Captured Miracle (13 page)

A warm hand settled on the small of my back and I startled upright. I was about to turn around when Calix pulled my back into his front, forcing me to stand there with him, cradled in his arms. If I had met Calix under any other circumstance, I was certain he could have wooed me.

“Why didn’t you introduce yourself to me?” I asked softly, quietly. My words were barely even audible but I knew Calix heard them, because he twitched.

“I couldn’t.”

“Why?” I persisted.

“Would you feel any different toward me?”

“Yes.” I said without hesitation and he sighed.

“If I would have introduced myself and asked for a date, we would have progressed under the illusion that you have control, when in reality you have none.” His words sliced through the shred of happiness I had found in the morning light. “It’s better this way.”

“Because I know my place.” I said sarcastically.

“Precisely.”

Stiffening in his arms, I scolded myself for ever thinking that I could have felt something for him if the circumstance had been different. No matter what he did, no matter the circumstance, he was still a monster. He would never be anything more.

As though sensing my anger, Calix spun me around to face him. He stepped forward, pressing my back into the railing of the balcony. My heart hitched. “What are you doing?”

“I have to leave soon.”

“Then go.” I said simply.

“I’d like a kiss from my fiancée before I go.” He stated matter of fact. His eyes flickered over my face, searching. When they landed on my lips and a look of pure hunger flashed in his cobalt eyes, my stomach fluttered as though filled with a thousand tiny butterflies.

“Then take one.” I raised my chin in challenge.

Calix smirked. “I don’t want to take one.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want you to give me one.” His hands moved over my hips to the small of my back where he pressed, moving my body forward into his. “I want you to kiss me.”

Tingles claimed my skin and I swallowed. Looking at his lips, I felt something like fear claim me, burning me from the inside out. “I can’t.” I whispered.

“Why?” He cocked his head. “I know you like kissing me, Nova.”

“I just,” my cheeks flushed bright red. “I can’t.”

“All you have to do is press your lips against mine.” He coaxed. “I promise, I’ll take it from there.”

My heart was raging and my stomach was fluttering. My entire body was affected by what I was about to do. Rising onto my tiptoes, I ran my hands up over his chest to curl around his neck. Unable to reach him, Calix lowered himself slowly but he didn’t press his lips against mine. Instead, he hovered only an inch away from me. I could practically feel his heat. I could taste him on my tongue.

At the thought of his taste alone, I felt my body coil with need. And then I banished the thought as I pressed my lips against his. A moaned breath sounded into the silence and I wondered if it was him or me who made the sound. But then I didn’t care. Because as promised, Calix did take over.

This time, he didn’t have to ask me to open my mouth to him. I simply did it. I didn’t think about parting my lips. The decision was not conscious. It was primal.

Primitive.

Right
.

I knew I should pull away. I knew there was a reason - but I couldn’t seem to remember what it was.

Banishing the thought, I pressed myself flat against him. Chest to chest felt right with Calix. In the back of my mind, I felt him moving, steering me backward. Before I knew it, I was lying on my back in the chaise patio chair and Calix was hovering above me. Pulling back, he was breathing hard. Harder than he had been breathing last night. His eyes were wild - and so blue. They were brighter than normal and I couldn’t help but wonder why.

I was about to push him from me when he dipped his head, his lips claiming mine once again. I had never been kissed like this. The way Calix sucked my lips, nipped and traced them with his tongue - I felt as though he was making love to me with his mouth. It was amazing. I had never felt anything like it before. He’d drugged me.
But you instigated it.
I cursed the little voice inside my head as I continued kissing him. Curling my hand around his neck, I pulled him deeper into me. With a strangled moan, Calix lowered himself down to my body.

I loved that sound.

The weight of him against me was familiar after having spent the entire night beneath him. My body seemed to act of its own accord, because I hadn’t made the conscious decision to spread my legs for him. My mind was a haze to the desires of my body as I wrapped my legs around his waist. Through the fabric of his dark jeans, I felt the bulge of his erection against me.

Warmth spread through me, pooling between my legs as Calix moved his lips over my chin, down my throat to nip my collarbone. A sigh toppled from my lips as he shifted his hips, pressing his desire against my core.

