Bleeding Heart (Captured Miracle Book 2)(51)

I nodded sheepishly. “Maybe.”

“Let’s hear it.”

I shook my head. “Nope.” I popped a piece of expertly prepared pancake into my mouth and chewed slowly as Calix raised a brow.

“Keeping things from me now?”

“Sure.”

“Nova.” My name on his lips was both a warning and a plea. It only made me smile wider.

“Nope.”

Calix sighed. “If you weren’t eating, I’d toss you overboard.”

My eyes snapped up to his. “You’re joking.”

“Not in the slightest.” He informed matter of fact and at the lack of play in his telltale eyes, I felt my belly clench.

“You’re really not joking?” I glanced out to the blue abyss and then to the city of Athens glimmering in the background. If I had to swim so far, well, I’d never make it.

“Nope.” Calix mimicked my tone to perfection and my grin turned to a deep scowl.

“You’d really toss me overboard?”

“Yes.” He nodded, sipping his coffee. “I would of course jump in after you, but have no doubt, Nova,” he paused to grin at me. “I will toss you overboard before the month is up if you continue keeping things from me.”

I grunted before quickly popping another piece of pancake into my mouth - just in case he decided my empty mouth was indication to throw me overboard. It wasn’t. I didn’t want to be thrown overboard even if he planned on following close behind. No thank you. I still had issues with water I couldn’t see the bottom in. I was fine with the ocean - when I was close to shore. Out here, hell, the devil could be swimming from the depths to snatch me and I would have no clue.

I decided to be honest with him now, before he attempted to throw me into the bottomless blue.

“You know I’m scared of water when I can’t see the bottom, right?” My voice was low. I didn’t like admitting fear - and I especially didn’t like to admit it to Calix. Not because I feared he’d feed on it, but because he was so admirably strong and I wanted to be strong for him.

“Yes.” He admitted. “I recall you telling me this when we were at home taking a midnight swim in the lake.”

“And you would still throw me into this water?”

He didn’t even hesitate in his answer. “Yes.”

“Why?” I gasped. “You know I don’t like it.”

“I also know how you react to me when you’re afraid.” His eyes met mine. “If you always react so hotly to me when you’re afraid, as you did on the dock at home, then I’ll always push you to that point.”

His explanation was so simple and yet my mind felt jumbled. “But,”

“Nova,” Calix leaned back in his chair. “You know I will never place you in harms way.”

“Calix,”

“You know I am a selfish man, yes?”

“I do.” I whispered. “Know that.”

“Then you know when I say I’d give my life before I allowed a hair on your head to be harmed - that you are my one weakness, yes?” My breath caught but he continued when I remained silent. “You know I’m selfish. Everything I do, I do for my own gain, love. And yet, I would do anything - give anything for you.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then his phone rang in his pocket and I jumped at the shrill interruption into the gentle sound of the waves lapping against the side of the yacht.

Calix ignored the ring for a moment as he spoke. “This will be the doctor. Would you prefer to meet her here in private or in the common area?”

“Here.” I replied quietly, as though there was any other answer. I’d never be comfortable getting my birth control in the common area.

Calix placed his phone to his ear. Distantly, I registered that there was a conversation and then he’d placed his phone back into the pocket of his cream colored shorts.

Before I had a chance to speak, the door to our bedroom was opened and three women walked through. Two came to clear our table while the other, the doctor, obvious by both her age and state of dress, moved toward us. She flashed a stiff smile at Calix, filled to the brim with tension, before placing her eyes on me.

She held out her hand. It trembled slightly and I had a mind to wonder if maybe she was uncomfortable on boats. “Hello, Nova. My name is Dr. Kendrickson. Mr. McKnight tells me you wish to be on birth control.”

“It’s lovely to meet you.” I returned politely, trying to ease her tension. “And yes, I would like to be on birth control.” I felt my face heat as I struggled to continue. “I’m just not quite ready for a baby. I’m only twenty-one and I don’t feel that the circumstance is quite right to bring a child into our lives at the moment.”