CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
IT WAS A lazy Saturday afternoon, where Calind and I spent most of the day in bed and were too into each other to take part in the outside world. It was perfect, until the busybody inside him won out, and he went to the store to bring back food to cook for lunch.
I met Calind in the dining room when the smell of whatever he prepared enticed me. As I sat, he swooped in and gave me a gentle kiss, a kiss different from his usual. “Do you need anything else from me?”
I liked—correction, loved when things were like this between us. It failed at fooling me into believing I could die today and be okay, however. Truth was, I wouldn’t be okay. I’d never be okay again.
Calind clasped the back of my head and kissed my forehead.
Grabbing his collar, I pulled him closer for a deeper kiss. I thought I’d nearly tempted him into a repeat of last night until a knock on the door interrupted us.
Without greeting me as we opened the door, Cyan, in a tight and short skirt suit, looked straight at Calind. “Mr. Glace, the car is ready.”
“I’ll be there in a moment, Cyan.”
“Yes, sir.” She turned on her heels and left the same way she entered.
Folding my arms, I returned to my chair with a frown. “Where and for how long?”
He retrieved his watch from the table, placing it on his wrist. “Five days.”
“Five days?” In protest, I stood on the chair. “Calind, no. That’s too damn long.”
“If you’re worried about the injections, you aren’t due for another month. While you’re not always awake when injected, I promise I haven’t put you off your schedule.”
“That is not what I’m worried about.”
He stepped forward, grabbing my legs and plucking me from the chair. “It’s business.”
“It’s probably Claudette.”
“It’s business,” he said with finality.
“If that were true, there would be no reason I couldn’t go, right?”
“You were tired of traveling, and you should stay home and rest.”
“I’m better now. I haven’t had a seizure in days—I think. Give me a second to get ready to go.”
“I’m sorry, Regan, but no.”
“Is Cyan going with you?”
“Of course. She’s my employee.”
“Fire her and hire me. I’ll be your naughty secretary at night, and your good girl assistant by day. Come on. It’ll be fun.”
“You’re my wife. That’s enough of a title.”
“That’s sexist, offensive bullshit,” I objected.
His hold on me firmed as he walked me into the nearest wall. His arms pinned mine to either side of my body. “Your jealousy,” he smiled, taking pleasure in my mood, “is misplaced.” He closed in on me, brushing his lips against mine.
I shuddered and placed my hand on his shoulders. “I’m not okay with her going with you—Cellophane, or whatever the hell her name is. She seems to have to wear the shortest and tightest shit around you. And the looks she gives me and you when she thinks I can’t see her? She has no respect for what I am to you. She’s just waiting for me to die so she can have you. Hell, she’s the kind of bitch who won’t even wait. She only needs to get you alone one time.”
He lifted my chin with his fingers, looking me squarely in the eye. “I have no reason to slum it with her when I have the best right here.”
“Fuck you,” I couldn’t tame my smile, no matter how hard I tried.
“Oh, Regan,” he groaned. “You are very fucking lucky I have a plane to catch.”
I pouted. “Punish me, then take me with you.”
His soft mouth possessed mine with a feverish hunger, stopping at the perfect time to leave me aching for him. “No,” he affirmed.
I ducked from underneath his arms and sat at the table, fuming.
He came to me and kissed my forehead. When I pulled him in for an erotic parting kiss, it quickly became more.
He missed his flight when he fucked me sore and weak for three hours. However, I failed at making him avoid his trip completely, to my utter disappointment.