Lina woke up the next morning with no energy left in her body. She was thoroughly exhausted. Just the chore of opening her eyes was a pain. She groaned and tried to roll over. Impossible. Kaden had woven their limbs together, his arms like bars on her body, and his legs tangled with hers.
Lina couldn't even roll her head to the side. She simply blinked once and drifted back to sleep. The second time she woke up, the sun was peeking through the clouds. From the tiny slit in the curtains, she hoped it wasn't the afternoon.
Lina forced herself to look over Kaden's shoulders. She groaned at the terrible ache in her body. With a tired squint, she saw it was eleven in the morning. Just one hour before the afternoon.
"Ugh." Lina tried to scramble out of Kaden's grasp.
If Lina remembered correctly, Estella was always up by 8am. What was the secretary doing now? Lina hoped her bank account wasn't frozen during her coma. Employee salaries were set up for automatic payment every month.
"Where are you going?" Kaden grunted, feeling her palm shoving at his face.
What a violent little thing early in the morning. She was attempting to wriggle out of his impossible grip.
"Let me go," Lina said, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
"You can still move? It seems I didn't do my job properly last night." Kaden bent and kissed the top of her head, then her shoulders, her cheeks, her nose and everything he could get his mouth on.
"Let me fix that, dove." Kaden grabbed her waist and pulled her close, no foreplay and such. Unfortunately, she was quick to resist, kicking her legs at him.
"I'm tired and sore and it hurts down there."
"I'll massage it."
"The last time you massaged me, you had the audacity to finger me," Lina hissed.
Kaden let out a peal of throaty laughter that reached his eyes.
Lina's heart skipped. She could feel her face growing warm at her crash words. She rarely used that kind of language before. He was bringing out a side of her she didn't want to see happen.
"Alright, let me draw you a bath then."
Lina paused her struggle. She slowly blinked, the idea of it too tempting to deny.
"I didn't give you proper aftercare last night," Kaden murmured, leaning forward to peck her mouth. She nodded in agreement, her lips pulled into a slight pout.
"You're insatiable."
"With a wife like you, can you even blame me?" Kaden deadpanned. With a final peck to the side of her head, he finally left the bed, only because he knew it was expected.
Last night, Lina passed out before he could tease her in the bath.
"Wife…" Lina repeated the word to herself. She was confused by their ambiguous relationship. What exactly were they? The nurse called her his wife, but on paper, they were already divorced… right?
There was also the problem with Atlantis. Lina's marriage was registered to him in Wraith and she always had difficulties annulling it. Not to mention, her divorce to Kaden was supposedly settled…
"You idiot." Lina cursed at herself for not having everything prepared beforehand. She thought everything was fine since Atlantis was no longer chasing her, all of her properties and bank accounts were separated from either man. Virtually, she believed she had severed all ties with them.
"Who are you insulting?" Kaden mused, coming out of the bathroom fully naked as usual.
Lina tried her hardest to not gape. He was magnificent. His body ripped with muscles, his eyes careful, his skin sunkissed, and with each step, a powerful aura seeped from him. He was fierce and fiery, his lips curled with a knowing smile. He gave off the presence of a man who unlocked the secret of the universe. Unfortunately, when her gaze followed his sharp-v she was met with a disappointing white towel.
Bummer.
"I don't think I fully divorced Atlantis… or you, for the matter."
"You said a suitable insult for yourself then." Kaden stopped directly in front of her. He narrowed his eyes at her perplexed expression.
"You wouldn't happen…" Lina glowered at him. "You never properly divorced me! Is that why the court is having a hard time? Because I technically have two marriages registered?"
"Wouldn't it be nice if every country used a universal system for marriage?" Kaden dryly remarked. He effortlessly picked her up, earning a loud protest from her.
"You—"
"Unfortunately we do not," Kaden responded. "So unless you drag Atlantis screaming and kicking to the family registry court, a divorce from either one of us is impossible."
Lina's eyes flared. "Don't make Atlantis take the only blame. You also gave Estella a horrible time."
"Yes, but unlike that depressed fool, I gave you properties."
"I don't…" Lina paused. Properties? As in plural?! "But neither of us purchased something together."
"There's the wedding venue villa that you loved so much… and random vacation homes I think suited your vibe."
"And what is my vibe?" Lina dryly remarked.
"Something cozy, but luxurious. Simple, but well-furnished with earthy color schemes."
Lina hated how accurate he was. She kept her mouth shut and wordlessly allowed him to carry her to the bathtub. When she smelled the sweet magnolia, her eyes lit up. She peered down at the bubble bath.
"For the record, I plan on dragging Atlantis to the court kicking and screaming." Kaden settled the both of them into the tub.
Lina softly sighed when the hot water hit her aching muscles. She sank into the enormous porcelain bath. It felt far too good. She closed her eyes and melted against Kaden's body. He rested an arm on the edge of the tube whilst eyeing her with hunger.
"If he doesn't come, I'll just kidnap him." Kaden hoped she didn't glance back. She better not. The second he made eye-contact with her warm hazel eyes, he'd be throbbing for her. Even now, as they spoke, he was careful that she didn't brush against his member. He was certain the damn thing would spring into action.
Just the thought of her in the same water as him… Kaden pushed back the thoughts. He was getting turned on and the poor woman only wanted a bath. He grabbed a loofah from the tray he set up by the bath.
"You sent Mia to look after him, why?"
"Why not?" Kaden deadpanned. He squeezed his body wash onto the loofah and began to wash her.
Lina squirmed at first, finding his kindness far too foreign. Only when he grabbed her waist and eased her back against him did she finally try to relax. He was careful.
Kaden treated her like the nation's treasure. He was gentle in his hand motions, despite how rough his thrusts were last night. Bending his head, he pressed his lips to her shoulder blades.
"I was only looking out for your safety, dove." Kaden moved his mouth to the side of her head whilst his hand wandered dangerously close. He rubbed the loofah upon her stomach.
Lina's breath hitched. She felt his knuckles brush against her bundle of nerves. Her thighs trembled, but he skillfully moved away. She let out a soft sigh of relief, for she was too tender down there.
"You were also watching me."
"I was," he admitted.
Kaden curled his freed hand under her chin, turning her face in his direction. He rested his forehead on hers. Her lashes fluttered as she touched his cheek. He relaxed under her hands.
Lina always found his reactions intriguing. He was rigid as a rock. Whenever she'd caress him, he'd grow harder, only to relax a second later. Did he never expect her abrupt fingers?
"Are you going to always do that?"
"Of course."
"Even if I'm an Immortal?"
"All the more reason." Kaden meant every word he said. He had learned from his past mistakes to never lie to her. She was far too rash.
"Will you ever stop?"
"Never."
"Ever?" Lina gasped.
"Ever."
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