Page 132 of House of Lies
“How angry are you at me?” I need to know the answer to this.
“I’m not,” he says, touching my head with a tender kiss. “I wanted to set the world ablaze for a while, but I’m no longer angry. It took me some time, but eventually, I understood that you needed this. You needed to leave, explore the world, and find what you wanted. I couldn’t take that away from you, even though I came dangerously close to kidnapping you a couple of times. I even made a trip to Paris. Well, once, or maybe thirty times.”
He couldn’t be more perfect than he is at this moment.
“You did?” I can’t help but smile.
“I did. You’ll have to thank Vanya for not allowing me to get too close to you. I had to settle for receiving daily reports about you.”
“You what?”
“You didn’t think I would just let you go, did you?”
I thought he no longer wanted me and no longer cared for me. He said that he never stopped loving me. I needed to figure things out on my own. I wish there was a way I could have spared us both the heartbreak, but there wasn’t. If I had stayed, I would have always wondered about the life I could have had if I had chosen differently. Now, I understand that it was his love that set me free.
“I love you so much, Kaz.”
“It only gets better every time I hear it.”
“Then I’ll keep saying it.”
“I love you, Caelia. I never stopped loving you. I think you’re wrong about one thing, though. You didn’t destroy us. We can’t return to how things used to be, but nothing needs fixing. As long as your heart belongs to me, I promise to give you the world.”
He’s the only man whose promises I trust.
“My heart belongs to you. I’m yours. I promise.”
“There’s one more thing. You mentioned being afraid of us turning into your parents. What did you mean by that?”
I swallow the lump in my throat.
“My father has always cheated on my mother, and she turned into a bitter woman who despises him but is too afraid to leave. She pretends everything is fine, even though she’s dead inside.”
“I’ve been yours since the moment I met you, and no one else will ever hold the power over me that you do. And you are nothing like your mother, Caelia. You’ve always stood up to me. That’s one reason why I love you so damn much.”
“I know we’re nothing like my parents. I was searching for flimsy excuses to leave. How is Vanya?”
“I haven’t seen him in over a week. He’s busy trying to sort out his legacy,” he laughs. “I don’t think he has a single legal and profitable business right now, but he’ll figure it out.”
“Maybe we should offer to help?” I suggest.
“Yeah, we should. But maybe in two years or so.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re not leaving this bed. I intend to fill you up with my cum until you can’t walk, talk, or even breathe. You’re not leaving until one of my men comes to check if I’m still alive.”
“By then, Vanya will have everything sorted.” I laugh, tilting my head to kiss him. “You know, nothing feels as good as being home. Well, maybe riding you, but only slightly.”
“It’s good to have you home.”
It’s not the place, and I hope he knows that. It’s him.
CHAPTER 87
Kaz
I know I shouldn’t eavesdrop on other people’s conversations, but the door to Vanya’s office is open, and I overhear him speaking just before I enter.