Chapter 155 - Gift Yourself To Me
"You literally saw me a few hours ago," Lina responded, with a slight smile.
"Few hours too long," Kaden deadpanned, rolling his eyes.
Where was the sincerity?
"Where's my greeting kiss and hug?" Kaden asked in a serious voice, strolling directly to the bed. He bent down, until his eyes were leveled with hers.
Lina's eyes grew wide. She did not expect that.
Lina had not been intimate with anyone in this life except her kiss with Kaden. She was too shy to be the first to kiss him again, thus, awkwardly laughed.
"I-I don't know how to—"
"My wife," Kaden sighed. "How I pity your husband."
"I pity him too," Lina agreed with an immediate nod of her head.
Kaden paused and glanced at her. His lips twitched. She stared up at him with determination. Did she mean every word? She looked like she did.
Kaden opened his mouth, but suddenly, his phone went off. He frowned. Who'd dare to ruin this good mood?! Right when he was going to steal a kiss from her too.
"Aren't you going to pick that up?" Lina asked, watching the phone vibrate in his pocket. She always envied how men had deeper pockets in their pants that actually worked.
"No." Kaden sat down on her bed side.
Luckily, the phone stopped ringing. Lina slowly blinked, glancing from his lap to his face. She was looking at his phone whose screen had lit up from a text. It illuminated through the top of his black jeans.
"Come and sit," Kaden gestured, patting his lap for her.
Lina responded by rolling her eyes. She glanced away, hiding the slight smile on her face. Suddenly, he grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his thighs.
"Kaden!" Lina gasped. She was startled by his rough action.
Lina's head whipped towards him. Her heart stopped. The world slowed. He was close, his face just a kiss away. His eyes darkened, his lips curling.
"If my wife doesn't know how to behave as such, I'll teach you," Kaden murmured.
Kaden rested his forehead against hers, their lips just a breath away. Her lashes fluttered. She shakily touched his jaw. Her soft finger caused his body to tense. He bent for a kiss.
RING! RING!
Lina scrambled out of his lap.
Kaden let out a string of curses. He rose to his feet and angrily took out his phone. At the contact, his expression darkened. He turned his back to her and harshly picked up the phone.
"What do you want?" Kaden demanded. "Didn't I just see you?"
Lina's ears perked up. She immediately glanced in his direction. His shoulders were wide and powerful, but his body narrowed into a tight waist. His legs were long, his hands attractive, and his skin fair. She realized he rolled up his sleeves. His veins protruded like ropes on his arms.
"What?" Kaden hissed, angrily shoving his hand into his pockets.
Lina stared at the watch on his wrist. With great curiosity, she reached for his hand. Instantly, he turned around. Their eyes met. She didn't know why she was behaving like this. She just wanted to be closer to him.
Suddenly, Kaden grabbed her hand. He interlocked their fingers. His harded expression softened.
"No I don't have time for you," Kaden spat out.
Lina knew it was not meant for her. She had enough trust that he wouldn't treat her as such. Not when he held her hand like a nation's treasure. She tugged him close. Her strength was weak. She was bedridden for too long. Even so, he stumbled forward as if she used her full force.
"Idiot," Lina laughed under her breath.
Lina admired how much his large hands swallowed her small ones. She touched the veins, intrigued by how soft they were. Suddenly, he pulled his hand away. Immediately, she tried to hide her disappointment.
Lina couldn't help but want to make up for the moment lost between them in the hundreds of years that passed. She had sacrificed herself in vain. The war never stopped. She only halted it for a month.
At the thought of this, Lina frowned to herself.
"Pick yourself up," Kaden snarled. "I'm with someone important."
Lina's head snapped up. Damn right he was. And he was still on the phone?
Kaden slipped his arm around her shoulders. He brought her close to his side, squeezing her upper arm. His arm rested loosely on her upper body, his fingers toying with her hair.
Lina realized why he stopped holding her hand. He just wanted to touch her. Was his love language physical touch? She watched his hand get to work. He stroked the edges of her hair, softly fondling it. She swallowed.
"No, she's not imaginary, you damn bastard," Kaden bit out.
Kaden narrowed his eyes at the sudden news. His entire body froze. Slowly, he glanced down at his wife.
"Are you certain?" Kaden asked.
Lina curiously looked up at him, wondering what he was talking about and to who? She wanted to ask, but didn't want to distract him.
