"He is gone." I smiled. "He called this morning to tell me that he had to go to Italy for a few weeks." I said looking at Sam, then Damon. "So, stop looking at me like that."

They were both looking at me, not saying anything. Since I got here, I did most of the talking and they just stared at me.

"Damon said he saw you guys having lunch."

"Yes. He apologized." I half-lied looking between the two of them.

"He apologized?" Damon repeated raising an eyebrow and I nodded. "Abusers' apologies don't mean shit."

"Well he didn't do anything since then."

I know I shouldn't be lying to them, but I can't help it. I told Sam once and she told Damon, who tried to play the hero and got Kaden even more angry.

I thought telling Sam would be kind of a small relief to be able to talk to my best friend. But now it just brings me anxiety, every time I think of it.

"I appreciate you trying to defend me. But next time I tell you and ask you not to tell anyone, it means that I trust you and that you shouldn't tell anyone." I said looking directly at her and she dropped her head with a sigh.

"I was just worried."

I nodded with a small sigh. "And I love you for that. But I trust you enough to tell you something, don't break that trust. No matter what the circumstances are."

"Okay. Okay, I'm sorry."

I'm not mad anymore that she told Damon what I told her not to tell anyone, but I would be careful with what I tell her for a while.

I'm sure she didn't mean any harm, she wanted to help but I just didn't need her telling him anything.

"And you," I pointed at Damon. "If you want to help me, please don't provoke him in public places." I said looking at him. "That stunt you pulled that day wasn't good."

For me.

"Did he hurt you?" He asked angrily and I sighed shaking my head.

"No." I lied and he just gave me a look. "He didn't. Now, please, I need you two to stop trying to fix my problems. You don't know what's happening, okay?"

They didn't say anything and I stood up grabbing my things.

"I trusted you enough to tell you what happened. Please, don't make me regret it." I said standing up. "I have an appointment to get to right now. So, I'll talk to you guys later. But can I trust you two?"

"Yes." Sam said lowly, before I turned to Damon raising my eyebrows at him and he just stared back not saying anything.

"Damon?"

"Of course."

I nodded and left without another word. I shouldn't have let them get involved.

I shouldn't have told Sam. Now I'm gonna be anxious about her telling anybody. What the hell is wrong with me?

*******

That appointment was me getting to the hospital for a new box of pills and find another way to hide them. I always get them at the same place. I wouldn't be okay if it was somewhere else. And this is where my gynecologist was.

I was feeling guilty about lying to him but getting pregnant and having his child is just an idea I can accept, no matter how guilty I feel. So, I just rolled the small papers bag they were in and shoved it in my purse.

"Maya."

I looked up thinking it would be someone who would tell him that I was here, but I just saw Nickolas standing a few feet away with a doctor. They exchanged a few words before he shook his head and came toward me.

"Mr. Orsin-" I stopped at the look he gave me and corrected myself. "Nickolas."

"How are you?" He asked and I gripped my purse tightly.

"Good. I just..." I looked at him, not knowing how to end that sentence. "Doctor appointment." I quickly answered and he just stared at me, obviously catching my lie.

Great liar.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes." I nodded looking at the empty hallway, not really knowing how to act around him.

He's Kaden's boss. And Kaden is scared of him for some reason.

Shouldn't I be suspicious too?

"Do you have time for a coffee?" He asked when I turned my gaze back on him.

"Um..."

"This is my boss inside. You better be on your best behavior or you'll regret it. This man doesn't take shit, understand?" That's what Kaden told me when he came to visit.

So I should agree, right?

"Sure." I nodded and he moved away for me to walk past him.

It wasn't long, since it was just on the other side of the street, but I just kept glancing at him. And the more I did, the smaller I felt. What increased that feeling was his stare, every time I glance at him, I would find his eyes already on me.

And as much as I tried to just focus on my steps and keeping my legs from giving out, I couldn't ignore it.

That's why I've never been happier to find a seat. As soon as we got there, he pulled a chair for me and I practically dropped on it shifting slightly.

Calm the hell down.

"Are you hungry?" He asked.

Nothing really. I was too nervous for that, between that pills in my purse and Nickolas.

"No. I just want a mint tea."

He called a waiter over and the young man immediately scurried over with menus.

"Just a mint tea for the lady." He said and the waiter nodded and quickly walked away, before he turned to me. "I know Kaden's departure was sudden, but you know how the business goes."

Not really.

"I don't really know ab-" I bit on my tongue wondering what he would think of me now.

"You don't know anything about his work."

