Bleeding Heart (Captured Miracle Book 2)(17)

My head bobbed above the water as I swam on my back, wading peacefully around the pool. Calix had been swimming laps, and I was lost in thought. Suddenly, I felt his hands on my waist, tugging my body against his. My eyes popped open and I gasped as he carried me through the shallow end of the pool to the stairs. My heart sunk.

“We’re leaving already?”

“No.” Calix smiled down at me and I circled my arm around his neck. “We’re going to sit in the sauna.”

“Oh,”

“Nova,” Calix spoke my name through an irritated sigh. “You know I dislike it when you reply with ‘oh’.”

I didn’t say anything.

Calix didn’t press the issue as he walked us into the small wooden sauna. It was the size of a small bedroom and everything was wood. I loved the scent of this room and since being here - without Calix - I’d learned to not only tolerate, but also appreciate the warmth. When he’d been away on business, I’d spent at least a few hours every day at the pool or in the sauna. It was indoor, which was the only kind of pool that made any sense in Alberta as the winters were cold as hell and the summers were hot. Having anything designed particularly for one season, was impractical, and a waste of space. Having an indoor pool, sauna and hot tub, as well as an out door hot tub, which can be used in the winter, Calix had everything laid out for optimal use.

The door of the sauna closed behind Calix and the light in the intimate space was dim. There was a corner where coals were burning, sending fresh pulses of heat into the already hot space. Moving across the little expanse of floor, Calix lowered himself to the wooden bench with me still in his arms. When he made contact with the bench, I wiggled in his lap, trying to set myself free.

Calix tightened his arms around my waist and I stiffened. “What are you doing?”

“Holding you.” He replied simply.

“Why?”

“Because I like holding you.”

“It’s already so warm in here,”

He cut me off. “Do you not want to be in my arms, Nova?”

I looked to the floor. I hated it when he asked questions like these. I knew I shouldn’t want to be in his arms - but I always did. Seriously, I took the expression of hopeless romantic to a whole new extreme.

I shrugged. “I feel tense today.” I admitted even though I knew it wasn’t an answer to his question.

“Why?” His voice was so low, it rumbled through my body when he spoke.

“I don’t know.”

“Guess.” He commanded.

I hesitated for only a moment before replying, “I’m assuming it’s because I’m marrying the man who kidnapped me tomorrow - and I don’t want to.”

He tensed, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he caught my face in a gentle but firm hand and cocked my head so that my lips were positioned for his taking. Slowly, he bent his head and pressed his lips to mine.

Like always, when Calix kissed me, I felt it in my belly. I felt it in my fingertips and my toes - the way they curled in decadency. And I felt it in my knees, silently thanking small mercies that I wasn’t standing.

His mouth on mine was warm and commanding, passionate and controlling, fiery and decided. My mind numbed to my surroundings and all rational thought fled my entity as his tongue pushed between my lips and he tasted me, groaning deep and huskily in the back of his throat.

My fingers curled in the hair at the base of his neck, tugging him closer to me, begging in the only way I could for him to deepen this kiss - to take me somewhere beautiful and sensual and away from the nagging thoughts of my mind.

Calix pulled back with a small nip at my bottom lip and I moaned a protest, blinking my heavy lidded eyes at him. He smiled a soft, almost sad smile and my heart squeezed.

When he spoke, his voice was low. “I’ve been with women, love, I’m sure you know this.” He paused and I frowned, wondering where the hell he was going with this and why the hell he was telling me of other women after he’d been kissing me. But before I had a chance to open my mouth, he continued. “I’ve fucked my fair share - and I like sex. Fuck, I love sex. But I’ve never had with any women what I have with you, Nova. I know you feel it too, because it doesn’t matter how mad you are at me, or what I do to piss you off, every time I kiss you, every time I touch you, you fucking melt. So you can keep lying to yourself and telling yourself that you don’t want to marry me and that you don’t want me, but love, I know you do. Because I’ve been around, and as fucked up as it is - this whole situation - I know that what we have is fucking real.”

Real. Calix thought that this - whatever it was we had - was real? I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or shake my head. Actually, I couldn’t do anything but sit here, in his lap, and stare up into those blue eyes of his.