″I’m glad you came in here.”
″Me too.” I’ve missed him. I snuggle my back into his chest, yawning right as his alarm goes off. I groan in response. “Why do you get up this early?”
He grabs his phone to turn off the alarm. “Because I have to work out before my meetings.”
Callum presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Do you need more medicine?”
″I’m okay right now. I’ll probably be sore soon, though.”
Callum taps my ass as he stands. “Well, let’s keep you up with it before it catches up.”
He rounds the bed, kissing my forehead and steps back. It’s when I notice he slept completely naked, his hard body right in my face.
I groan, squirming on my side. “Good morning,” My voice cracks and I bite my lip, eyes trained on his erection. “Do you need help with that?”
He follows the trail of my eyesight, glancing down at his cock and chuckles. “You’re still healing.”
″I’m a doctor. I know what I can and can’t do.” I lean forward, pushing onto my side, and ignore the pain coursing through me. The need to get us back to normal is more.
″You’re a doctor, but you’re not your doctor. And your doctor said—”
I cut him off before he can finish. “To start resuming life after a week. I’m going back to work in three days.”
″No, you’re not. You’re still wandering around wheezing. How on earth do you think that’s plausible? One wrong move, and I’ll crush you. One thrust too hard, and you’ll be in pain.”
My jaw drops as I stand from bed, ignoring the stabbing sensation. I bite the inside of my cheek to push through the pain. Who does he think he is? I’m a grown woman and a doctor at that. I decide when I go back to work, not a man I’ve only fucked twice. Not the man standing before me who is treating me like I’m his child instead of his partner.
″I’m not yours to control, Callum. If I say I’m ready for work, I’m fucking going. If I say I’m ready for sex, I’m ready. You can’t tell me what to do.”
His jaw ticks as he scratches at his brow. After he’s breathed a bit he says, “I can. And I will.”
″You might be the king of the underworld, but you’re shit to me. I’m going back to work.”
″Not while you’re staying with me.”
I smirk. Wonderful. I’ll stay with Griffin. Or get a hotel, or buy a new fucking house. I don’t care, but I know I’m not going back to the brownstone.
″Is this my life now, Callum? Because I let you see me naked you get to control me like this is the 1950’s? Guess what? It’s 2022 and I’m a working woman who doesn’t take orders from her boyfriend.”
″Christ, Haley. I’m in the middle of a turf war! Having you exposed isn’t an option right now. You’ll stay here until I’ve got shit settled. I’ve got a meeting.”
My mind flickers through the events of the last week. Sean having a Russian prostitute in his home, and the Russian that visited me at the hospital. “With the Russians?”
He scoffs. “You think because I had you to treat a Russian stray at my brother’s place that equals what I’m talking about?”
He’s trying to downplay the events. He doesn’t want me involved. I let out an angry laugh, turning on my heels to leave his room.
When I came in here this morning, it was to extend an olive branch. To try and get us back on track since I’d shut him out.
Now? Well, hell. Now I don’t know.
I do know I need to get the fuck out of here before I suffocate. This penthouse may have Wi-Fi and luxurious beds, but it’s still a prison if he won’t let me out.
″Haley!” He calls behind me as I head for the kitchen. First, coffee. Then I will call Griff and have him come and get me.
″Fuck off, Callum.”
I reach the kitchen to find there’s already a pot of coffee ready. He has a smart machine that you can preset the night before and time it to be ready for the next day. His maid always makes sure it’s clean and ready to go before she leaves for the day. I roll my eyes, even though it’s quite convenient, and grab a thin, clear glass from the cupboard.