Kaden sucked in a sharp breath. He dropped his arm, glanced at his phone screen, and his eyes grew wide.
"Yeah, it looks like her," Kaden murmured.
Like who?
The question was written all over Lina's face. Suddenly, he placed a hand on his hip. He showed his back to her again, a deep frown on his features.
"What do you mean you're already going to land soon? With Hazel?!" Kaden demanded. He was going to lose his damn mind.
"Stay right where you are, you idiot," Kaden hissed.
Kaden hung up thet phone before the fool could piss him off further. He closed his eyes shut and pinched the spot between his nose. Son of a—
"What happened?" Lina asked.
Kaden's eyes snapped open. Lina. He turned to her, realizing she was looking at him the entire time. Like a lost puppy too. Her face was filled with curiosity and confusion.
"I have to go," Kaden murmured.
"Oh."
"I'll be back," Kaden promised.
"Okay."
"Really."
"Alright," Lina said.
"Lina—"
"Work is work," Lina responded.
Kaden froze. Screw the airport. He tossed his phone to the other side of the room. Grabbing her hands, he took a seat by her bedside again. She was startled.
"I mean it," Lina stated, pulling her hands back. "Go—"
"My wife is more important," Kaden stated.
Kaden wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. He effortlessly slid her onto his lap, his lips upon her forehead.
"How was the therapy today?" Kaden gently asked. His arms were securely resting on either side of her.
"I was able to run in place," Lina eagerly told him. "I'm healthy now. I should be able to discharge soon!"
"Really?" Kaden mused.
"Yes!" Lina stated. Then, her excitement died down. "Oh, but I'll be moving out of my house, so that my relatives won't come to harass me."
"Have they already called you?" Kaden asked.
"Oh, I wouldn't know, I blocked them a long time ago," Lina stated.
Kaden let out a small laugh. She said it so nonchalantly. He stroked the back of her head, resting their foreheads together.
"Come live with me then," Kaden whispered. "We're to be husband and wife."
"W-well—"
"You can remodel the mansion. You can redecorate from the basement to the attic. If you don't like where I live, we'll find new estates," Kaden insisted. "Anything and everything you want, dove, I'll give it to you."
Lina wished she wasn't a pessimist. Really. She nearly asked him, 'then why couldn't you give peace between Ritan and Teran?'
"We can live in the heart of the city, the mountains, or deep in the forest. Anywhere you wish. Anywhere you go, I'll follow you."
"Like a fly?" Lina asked.
Kaden stared. His lips twitched upwards. "My wife is quite the bully."
Lina raised a brow. "I'm not—"
RING! RING!
"You are," Kaden insisted, pretending to not hear the phone.
Lina's eyes flew to the discarded item. That thing was loud.
"I mean it, though," Kaden said.
"That I'm a bully?"
"Pft." Kaden couldn't hold back his smile anymore. He shook his head at her humor.
"I meant we should be reunited under the same rooftop. I'll be there to protect you. No one will dare to harass you. We'll have the shelves stocked with everything you want. Only the best of the best staff will be hired to care for you," Kaden said.
This reminded Lina too much of their first life. Empty promises. Empty words. He wanted to give her the world, not realizing he was her world. If only, he knew. If only, he understood. She did not need anything but him.
"You forget, my husband," Lina slowly said. "I can buy everything you can offer me."
Kaden froze. Suddenly, he recalled ruby red lips, twisted into a sly smile. He remembered the twinkle in her eyes as she softly laughed, saying the same words to him. The entire room was watching her. The center of attention, in her tight white dress lined with gold embroidery.
Their second life. It was the early 1900s. Ritan was riddled with western influence of jazz, architecture, and was struggling between the past and present. It was the rise of families, the surge of gun violence, favorable trade and ports, and a war was waged with drugs. Ritan, at that time, was becoming one of the most important cities in this world, for their influence was on the rise and they had begun to rebuild itself.
"Kaden?" Lina asked, wondering what he was spaced out about.
Kaden frowned. He could still smell it. The gunpowder. He could hear it. Her hollowed wail, as she collapsed to her knees, begging him to go.
"Right," Kaden softly said. "You can buy everything in this world."
"So let me spoil you as well," Lina stated. "I can gift you everything—"
"Then gift yourself to me," Kaden stated.
Lina was struck by his abrupt aloofness. Did something happen? She thought the mood was good. Yet, when she looked at him, he seemed so distant.
"You are my everything, dove of mine. So give yourself to me.. Entirely."
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