"All this..for me?" DeMarcus asked after entering the formal dining room, still taking in the sight before him. Tea candles sprinkled around the room and the entryway pushed back the darkness of night.

Aleena placed her phone face down before standing up, letting the elegant cream silk dress cascade to her bare feet. "Who else would it be for? It's all your favorites." She gestured to the table. Red roses in the middle were surrounded by smothered steak, macaroni and cheese, fried okra, and German chocolate cake. She no longer needed to Google a recipe or dial up his mama for help. She knew all the ingredients from heart after years of trial and error. "I wanted to make it up for not being there."

"You didn't have to." He affirmed before kissing her forehead and pulling her into his side. "Thank you, baby."

"You're welcome." She stroked his beard with affection loving the tenderness in his brown eyes then rose to her toes to give him a kiss that was supposed to be a peck but he didn't relinquish her lips. She tasted notes of champagne and cherries as his tongue dipped in her mouth. After he lifted her to the and slipped his hand under the thigh-high slit of her dress she knew what he was in search of and the region was a little tender from last night's activities.

She broke away from their kiss, "The food is still warm...let me make you a plate."

"I'll just put some in the oven later." He moved towards her with lust clouding his eyes but her hand stayed firm on his chest. His features quickly changed from playful to peeved. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She insisted, studying his erratic behavior. "You just got in. I want to know how the gala went."

"It started. It ended. I'm home..." He drably explained, latching his hands to the back of her knees pulling her closer to him. "...and to work on that baby we wait."

"Excuse me." Aleena tried to blink the confusion away but it didn't work. She pushed him back and hopped off the table. "What do you mean 'work on a baby'?"

"You're still off birth control, right?"

"Yes."

"Then the statement is explanatory."

His blank expression vexed her and she flicked on the dining room light. He winced at the abrupt shift however she was filled with remorse. She hoped it brought him to his senses.

"So, you got the promotion. Made partner?" She inquired, needing clarity.

He shrugged then roughly tugged his tie loose. "Won't know until Monday."

"So, tonight went well."

"I don't want to talk about it."

Her eyes knitted as her befuddlement grew thicker,"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to." His eyes narrowed. "What's the problem? You wanted to start a family. I'm ready. Or is this about your new man?"

"I don't have a new man." She knew the words were a lie when they exited her mouth. They texted all day after she thanked him for the bouquet he sent to the studio that morning and she partially broke one of their rules last night—but when his tongue flicked at her clit there was no turning back. "So you're ready to go back to it only being two people in this marriage."

"Yes." He then added, "When we get a positive pregnancy test."

She gripped her waist tightly feeling deja vu claim her reality; changing terms of their relationship at a whim. She didn't know how much more she could take off without having her input being valued. An input and voice that she knew matter—that Apollo was interested in. She wished her husband felt the same.

His logic sounded sensible. It was what she originally wanted. But a fraction of her was unsure if she should commit to the life-altering decision; she knew it was just her feelings for Apollo clouding her mind. Or was she becoming a new version of herself becoming cognizant of the issues plaguing their marriage..

Aleena was grateful her phone chirped.

"Your boyfriend can wait."

"Shut the hell up." She snapped, reading the text. "It's Tyrese. Your jealousy is showing."

"You're mine. He should be jealous of me." He poured wine in the glass watching her read the text. "Why is Tyrese texting you?"

She read the message again in disbelief. His vitals were stable when she visited him this evening. "My client died."

"I'm sorry." He said, giving her his glass of wine. "Who are they?"

Aleena took a big swallow making a mental note to get Apollo's florist name to send Peter Hamiliton's family a bouquet with her condolences. "You wouldn't know them." She gestured to the food she knew was cold. "Rain check."

"Sure." He nodded. "Get in bed. I'll bring you some chamomile."

Aleena gave him a weak smile before retreating upstairs. Before she reached the third stair she glanced back at him catching the sadness marring his features and was grateful he could feel remorse for her and the life that was lost. She could still see glimmers of the man she married and it reminded her why she was still locked in.