Lina knew she shouldn't stay in his office for too long. He'd let her stay for as long as she pleased. But she didn't want to distract him from his work. With great curiosity, Lina watched as his hand grazed the floor, picking up a laptop that had fallen to the wayside as they screwed; he went back to work like it was no big deal. She blinked in disbelief, noticing the screen had barely cracked. Wow, was the computer made of military-grade materials?

  Kaden began to type on his computer, continuing his report. He rested his chin on her forehead, reminding her that he was still aware of her presence.

  Lina felt small in his hold. His arms were on either side of her, his fingers rapidly clicking on the keyboard. She felt his body heat burning at her back. He was warm. And smelled good.

  Lina's heart raced when she saw it was sensitive information. Financial data. Her eyes skimmed over the details. Something like this could bring down even the biggest corporations.

  "I should go. I'm tired." Lina slipped out of his lap.

  Kaden instantly grabbed her wrist, his eyes heightened. She glanced at his large hand, holding her dearly.

  "Where are you going?" Kaden demanded. His steel gaze flickered to her legs, then, up her body, and landed straight on the love bites on her skin. Despite the turtle neck, one of the bright marks still poked out.

  "Home," Lina said in a reassuring voice.

  Lina also had to excuse her secretary, who was still downstairs. She couldn't let Estella wait forever. However, she knew what kind of man Kaden was. Any outside hindrances, he'd get rid of them. Immediately.

  "Stay." Kaden tugged her back towards him. His other hand settled on the curve of her hips. He gently squeezed her soft skin and nuzzled his face into her waist.

  Lina's fingers trembled when she ran them through his hair. He was being docile, something they both knew he was not. When he wanted something, he'd soften like a cat grouchy for attention. She wondered if he was trying to hear a sound in her stomach, but that would be impossible.

  "I'll take you home," Kaden offered, dropping her wrist to touch the back of her thighs. She breathed out slowly. His fingers curled around the small limb, pulling her back into his embrace.

  "Let's eat first," Kaden suddenly said. He rested his hands on her hips and brushed his mouth upon her bright lips.

  Suddenly, a tear slid down her cheek. Kaden let out a string of curses. His chest tightened. He could feel tiny needles stabbing into his heart. What was going through her mind? He hoped she didn't think this was a casual thing. That he'd just dump her and tell her to leave.

  "Dove," Kaden stressed.

  Kaden didn't understand what was causing her pain. Had he been too rough? Was it her mind playing tricks with her? Did she believe Priscilla and think this was just a fling?? She was in his lap, in his embrace, as his woman.

  "Tell me what hurts," Kaden insisted, cupping her face.

  With his thumb, he stroked her tears. The fluid was lukewarm, but they stung his skin like boiling water. He hated the sight of tears. Especially on her. He wanted her to be happy; as free as the day she wielded her sword in the tournament. He wanted to see the joy expand her chest and flush her face from laughter.

  "What if I'm the one who's? infertile?" Lina shakily asked, holding onto his wrists.

  Lina didn't want him to touch her this kindly. If she was at fault, she would be riddled with guilt. He should be lashing out at her, she expected that kind of anger. The kind that her uncles unleashed before her as a child, whenever she displeased them. The kind of anger that her parents displayed when they argued.

  Lina did not understand healthy love. Nor was she able to differentiate between red and green flags. The love she knew was the one she witnessed as a little girl. And she didn't know it was the worst kind of all.

  "What if no matter how many times we do it, my womb is empty a-and we'll never have children. W-when that happens, will I become a Chairwoman? W-will you hate me? Will you find another? S-someone to give you a family and—"

  "Sometimes, you say the darndest things," Kaden harshly said, letting out a small exhale.

  Kaden kissed her again, this time, she sobbed into his mouth. He immediately pressed his lips to her cheek, her nose, her eyes, where her tears tasted salty, and then, her forehead. So this was what plagued her mind. He stroked his hand to the nape of her neck, the other sliding down her spine to curve her into a more comfortable position.

  "There are still many ways to have children, even when infertile. Modern medicine has progressed far beyond the ages of Imperial Doctors." Kaden could hear her quickened breathing slow down.

  Lina hid her face into his shoulder. He embraced her tightly. She panicked at his affection for her; too pure for her to understand that his love was what true love was supposed to be.

  "Cry, it's alright," Kaden informed her. "You've been strong for far too long. Have you been holding it in all this time?"

  Lina's lips trembled. She shook her head, but that was a lie. Stress hunched her shoulders. Too many decisions to be made, too few decisions could be decided. All she wanted to do was sleep. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and hope the solution was there. But no amount of power and money in the world could help her decide what to do. So, she remained curled in his arms, her legs dangling off his office desk.

  Kaden held her for a while, where the only sound in the room was their quiet heartbeats.

  Kaden pressed his mouth to the side of her head, where he always loved to kiss her. She was one of the most resilient women he knew. With wits unlike any other, he hoped she could maintain her sanity.

  "I only need you, dove. Only you alone. Nothing more. Nothing less…… Just you."