Page 79

The medication sometimes dulled my senses enough to make me feel detached from my own body, but the night terrors always found their way through.

And now, somehow, the one thing none of those doctors or medications could accomplish seems to happen naturally when Aurora is beside me.

I still haven’t allowed myself to believe it completely. Maybe it’s a coincidence. Maybe I’ve simply been lucky these past few nights. But the fact remains that the nights I’ve spent beside her have been the best nights of sleep I’ve had in years.

Maxim slowly shakes his head. “I can’t believe this.”

“Neither can I.”

“That’s insane.” He lets out a short laugh. “It’s almost like a damn miracle.”

His expression suddenly shifts into that familiar mischievous grin. “So you’re telling me my terrifying, emotionally constipated older brother is getting whipped by his new wife? Does this mean I should start expecting nieces and nephews soon? Knowing you, you’ll end up with a bunch of little rascals. Children are pure chaos.”

I let out a short laugh, mostly to needle him. “Just to get on your nerves, I’m going to have at least ten. And I’ll make sure they spend every summer at your place.”

His laughter dies. “You wouldn’t dare.” His face twists in horror before he bursts out laughing, and I can’t help joining him.

A moment later, Maxim’s expression sobers, and he leans back in his chair. “So, for real, I have to start preparing to move to Las Vegas?”

“Yeah.”

He lets out a long sigh. “All right. I guess I can survive Vegas. It’s not a bad place. I’ve just gotten comfortable here in Florida. I’m going to miss it.”

I give him a dry look. “You’re not going to miss Florida. You’re going to miss the harem of women you drag around with you here.”

He bursts out laughing. “Damn, Roman. You make me sound like some kind of sex addict.”

“That’s because you are,” I reply. “You need to cut down on the women and the way you move.”

“Why should I cut down?” He spreads his hands. “The more, the merrier.”

I shake my head. “I can’t wait for the day a woman finally holds you down.”

“That woman doesn’t exist.”

“Everyone says that until they meet someone.”

“No.” Maxim shakes his head firmly. “There isn’t a woman alive who could make me give up all this.”

I don’t bother arguing. We move on and finish discussing the remaining business matters.

Just as we’re finishing, I glance at my phone and notice several missed calls from Aurora’s bodyguard.

My brows draw together. I immediately call him back. “What’s up?” The background is noisy. “Where are you?”

“Your wife asked me to take her to one of the clubs.”

My head snaps up. “What?”

“She said she had already gotten clearance from you.”

“No she didn't. Which of the clubs?”

There is a brief pause. “I'm sorry boss, I thought she did. We're at Red Lips.”

I close my eyes and swear under my breath. “You had better not be inside that club.”

“Boss, I’m sorry. She told me you had already approved it, and—”