Once our fingers have become shriveled from water exposure, I soap up a loofa before washing both of us with gentle touches. Melody leans over the rim of the tub, her arm dipping as she nearly drops her device to the floor. Exhaustion weighs her down, her eyes becoming half-lidded and lazy.
“I think it’s time to get out,” I whisper with amusement.
She groans. “One more chapter.”
“We can finish it in bed,” I counter as I rise from behind her. She slinks dejectedly out of the tub as I use a towel to dry her and then myself. We slide under the covers in our bedroom, still naked, as we finish up our last chapter of the night.
Chapter sixty-nine
Melody
Astheweeksfoldin on themselves, our domestic life becomes a dream. We do chores together, which end in both of us panting and naked. Who knew housework could be so sexy?
We read together every night and have just finished our first book before Kaden suggested a dystopian romance as our next read. He quickly learned that the genre lacked knots and breeding and groaned with boredom. I enjoyed the work, but he wanted another monster romance.
We both work during the day, keeping tabs on each other. I’ve tried to pry bits of information out of him on what he does for Ivan, but he refuses to give me the gory details. I guess that should make me glad he isn’t frothing at the maw to explain how blood oozes from an open wound, but I’m left feeling a little separated from that part of his life. It doesn’t scare me anymore, and I want to be involved in some way.
My phone buzzes on the metal table I’m using to gently build a bouquet for a wedding. I smile at the message from my husband.
Fuck, I miss you.
I type up a quick reply with one finger.
Wyd?
His response is instant.
Definitely not sitting in front of The Bloom Room trying to sneak a peek at you.
My heart flutters wildly as I abandon my work and push past the swing doors that lead to the lobby of my establishment. Kaden is standing at the front desk, two takeout containers in his hands as he smirks.
“There’s my girl,” he preens. “Have lunch with me?”
My blush spreads across my cheeks as my employees roll their lips in with amusement. I follow Kaden out to his car, our fingers intertwined as we slide into the front, and he hands my food over.
Fresh, sweet, and sour chicken wafts through the vehicle, and my stomach rumbles as I take a generous bite. “What have you been up to?”
Kaden’s mouth is stuffed full of Lo Mein as he turns to me. “Nice try.”
“Oh, come on!” I exclaim, placing a hand on his massive bicep before shaking him. “Just tell me. Please!”
He snorts past his food. “And face your wrath for doing dangerous shit? Pass.”
I roll my eyes. “I know what you’re up to, you know? It won’t bother me.”
He sighs, scrubbing a hand across his mouth. “I have to pick up a shipment for one of Ivan’s suppliers tonight. I’m not telling you what it is, so don’t ask.”
“It’s drugs, isn’t it?” I push.
His eyes cut to me. “…No.”
“Liar.”
He chuckles. “And what if it is? Then what?”
My mirth fades a bit as I curl my fingers around his neck and pull his attention to me. “Then I would ask you to be careful…”
His face softens. “I always am.”
