Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Five
Kelley watched Milana sleep for a few seconds before taking his clothes off and heading to the bathroom. He showered quickly and changed into sweats, glad now that he’d sent a bag with Jesse just for in case. He was tired and glad he could sleep next to Milana. He'd missed her too much but he'd never back down, not on her safety.
He slid into bed next to her and molded his body around hers as she turned in her sleep. His hand went to her stomach, like it always did, and Milana sighed in her sleep. Kelley smiled then. Even when she was mad, she still liked his presence.
It was a grounding feeling, to know she loved him. Love was a powerful tool, it could make you soar the skies and it could break you down until you were nothing. Loving her was easy, too easy.
Sleep came the moment he closed his eyes. He was at peace, here with her, a peace he’d never had before. It was the kind of feeling that was dangerous for a man like him to have but he'd clung to it nonetheless.
He slept fitfully until an elbow gutted him in the ribs and a leg kicked out against his. “What the hell!”
“I think you meant morning.” Kelley turned onto his back as Milana sat upright in the bed.
“When did you get here?”
Kelley grinned as he looked at her. “Last night. I didn’t want to wake you.”
Milana looked warily at him and then she turned her face away from his. She shifted until she sat on the edge of the bed. She felt the movement behind her as Kelley moved with her, sitting with his legs around hers, trapping her in between his legs. His presence and his warmth enveloped her and she closed her eyes.
“Why were you crying?”
“You never told me about Juliana.”
She could feel Kelley stiffen at the mention of her name and she felt a stab of pain through her heart. He moved away from her and she turned to look at him. Pain flared up in his eyes and for a moment, she felt that pain in her own heart, she felt jealousy rise up too and she hated that. She couldn't be jealous of a dead girl.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“You loved her and you never said anything. You took revenge for her, put a man in a wheelchair for her.”
“Are you really mad at me because I didn’t tell you about every single ex I have?” The emotion in his eyes were gone and replaced by nothing. His eyes were alive but there was just nothing there.
Milana got up from the bed. “But she’s not just an ex, is she? You loved her.”
“Yes, I loved her and now I love you, present tense, she’s in the past. It doesn’t matter, that’s why I didn’t tell you.”
“Why are you getting defensive?” Milana crossed her arms over her chest and looked intently at Kelley.
“I’m not, but the sun’s barely up and you’re already attacking me. What's really bothering you, Mila?”
“Yeah well … I’m still mad at you!”
Kelley rubbed a hand over his face and looked at her. “You’re safe so your anger is worth it.”
“So you’d do it again?” The incredulous look in her eyes had a smile forming on his lips but he pushed it away quickly. She would not be happy if he smiled at her right now.
“If it kept you out of harm’s way then yes.”
“I don’t want to be here. I want to go home.”
“As soon as I’ve dealt with the threat everyone can go home.”
Milana sighed and shook her head. “But you still won’t tell me what and who.”
“Mila …”
“I want a divorce, Kelley.”
Kelley let the smile form this time as he looked at her. “Marriage is for life, I already told you that.”
“Fine, I’m having an affair.”
Kelley's smiled widened and he chuckled as he looked at her. She stood with her arms crossed, defiance in her eyes. “Really? With whom?”
“Steel, if you must know.”
Kelley laughed loudly and Milana shifted on her feet as he laughed. “No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am. We’re having hot, dirty sex every single night.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Mila.” Kelley was still smiling and that just infuriated her more.
“How do you know I’m not!”
“Because Steel’s very loyal.”
The shock registered in her eyes and Kelley wished he had a camera to capture the moment. “How can you be so sure?”
“Mila … you’re not the cheating type, that part about you I do know. I might not know everything yet but we’ve got time to figure things out. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you. You're upset and I get it, but your safety is more important than your feelings right now. I can't let anything happen to you. I'd burn the world down for you, don't you get that?”
“I hate you.”
“I love you.”
“Ugh!” Milana’s fists clenched in frustration and Kelley smiled again as he watched her.
“When you married me, no matter the circumstances, but when you said, ‘I do’, you became my responsibility. It’s my job to keep you safe, keep you happy and taken care of. I want to do all those things because time has shown me that you are honest, caring and that your heart is as big as your personality. I love that you’re mad at me because that tells me that you care. I don’t like being apart from you but the situation now calls for it. I can’t lose you, Mila.”
“I do care, Kelley, and that scares me.”
Kelley moved closer to her and took her hand in his. “You don’t ever have to be scared, Mila. It’s you and me, always.”
“I’m scared that you’re not who you say you are and I’m also scared of losing you at the same time. It’s confusing and scary and I don’t know what to feel or think.”
“Trust your instincts, Mila. Look at my face when I say I love you and see the truth in my eyes. I do love you and the moment it’s safe I’ll come and get you myself.”
“I don’t know that I can trust my instincts, that’s the problem. I want to, I really want to. I want to be happy and be loved and be your wife but I’m also scared.”
Kelley took her face in his hands and kissed her slowly and softly. “Then I’ll just keep showing you every single day because you are my wife and I want you happy.”
