As much as she appreciated it, it was beginning to grate on her nerves, as was being in the apartment. ‘I need to go for a walk, Caius. I can’t go back to bed, it’s mid-morning.’
‘You need to rest.’
‘I’m not an invalid.’ Nor was she immune to the fact that Caius’s chest felt like warm steel under her and her blood heated in response. The doctor had told them to abstain from sex for this couple of weeks and Poppy was all too aware of how voracious she’d become, acutely aware of the hunger she felt for Caius.
He seemed to be having no such problem, touching her as solicitously as the nurse did. No hint of sexual desire.
He put her down on the side of the bed and stood back. He was wearing dark trousers and a white shirt. He’d been working from the home office, and assistants had been coming and going.
Poppy stood up and said firmly, ‘I’m going to put some clothes on and I’m going to go into Central Park. And you should go into the office for a few hours.’
‘No.’
Poppy refrained from stamping her foot. ‘Caius, I’m going.’ She stepped to the side of him and went to the dressing room. He followed her to the door and Poppy ignored him as she shucked off the robe and pulled on underwear, maternity jeans, a bra and a loose shirt.
When she turned around, Caius was red in the face and his jaw was gritted so tight a muscle was pulsing. Her pulse kicked. Was he angry? Or did he want her? If he hadn’t lost interest after this little health-scare no-sex interlude, then he soon would. He was a highly sexed guy. And he’d turned her into a highly sexed woman. He’d also made her fall in love with him. Damn him. She slid her feet into a pair of sneakers.
‘Don’t try to stop me, Caius.’
‘I’m coming too.’
Poppy panicked. She realised she needed space from Caius as much as she needed some air and exercise. She already felt as if she was taking up so much of his time. ‘You really don’t have to. I’ll bring my phone. Security will be shadowing me.’ Having him fuss over her as though he really cared for the last week, and wanting him, was just about breaking her.
But she wasn’t to get any respite. He folded his arms and she recognised that obdurate expression.
‘Please, Caius, I just need some air and space.’
An expression crossed his face but it was gone so fast she couldn’t interpret it. Eventually some of the tension left his form and he said, ‘Fine, but security will be with you, and make sure your phone is on.’
Poppy did a mock salute. ‘Aye, aye, sir.’
‘Cute,’ Caius said, and then, ‘Sit down.’
Poppy did, on a chair, and watched, bemused, as Caius bent at her feet and laced up her sneakers. It was just as well—with the bump growing, it was getting harder to do things like bend over.
He stood and put out a hand and she let him pull her up. She was so close to him her belly was pressing against him and after a moment, when Poppy was willing him to just kiss her—so much for her wanting air and space—he moved back and let her go.
‘Enjoy your walk.’
Before Poppy could humiliate herself, she left the bedroom and made her way out of the apartment.
Chapter Ten
AN HOUR LATERCaius was pacing in his office. Poppy had said she neededspace. Since when had any woman ever needed space from Caius? Who famously gave so much space to women he’d left a trail of embittered lovers in his wake.
He couldn’t win.
He’d sent his staff back to the office because he couldn’t focus. He kept imagining Poppy in the park somewhere, doubling over in pain, and had to curb the urge to go and find her.
He knew all he had to do was look at his phone, because he was tracking the security guy who was tracking her.
He would never get that moment out of his head, finding her in the bathroom, her face parchment white.I’m bleeding.How Caius had managed to get it together to get her to the hospital was still a blur.
Poppy didn’t know that when they’d been examining her he’d almost had a panic attack. A nurse had come and handed him a paper bag. ‘Sit down and breathe into this. Your wife is in good hands.’
Caius had taken one look at the bag and he’d shaken his head. His sister used to have panic attacks, especially whenever she’d see people having arguments, and Caius had learned how to calm her down. He’d arrogantly prided himself on not allowing his emotions to have such a hold over him.
The mere suggestion thathe’dbeen having one and the realisation that perhaps he wasn’t as immune to dealing with traumatic events as he’d liked to believe had been enough to help him regulate again.
