Page 111 of House of Lies
“How about we borrow Kaz’s credit card and go shopping?” Kat suggests, breaking the moment.
“Sounds like a plan.” I laugh, still longing for Kaz’s touch.
He steps behind my chair, rubbing my shoulders, and I can’t help but lean into his touch.
“What do I get out of this?” he asks playfully.
“You’ll make your wife and sister happy,” Kat suggests.
“Take Dmitri with you,” he adds, handing me one of his credit cards. “I’ll be in meetings all day, but you have fun.”
“See you for dinner,” I reply.
“Call me if you need anything, zhizn moya. Meetings or not, you’re my top priority,” he says, placing a kiss on the top of my head.
Kat waits until he’s gone before she speaks again, a knowing grin on her lips.
“He’s madly in love with you.”
“What?” I ask, my voice betraying my confusion.
“Come,” she says, gesturing for me to follow. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know about my brother.”
My heart aches. I’m going to be sick. My mind is flooded with images of Kaz and a faceless woman he’ll fall madly in love with—someone who’s not me. How happy he’s going to be, how I’m never going to see him again, how I’ll never wake up in his arms again, and how I’ll never stare into the eyes that make me feel at home. It hurts me physically, and the feeling is too much to bear.
I’m madly in love with him, too.
But I can’t tell him that.
CHAPTER 70
Kaz
The room is enveloped in darkness as I open my eyes, my head pounding with a migraine. Caelia sleeps soundly, her head resting on my chest and her arm draped over my stomach. Even in my sleep, I can’t help but be possessive. I resisted the urge to turn on the lamp on the nightstand, knowing that the light would only worsen my pain. Instead, I reach for the drawer, searching for painkillers, and swallow them dry.
“What’s wrong?” my wife whispers, her voice filled with concern as she yawns.
“I didn’t mean to wake you. Sorry,” I reply softly.
“It’s fine,” she says, snuggling closer to me and placing a gentle kiss on my naked chest. “Are you all right?”
“Just a migraine,” I answer, feeling her stir as if she wants to get up.
I tighten my hold on her, not ready to let her go just yet.
“Do you want me to bring you anything?” she offers.
Over the past few months, she has let her guard down. Not that she built a wall between us before. She didn’t go back on her promise. Caelia stopped fighting me, and she didn’t try to run. Not from me, anyway. Only from her feelings. I thought about taking back my words, feeling how vulnerable they make me feel, but I wanted her to know. I need her to understand. Time is slipping away, and I must convince her to change her mind before it’s too late.
“No, thank you. You’re all I need.”
“Come here,” she says, and I can see the light from outside seeping into the room.
Even that slight brightness is too much for me. I’ll have to ask to have the nearby lamp post turned off. Caelia sits up, leaning against the wall and spreading her legs.
“You think sex will help?” I raise an eyebrow, teasing her.
“Take your mind out of the gutter.” She laughs. “Lay your head on my lap.”