“The fact that you have that much money and can get more is impressive. I have not met many people who can get their hands on five hundred thousand, and you can pull nine million. That’s a big deal.”
The pride that flashed in his eyes made the blue and the grey melt into a beautiful shimmering lighter blue that brightened his face. I wasn’t aware of how much I would appreciate his praise until he had given it.
His display of genuine pride was a gesture that had never been bestowed on me from any man, certainly not Raymond. Raymond didn’t know I had a dime, and considering his gambling addiction, I had been smart not to tell him.
“I’ll give you the money to straighten things out,” Arjen stated, matter-of-factly like ten million dollars was nothing. His words had stilled me, and I didn’t know how to feel.
“Just like that. You’re going to give me ten million dollars?”
How rich was my husband?
“Of course. If you fail. I fail. You succeed. I succeed. And the ten million for your cousin, Khane has already taken care of that.”
A smile rested on my lips at the notion that things may work out for the best. Was this what Corvel was hinting at when he suggested that the answer to my problem was a breath away? And Khane must have been as well-off as my husband. The news about him taking care of my cousin put an extra spark of joy in my heart.
“Give me a few months, and you’ll have it all back,” I promised.
“I know. If there is one thing I know about you, you’re a woman of your word. You are also an impressively hard worker who will stop at nothing to reach whatever goal you’ve set. I admire that about you.”
My arms were around his neck before I could stop myself. “Thank you,” I whispered, sending the warmth of my breath against his neck. Instead of letting go, my eyes fell closed, and I relaxed into the tight embrace he returned, folding me into his chest.
Emotions that I had never experienced sped up my heart rate, making the pounding beat vibrate against my chest plate. The telling sensations had sprang up so fast, they threatened to choke me as I sucked in quick choppy breaths.
The big muscles in Arjen’s arms and legs and his strong chest all flexed against me, letting me feel every bit of his caress. Loosening my grip on him, I intended to back away, but he refused to relax the tight hold he had on me.
“Wait a bit longer, you need this,” he stated in a low calm tone. He wasn’t being arrogant or demanding, he simply wanted to give me what I needed.
Not having a mother or a father, but stuck with Raymond, who was only concerned with teaching me the ways of the street, had made me tough. The tough personality trait had also made me empty in a way that I had difficulty bonding with people.
I hugged Desiree all the time, but it wasn’t the same as the kind of hug that you desired from someone you cared about that wasn’t family. Nor was it the same as the hug you received from a mother or father. Nothing had ever been like the hug I was currently receiving from my husband.
This was the kind of hug that shut the rest of the world out and let you know that everything would be all right even as the world was falling apart.
“No one has held you this way before?” he questioned, his words whispering across my cheek to find my ear.
“No,” bubbled up from my clogged throat, and I suddenly grew tense. I had revealed too much. He didn’t need to know how truly emotionally empty my life was.
“Me either. I have never had this either,” he admitted.
I drew back and stared, but the knowing in his gaze mirrored mine. It was difficult to believe he had confessed such a delicate thing, but I was grateful he had. I reclaimed my position, snuggling into the warmth of his caress before tightening my hold on him.
“Except for Desiree, you’re the only other person that has been proud of me for something.”
He kissed the top of my hair.
“Same here. My brother has been the only one proud of me. But, I don’t believe we’ll have those kinds of problems anymore. We can be proud of each other now.”
We had to have been the two most unloved souls on the planet. It was refreshing to know that I wasn’t as alone as I had assumed. I was sure that I was broken due to the severe lack of love I had received growing up. Sitting and holding on to Arjen was a reminder that I wasn’t a lost cause.
For the first time in my life, I allowed myself to enjoy being held. When people say a person looks like they need a hug, I was now realizing, it wasn’t just a saying. I believed I needed every bit of the hug Arjen was giving me as much as he needed it from me.
I nuzzled into the warm comfort of his neck as the rest of me melted into him, all while inhaling his fresh scent.
Why was my damn heart beating so fast? Why couldn’t I control my breathing? Why were his actions mirroring mine? Did this make us a couple? At my age, I should have known the answer to every question, but I was in unknown territory. My dominating nature would take over and I had never allowed anyone to get close enough to venture to this place.
When Arjen finally eased back, I intended to stand, grateful for the session we’d had because it was like therapy. However, I didn’t know how to process the pulling tension that urged me to cling to him.
My escape from the engulfing sensations were thwarted when he kept me in place on his lap. His strong arms had loosened but remained around me. I could sense his eyes on the side of my head, so I lifted my head and met his gaze.