When he returned to my lips, his kiss was soft. Almost - loving.

The thought of love quickly cleared the haze of lust from my mind as my eyes fluttered open. Above me, Calix was looking down in study. His eyes were the same brilliant blue that they had been before - it hadn’t been a figment of my lust filled imagination.

His eyes flickered over my face as I tried to control my breathing and regain my bearings. What the
hell
had I done?

“Nova,” Calix was breathless. “You’re so beautiful.” He traced his thumb over my lips. They felt over sensitized. “Your lips are swollen and so red. I love seeing proof of me with you.”

“Calix,” I spoke his name through uncertainty. “I don’t know what happened.”

“You got carried away, love.” He replied gruffly. “If I could, I would stay here all day just kissing you.”

His words filled me with pleasure, which in turn filled me with guilt. “I think,” I took in a shaky breath. “I think you should go.”

Chapter 12

Calix looked startled. “You think I should go?”

I nodded. “Yes,”

“Why?” He narrowed his eyes.

“Because I don’t want you here with me.” I admitted. “I never should have kissed you.”

“You never should have kissed me, or you never should have gotten carried away?” Calix demanded darkly, lifting himself from over me. I watched him lean back against the railing, eyeing me through dangerous eyes.

“I didn’t get carried away.” I pushed myself up. “I don’t know what happened.”

“Well, I know what happened.” He folded his arms over his broad chest. “You like kissing me. You like feeling me against you, don’t you?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t.”

“Deny it all you want, love, we both know the truth.”

I stood, “Just go!”

“Nova,” Calix’s tone was filled with warning. “Don’t test me.”

“Just leave me alone! I hate everything you do to me. I hate the way you feel against me and I hate the way your lips feel on mine.” My chest was heaving by the time I was done yelling at him. I could see he was angry - probably livid - by the way the muscle in his jaw twitched, but I didn’t care. Right now, I
couldn’t
care. “You have to deal with a problem at work, so just go.”

“We’ll deal with this later.” He growled.

“There’s nothing to deal with.” I snapped, striding past him to the door.

Calix caught my wrist in his hand. “Don’t walk away from me, Nova.”

I didn’t look up at him. I knew by the whirlwind of emotions raging through my body, that if I did, I would cry. And I had shown this monster of a man one time too many just how easily he made me cry. No more! I had to harden myself against him if it was the last thing I did!

“Look at me.”

“Calix,” I whispered his name on a broken breath. “I want for you to leave and never come back.” I felt my eyes moisten with tears and I hated myself for being so pathetically weak. “If I died today, I would regret nothing but knowing you.”

He hissed in a sharp breath and his hand loosened around my wrist until he finally dropped it. Calix didn’t look at me as he strode to the door. I followed him obediently, as I knew I should. Inside, my heart was breaking for reasons unknown to me.

I’d hurt Calix with the words I’d said - only I didn’t know why? Of all the times I’d told him I hated him, I’d never gotten this reaction from him. Would he release me now? At the thought, a burst of hope tore through my body. I wanted to see my family again. I wanted to smell my bed.

Calix led me through the halls to the dining room where we’d eaten with Gabriella the night before. I was surprised to find five men and Gabriella already in the room. They were eating a large breakfast that looked more like a buffet. There was so much food. I wonder who cooks around here.

“Good morning,” Gabriella sang cheerily. “How was your first night together?”

I blushed scarlet red as five male sets of eyes fell on me before Calix spoke. “There’s business that needs attending as soon as possible.” His tone was sharp and his men instantly sat at attention. “Neil, you’ll remain here with Nova. See to it she remains out of trouble. If any harm befalls her, the consequences will be devastating.”

“Yes, Sir.” The man I assumed was Neil spoke with confidence and respect. I wondered how Calix gained such a respect from them. The way he spoke made me think he was nothing more than a jackass! A complete and utter donkey of a man!

I eyed Neil carefully. He was younger than the rest of the men, probably in his early thirties. I recognized him as the man who’d opened my bedroom door to hustle things along. I didn’t mind being under his watch. At least it wasn’t the man sitting to Gabriella’s left - the man who’d covered my mouth. Even the way his dark brown eyes watched me now made me want to crawl out of my skin.

