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Whoa! “Mind your language,” I exclaim. “Calm down and eat.”
She glares at me, eyes blazing with anger.
“Ana.”
“That hurt me more than anything, Christian,” she whispers. “Almost as much as you seeing that woman.”
Shit. I close my eyes, as my remorse returns full-blown. “I know.” I sigh. “And I’m sorry. More than you know. Please, eat. While your soup is still hot.” My tone is contrite and gentle. I owe her that.
She picks up her spoon, and l blow out a breath of relief.
“Go on,” Ana encourages me, between bites of soft bread roll.
“We didn’t know Mia was missing. I thought maybe he was blackmailing you or something. I called you back, but you didn’t answer.” I scowl, remembering how impotent I felt. “I left you a message and then called Sawyer. Taylor started tracking your cell. I knew you were at the bank, so we headed straight there.”
“I don’t know how Sawyer found me. Was he tracking my cell, too?”
“The Saab is fitted with a tracking device. All our cars are. By the time we got near the bank, you were already on the move, and we followed. Why are you smiling?”
“On some level I knew you’d be stalking me.”
“And that is amusing because?”
“Jack had instructed me to get rid of my cell. So I borrowed Whelan’s cell, and that’s the one I threw away. I put mine into one of the duffel bags so you could track your money.”
I sigh. “Our money, Ana. Eat.”
Once again, I’m amazed by her cool head and quick thinking, but I merely watch as she wipes the last piece of bread around the bowl and pops it into her mouth. “Finished.”
“Good girl.”
There’s a knock on the door and Nurse Nora enters once more, carrying a small paper cup. “Pain relief,” Nora announces, while I pack the detritus from Ana’s meal back into the box from the Olympic.
“Is this okay to take? You know, with the baby?”
“Yes, Mrs. Grey.” She hands Ana the pills and a fresh glass of water. “It’s Tylenol—it’s fine; it won’t affect the baby.”
Ana swallows the tablet, yawns, and blinks sleepily.
“You ought to rest, Mrs. Grey.” Nurse Nora looks pointedly at me.
I nod. Yes. She should.
“You’re going?” Ana exclaims with a look of alarm.
I snort. “If you think for one moment I’m going to let you out of my sight, Mrs. Grey, you are very much mistaken.”
Nora gives me a withering look as she adjusts Ana’s pillows so Ana can lie down. “Good night, Mrs. Grey,” she says, and with one last censorious glance at me she leaves.
“I don’t think Nurse Nora approves of me.” I look down at my wife. Awake. Present. Fed. And my relief is overwhelming, but I’m utterly drained and bone-weary. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so tired in my life.
“You need rest, too, Christian. Go home. You look exhausted.”
“I’m not leaving you. I’ll doze in this armchair.” I can ease up on my vigil for a little while.
She scowls, then smiles as if she’s had a mischievous idea and shifts over. “Sleep with me.”
What! No way! “No. I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t hurt me. Please, Christian.”
“You have an IV.”
“Christian. Please.”
It’s so tempting. I shouldn’t…but I can hold her, and my urge to hold her supersedes my common sense.
“Please.” She lifts the blankets, inviting me into her bed.
“Fuck it.” I slip out of my shoes and socks and climb into my wife’s bed, facing her. Gently, I put an arm around her, and she lays her head on my chest.
Oh. The. Feel. Of. Her.
Ana.
I kiss her hair. “I don’t think Nurse Nora will be very happy with this arrangement.”
Ana giggles and stops abruptly. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”
“Oh, but I love that sound.” And I love you, Ana. With all my heart. “I’m sorry, baby. So, so sorry.” I kiss her once more and inhale her scent. I catch a trace of my Ana. She’s there, beneath the chemicals.
My wife. My beautiful wife.
She rests her hand on my heart, and I place my hand on hers and close my eyes.
“Why did you go see that woman?”
“Oh, Ana,” I groan. “You want to discuss that now? Can’t we drop this? I regret it, okay?”
“I need to know.”
“I’ll tell you tomorrow,” I mutter, too tired to be pissed about her question. “Oh, and Detective Clark wants to talk to you. Just routine. Now go to sleep.” I kiss her hair again.
“Do we know why Jack was doing all this?”
“Hmm…” I murmur as sleep beckons, hard and fast. And after hours and hours of worry, regret, and exhaustion, I submit, and fall into a deep, dreamless slumber.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Ana is out cold. I can’t wake her. Wake up, Ana. Wake up. Elena struts over to sit down beside me. She’s naked but for long, tight leather gloves that stop just above her elbows. And her black stilettos with red soles. She takes my hand. No. Her fingers clasp my thigh. No. Don’t touch me. No more. Only Ana. Her eyes blaze in anger, but the fire in them dies. Defeated, she stands. Clothed now in black. Good-bye, Christian. She flips her hair to the side and stalks to the door without looking back. I turn. Ana is awake, smiling at me. Join me. Sleep with me. Stay with me. My heart soars. Her words bring me joy. She caresses my cheek. Stay with me. Please. She begs. How can I resist? She loves me. She does. And I love her.
