when I glanced over, I realized she was still awake too.
"I'm sorry if I woke you," she said softly.
"I can't sleep either."
She hesitated, then asked, "Do you have to go to work early tomorrow?"
"No, this week I'll take it easy. I want to make sure you’re well adjusted."
That wasn’t the full truth. I just didn’t want to leave her yet. I seem to want to be around her like a moth to a bulb.
"Should we watch a movie since both of us can't sleep?" she suggested.
"Okay, what do you have in mind?"
When I pressed the remote, the ceiling panel shifted, and a large screen began descending.
I was used to it, but Avah’s reaction made me pause.
Her eyes widened in pure amazement. She sat up straighter, her lips slightly parted.
"Damn," she muttered under her breath, "my husband is rich."
I chuckled. Sometimes I seem to forget what I have is hard to come by and not everyone lives like me.
She quickly looked away, embarrassed, then said, "I wanted to watch Tarot, but I haven’t had a chance. I hope you’re okay with horror movies."
"I'm good with anything," I said. Then, after a moment, I asked, "Would you like some snacks?"
"Can we get some?" she asked cautiously, as if she didn’t want to impose.
I didn’t wait for her to change her mind. I left the bedroom and went straight to the kitchen.
Then I realized....I had no idea what she liked.
So, I grabbed everything. Chips, chocolate, dried fruit, popcorn, pastries. By the time I returned, my arms were full.
Avah’s face lit up the moment she saw the snacks.
I set everything down and pressed a button on the bed frame. A hidden table extended over our laps, and she watched, still fascinated, as I arranged the snacks in front of us.
As the movie started, she reached for a bag of chips.
She was smiling.
And just like that, I knew that tonight, for the first time, I wouldn’t regret losing sleep.