“I,” my mouth dropped. “Calix.”
“We need to board the plane. Do you think you can manage that on your own, or will I have to carry you?”
I blushed. “I can manage.”
“Good.” Calix replied coldly and I watched as he lifted his fist to the window, tapping his knuckle against the glass.
My heart was pounding a nervous, pained, desolate beat in my chest as the door opened wide and I watched Calix step from the limo. It was then that I noticed the bottle of champagne in ice and two sparkling glasses. Calix had planned for our drive to the plane to be romantic - it hadn’t been. Suddenly, I felt a need like no other to cry. I wanted to turn back the hands of time so I might be able to enjoy this moment with Calix, rather than have the tense, cold man, waiting for me outside the door.
Again, I’d ruined something beautiful. Again, I’d fallen into the darkness of my emotions and entertained the demons of my fears.
I decided in that moment, that I wouldn’t allow myself to settle into the fear I felt curdling in my belly. I wouldn’t entertain the whispering hesitations that plagued me. Instead, I would give my everything to ensuring this trip was everything it could be. I would give my all into making Calix McKnight happy - because as twisted as it was - he made me happy. When I was without him, I felt - lost.
Moving across the seat, I stepped from the limo. My eyes fixed on Calix standing beside the car waiting for me and my heart lurched at the cold ice in his eyes as he watched me. There were men standing around, waiting, but I didn’t see them. All I could see was Calix - my husband.
I didn’t allow myself to think about my actions. I simply acted. Pushing myself forward, I threw myself against his hard chest, wrapping my arms around his neck as I pulled my body up against his to slam my lips against his. Calix didn’t even rock back on his heel as my body connected with his. There was a moment of shock that stilled him, and then his arms were around my waist and his lips were moving against mine. When he pulled away, I was breathless and flushed. My lips felt swollen and raw - and I loved it.
I smiled and his eyes glimmered. “What was that for?” He asked huskily.
“I saw the champagne.”
He chuckled. “You want champagne?”
I nodded. “Yes.” I blushed. “If you do.”
His arms tightened around me and he began walking to the plane. “I want everything with you, Nova. And I want to give you everything you want.”
I wrapped my legs around his waist at his urging and hesitantly, I teased. “It looks like you’re carrying me again.”
“It appears I am.” Calix grinned - but it wasn’t the cocky grin I was so very used to seeing on his face. Instead, this grin was almost boyish. It was pure happiness and the sight of it had been burned in my mind, a memory I would pull from the collage for the rest of my life.
And that was the moment I realized, that despite my effort to fight it, I was hopelessly in love with Calix McKnight - I didn’t just love him or want to love him to make this easier. But I loved him, completely, entirely, and unchangingly. I was in love with him. He wasn’t only the owner of my body, the seducer of my desires, but he was the medicine to my soul and the keeper of my heart.
I’m in love with him.
I’d been too overwhelmed with the force of my feelings to notice that Calix had carried me into the body of the plane. Only when he sat me down in the comfortable cream leather seat did I realize that we were inside.
Calix pulled the seatbelt into my lap before buckling me in as he explained. “When we’re in the air, you’ll be free to move about.”
“Okay.”
His eyes lifted from my lap to focus on mine and I saw a small frown tug his brow. My heart leapt and I ached to kiss away whatever thought it was that put that frown onto his beautiful face.
“Nova,” He paused, placing both his hands on the arm of my chair before leaning into me. I felt surrounded by him, but unlike before, now it made me feel secure. “I want you to be happy with me.”
I blinked. “I am.”
“Not always.”
My heart was hurting. “Sometimes I’m afraid,” I admitted. “And I still want to be part of my families life - I will never stop asking for that - but I am happy.”
“If I gave them to you, would you leave me?”
“I married you, Calix.”
“You had no choice.”
“There is always choice.” I whispered.
“You had no choice, Nova. I ensured your hands were tied.” He blinked slowly, painfully. “I made sure you had no choice.”
My hands moved to the buckle in my lap, but he caught them. “Calix,”