Page 135 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“No,” I told him in a breathless voice. “You can’t keep doing this to me.”

He watched me hungrily, reflecting my own need for him. But that wasn’t enough anymore. That wasn’t good enough.

“I need to understand what is your deal with Callen and his publishing house,” I demanded, impressed my voice was firm when I was melting on the inside. “I am sick and tired of his damn publishing house coming back to haunt me.”

“He owes you shares in that company,” his reply lacked any emotion. How could this man kiss me so passionately one second and the next second be so damn unmoving.

“I don’t want them.”

“You shall have them, nonetheless,” he retorted stubbornly.

Lena and my mother always called me stubborn. But Alexander’s stubbornness surpassed mine by millions.

“Is this how you went after my mother’s company?” The question had been on my mind from the moment I found out he was the one that made her sell it.

Seconds ticked and silence stretched. I couldn’t decipher the look in his eyes, but I needed to understand.

“Please, Alexander,” I begged him softly. “I need to know. If you care at all, please tell me. It’s killing me to know she had to go through it alone.”

He flinched and a fleeting glimpse of remorse skated across his face before he got it under control. Why did he refuse to share his emotions and feelings with me? I wanted to know if he hurt; whether he hated me because of our parents but any questions I had got stuck in my throat.

His fingers gently tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and then his big palm cupped my cheek. His touch was the warmth I craved. I couldn’t resist leaning into it seeking his comfort.

“God, I’ve missed you.” His voice was a soft desperation but I couldn’t distinguish whether it was for what he did to my mother or something else. Did he miss me as much as I missed him? My heart and soul ached for him but I needed more from him.

We watched each other in silence, then he finally spoke again. “No, I went to talk to her first.”

A gasp tore from my lips. “You did? What did she say? What did you say?”

His fingers brushed across my neck, sending shivers down my body. But there were certain things we had to talk about. Those ghosts had to go away.

“It was about three months before she died.” I didn’t want to interrupt him. He didn’t force my mom to sell with malicious intent, he was simply protecting those he loved. But I needed to know what happened. I knew why he did it and I could understand his need to protect his family. “I went to her office and asked her to reconsider publishing anything relating to Caldwell’s. I told her everyone had moved on and we needed to leave it in the past.” He took a deep breath and pinched his nose. I noticed he looked tired. Maybe he wasn’t sleeping well either? “She told me she couldn’t move on and leave it in the past until she righted the wrong. I thought it meant she wanted to do right by her dead husband. I didn’t realize she wanted to do right by my father.”

I nodded. I would have probably understood it the same way. Gosh, what a complete mess! So much hurt, so many years of loneliness… his father and my mother should have been together, they deserved their happily ever after.

“Thank you for telling me.” I wanted my happily ever after. I wanted him to love me the way I loved him.

He leaned forward, and pressed his forehead against mine as his hand trailed down my leg. The deep blue of his eyes was drowning me.

“When she refused, I bought out all the accounts and debt she had through the company, then forced her to sell,” I heard regret in his voice.

I wrapped my arms around him. Alexander was protective but also fair. It was hard for him to find out he was protecting his family from a non-existent threat. But quite possibly, he protected the Glasgow family.

“You probably spared her parents a scandal,” I murmured, offering comfort although he wasn’t asking for it.

Hindsight was a bitch. He didn’t know my mother wanted to clear his family name rather than smear it further and I didn’t know my mother was struggling with her past. It killed me to think about all those questions I kept asking her, each one another wound into her soul. All the while she was protecting me from all the ugliness that happened to her.

“Livy, I’m sorry you had to find out all of that dirty laundry.” His words and warmth were a comfort I craved.

“Me too,” I murmured, then continued. “I don’t want anything to do with Callen’s publishing business,” I told him firmly.

“So does that mean you agree to my three conditions?” Alexander was back in his negotiation mode.

“Are you crazy?” Pushing away from him, I couldn’t help but wonder about my husband’s sanity.

“Yes,” his reply came without hesitation.

Then he pulled me into a kiss again. Except this time, it was a slow and savoring kiss. I should have pushed him away, instead I gave him all I got. With each second, the need I felt for him intensified and our kiss became hungrier.

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