“Of course. I very much doubt she prefers the chill as she said. It’s merely another one of her husband’s games.”
“I don’t understand.”
I’m mystified and add, “How do you even know that?”
He relaxes his grip a little and chuckles. “Malik Karim is well known for his power games. Testing limits is a hobby of his. It’s no different with his wife. Eliza Karim is his match made in heaven because she allows him to practice on her.”
“I still don’t understand.”
I am so confused and Joseph grins once again, catching me unaware because he really is so God-damned handsome when he does. Almost beautiful in a godlike way, and my breath hitches as he leans forward and whispers, “I’m guessing he told her that she can only have a friend to tea if she sacrifices one thing.”
I’m amazed as he chuckles. “It appears that he didn’t want her too comfortable without him. The cold was merely another reminder that he controls her, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“That’s slightly odd, don’t you think?”
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. Malik is a dominant. He expects his wife’s attention to be on him at all times, and he takes great pleasure in reminding Eliza of that at every opportunity.”
I lean back, my mind spinning. “Well, knock me down with a feather, why don’t you.”
He laughs out loud, and for some reason, I join in because this life is crazy, mad, and yet beautiful in a dark, destructive way.
I shiver a little, and Joseph wraps his arm around me and says with interest, “What aren’t you telling me?”
His grip tightens, and I wonder if this entire outing was fabricated to extract some kind of truth from me. I wouldn’t put it past him, and I sigh.
“I received a message from her husband.”
Joseph stills his hold tighter as I sigh, “She told me to visit my mom.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. She was very insistent, and when I questioned her, she never told me the reason.”
“Visit your mom.”
Joseph repeats the message slowly and appears lost in his thoughts.
I say nothing, enjoying the closeness of our impulsive outing, and then he sighs heavily. “First, we must meet my mom for dinner. I’m sorry, Tiffany, it won’t take long and I apologize in advance for anything she will say.”
“I am interested in meeting her.”
I’m not lying, I am and he tenses as a siren sounds nearby and then huffs, “Enough fresh air. We must head home and prepare for dinner with my mother.”
He pulls me up, and as I fall against his chest, he plants a soft kiss on my lips, his fingers tangling in my hair.
I’m surprised when he pulls my head sharply down, and the fierce expression in his eyes terrifies me.
“Never leave me, Tiffany.”
“I-” My words are captured with an angry kiss, deep, powerful, almost painful. It’s almost as if he is promising bad things will happen if I dare to walk away from him. I’m so confused. How he could turn in a heartbeat, and when he pulls away, he groans. “I’m sorry. I knew this was a bad idea.”
“I really don’t understand, Joseph, what is going on?”
He strokes my face and whispers against my lips, “When you were out I had a visitor.”
My heart is pounding as he whispers, “Su Yin. It was her suggestion that we come here. Take a walk on the wild side, as she put it.”
My heart crashes inside me as her name is mentioned. It appears that there are three people in this marriage, and I have yet to meet the other one. Jealously hits me hard, surprising me as I stumble over my response. “You, you entertained her.”