Calix spoke again. “The rest of you will come with me. We’ll be leaving immediately.”

Gabriella huffed a small pout. “You won’t even eat breakfast?”

“No.” Calix replied tightly and the men jumped up from their half eaten plates.

I had a feeling that the only reason Calix wasn’t eating was because of me, and the hurtful words I’d said. Part of me wanted to retract my vicious lash, but I couldn’t. Especially not in front of everyone else. And it wasn’t a big deal - he would be home tonight anyway.

“Fine.” Gabriella shook her head. “When will you return?”

“This evening.” Calix answered flatly. He hadn’t glanced at me since we’d been in the bedroom. Obviously, I’d really hurt him with my comment.

“Okay.” Gabriella stabbed a piece of French toast with her fork. “Give your girl a hug and a kiss and be on your way.”

Calix tensed. “I’ll see her tonight.”

With that, he strode from the room with four other men following him. Not even a few minutes later, I heard the door open and slam closed.

Calix was gone.

He was really all I knew here - and he’d left me alone. The thought was enough to spark a little burst of fear in my stomach as I stared at the mess of a table with half eaten plates of food.

Gabriella patted the seat next to her. “Sit, dear.”

I complied. Reaching tentatively for the toast in front of me, I placed as much food as I thought I could eat onto my plate. From the corner of my eye, I could see Gabriella watching me inquisitively.

“Did something happen between you and Calix?”

Blankly, I blinked at her. “Yes.”

“What happened?” She asked bluntly. I saw Neil lift his head in shock from the food on his plate.

I replied with undeserved spite. “He stole me from my family, is forcing me to marry him and doesn’t understand why I’m ashamed to breathe the very air he breathes.”

Gabriella flinched as though I’d somehow given her whiplash. “Well,” she shook her head. “I understand how you’re angry with my son, Nova, but don’t presume to know the reasons for his actions.”

Pressing my fingertips against my temple, I stood. “I can’t handle this. I need to leave. I need to go home.”

“Sit down.” Gabriella commanded in a tone just as sharp and forceful as Calix’s. It was shocking to hear the similarities in the tone. But what was more shocking was to see this kind, joyful woman transform so quickly before my eyes. “You are not going anywhere, Nova.”

Slowly, I sat. I could see by Neil’s tense body that he had been ready to chase me. Being that I didn’t know where we were or the land we were on, I didn’t think I’d get very far if I tried my hand at running.

“Don’t you people see how wrong this is?” I demanded shrilly. “Calix
kidnapped
me!”

“Yes, we know.” Gabriella replied dryly. “And you will live. You are part of a much bigger plan,”

“You’re all crazy!” I screamed. “All of you!” I stood up from the table a second time. “I’m not hungry. I’m going back to Calix’s bedroom.”

“Very well,” Gabriella replied pleasantly. “I will be working with the flowers today if you feel like joining me outside.”

I didn’t reply. Instead, I ran from the room. Behind me, I heard footsteps but I didn’t stop running until I came to Calix’s bedroom door. Turning around, I saw Neil slowing to a stop.

“You’re not coming in with me.” I stated, daring him to argue.

“I would never even think of it, Nova.”

I smirked. “Calix would probably kill you.”

Neil nodded. “Yes, he would.”

I stilled. “What?”

“Calix is a great friend and an even greater enemy. He is a dangerous man, but he is also fair.” Neil looked down at his feet and shuffled. “I know you hate him for what he did to you, but you should know that you’re safe here. Calix would never harm you.”

“But he won’t release me?”

Neil shook his head. “No. It is best you accept that for what it is, Nova. When Calix makes a decision, it is never changed. He’s decided to make you his wife, therefore that is what you will be.”

“And if I kill myself?” I asked pitifully. “What then?”

Horror bled into his frown. “You would do that to avoid a life with Calix?”

No. I didn’t have the guts for something like that. I was terrified of death and pain and anything else like that. “No.”

“I will have to report this back to Calix, Nova.”

I pushed the bedroom door open wide. “Do whatever you want.” I slipped inside and closed the door.