I croaked somewhat unbecomingly. “Where are we going?”
“Bed.”
“In a plane?”
“Shhh baby,” he said softly and I felt my body relax in his arms at the smooth sound of his voice. My questions died. “Go back to sleep.”
In the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but think that my instincts were really very screwed up. So screwed up, I felt I had the right to sue whoever hardwired them into me. Because here I was, in this monsters arms, and I felt completely and blissfully safe.
I was obviously delusional.
I didn’t stir again until I felt cool air replace the warmth of Calix’s body. My eyes fluttered open and I frowned as I watched him move away from me after lying me down in a bed, in a very small room.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I’ll be down the hall, love.”
“You’re not tired?” I asked quietly, watching his mouth tense as he looked down at me.
“I’m tired.” He said softly.
I lifted my hand to catch his fingertips in my grip. Pulling on his hand, I begged. “Don’t leave me.”
Again, I watched as surprise flashed in his eyes. “You want me to stay?”
“Yes,” Hell, I always wanted him to stay. Always.
My thought didn’t have much time to sink in before his knee was on the bed beside me and my fingers were curling into the material of his shirt. I was already tugging him down to me as I replied. “I do.”
“Nova,” He moaned my name as I snuggled into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“Just hold me.” I said against his chest. “I just need for you to hold me now.”
“Alright love.”
And then his arms were around me. My eyes were closed and my breathing evened as I fell into darkness in a haunted mans embrace.
I quirked a brow as I stared at the cute white sundress Calix had plucked from the suitcase that had been packed for me. Or, maybe packed was the wrong word because I had never seen these clothes before. I was certain they’d been bought and packed right away for this trip rather than being pulled from the obnoxious number of hangers I had in the closet in Calix’s bedroom.
Beside the dress on the bed was a pair of gold gladiator sandals, a set of gold bangles and small gold-hooped earrings with a little over the shoulder white leather purse with gold metal accents.
“I take it I don’t need boots.” I remarked dryly as Calix stared at his chosen outfit.
“You don’t need boots.” He affirmed. “We’ll be landing soon, love. Get yourself dressed.”
“Okay.” I said simply, agreeably, as I eyed the outfit once more. It was really very nice. Again, it was something I would have chosen for myself (minus the jewelry) if I had been the one who’d done the choosing.
Calix leaned in to kiss the corner of my lips. “I’ll be waiting.”
I knew he’d be waiting. Calix was always waiting for me, but at least he didn’t need to dress me this time.
Again, I said. “Okay.”
Calix walked from the room, closing the door behind him as he moved. I turned to stare back at the dress on the bed, wondering to myself if Calix continued to choose white for a reason. Shrugging off the thought, I began to pull the clothing from my body before sliding into the sundress. It was adorable - a sexy kind of adorable. The cut of the breast was tight and square with thick over the shoulder straps that crisscrossed over my mostly exposed back. Thankfully, the dress was tight enough in the chest that I didn’t need to wear a bra - the material held me up just fine. At the waist, the material cinched expertly before the skirt fanned out gently in pleated lines that reached just above my knees.
Running my hands through the thick waves of my long chocolate hair, I moaned audibly. I’d slept with my hair in the up-do I’d worn throughout our wedding and the pins had dug painfully into my scalp. By the time I’d woken up, my head was pounding both because of the exorbitant amount of champagne I had consumed and the tight pins holding my hair in place. I’d rolled over, covered my eyes with my hand and cried that I needed a shower.
Calix had ensured I took a shower. First he’d helped me pull the pins from my hair and then he’d demanded that I down the two blue Advil pills and orange juice. Then, I’d lost myself in the run of the water until Calix informed me that we were on a plane and there wasn’t an unlimited water supply. That was when I remembered we were on a plane - to our honeymoon. And the fuzzy remnants holding tight to my brain released me and I sobered quickly.
Now, I was pulling on the gold bangles Calix had thought - or paid someone to think about matching to my outfit. Pushing the thought from my mind, I finished dressing myself before I glanced around the empty room. Calix hadn’t left the suitcase in the room with me and I wondered for a moment if he’d bothered to purchase any makeup for me. I wasn’t big on wearing much for makeup, but I did like a light dusting of powder and a brush of mascara.