I shook my head shamefully without answering. Now he must I'm a gold digger for marrying a man without even knowing what he does. But it's not like I didn't want to know, I just wasn't comfortable enough to ask him.

"Well you'll know, don't worry." He said and the waiter came placing everything in front of me. "I just hope his sudden departure isn't a problem." He said in a tone that made me believe that he knew exactly the answer, but I answered anyways.

"No. It doesn't. I... I mean, I understand that it's just work and it's not under our control to-" I let out a breath mentally punching myself and I could have sworn I saw a hint of a smile on his face.

I wish it was a full smile.

"There are defense classes for some of our workers' families." He said.

Defense classes?

"How to use a gun, knives, how to take a hit, and hit back." He explained and I looked at him wondering why he would suggest that.

But gun? Why guns?

"Umh... I have to tell Kaden about it first, but-" I stopped myself, chewing on my bottom lip wondering why I would tell him that.

"You really want to tell him that you want to learn how to defend yourself." He said looking at me and I slightly narrowed my eyes at his sentence.

Defend myself?

I never thought of that. I never even thought of it as an option.

Why would you if you're the one provoking him?

"Take this." He said when I didn't answer.

I looked at Nickolas as he handed me a card. "How about you give her a call, when you make up your mind. Her name is Frieda. Just tell her I gave you her number." He said and I took the card, his fingers slightly brushing against mine, making almost drop the card.

"Thank you." I muttered putting it in my purse.

"I really want you to call her. You'll see how better you'll feel when you start kicking some asses." He said way too seriously making me suddenly suspicious.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"What am I doing?" He asked and the tiny smirk on his face showed me that he knew exactly what I was talking about.

"Well, people don't just do something for someone they barely know without expecting something in return." I said the two last words slowly, again wondering why I opened my mouth.

But if there's something I've learning living with Kaden is that. On the outside, people see him helping my family and making my father better. But at what price?

There is always a price.

"Oh, I want something, Maya. You just don't need to know for now." He said in a tone that made me clench my thighs.

Calm down. You're married.

I raised my shoulders slowly. "I don't have anything to give."

"Yet. I'm a patient man."

******

I felt the throbbing from being stretched so much and plunged into so deeply that I could have sworn, I felt him in my stomach, and that only increased the pleasure I was feeling.

I moaned, finding the strength to lift my legs, wrapping them around his waist as he started to increase the speed of his thrusts. Having him embedded so deeply inside me, it was starting to become too much, pushing me in places I've never been before.

"Shit, Maya." He cursed, his eyes almost drunk staring into mine as he drove into me. His hand reached up to grip the headboard above us. "You're so tight."

He grunted, moving his hand behind my thigh to adjust the angle of his thrusts. My head fell against the mattress and a scream left me as I started to move my hips to meet his thrusts.

"Say my name, Maya." He commanded, looking down as I moved to jerk under his body, my eyes shutting from the stimulation. "Say it!" He repeated as my nails broke into the skin of his back.

"Nickolas." I moaned in a throaty voice, my voice almost unrecognizable.

Nickolas?

That was like an alarm in my head before the next I know; my eyes flew open and I quickly sat up as if cold water was thrown at me.

What the hell?

"No. No. No." I kept mumbling getting out of bed, not waiting a moment before taking of my wet nightgown.

I shook my head my head repeatedly on my way to the bathroom.

Stupid. What the hell is wrong with me?

I'm married for God's sake. I clenched my teeth before going to the shower turning the knob on and bit on my trembling as guilt creeped into my heart. I shook my head again when my tears started burning.

"I was trying to make things work and you go around acting like a whore again." I shook my head getting into the shower, when Kaden's voice came to my mind.

"No."

"I knew you were a cheating whore."

"Leave me alone." I sat down as the cold water ran down my body, breaking into sobs.

How can he still have a hold on me while away? I thought I would have a free mind for a few weeks. But he just wouldn't leave me alone.

After my shoulder, I shakily walked out and grabbed my bathroom slowly putting it on. I walked to the mirror and looked at myself before grabbing another towel to dry my hair.

I heard the facetime ringtone from in the bedroom and a small whine escaped me. I stayed in front of the mirror calming my breathing until it stopped.

But it started again soon after. I left the bathroom and sat in front of my dressing table looking at Kaden's incoming video call.

I answered placing the towel I was using for my hair on my lap as his face appeared on the screen.

"Where were you?"

"I was in the shower."

He nodded before looking at me with raised eyebrows. "Were you crying?" He asked as I just looked at him not answering. "Why?"

"Nothing."

He let out a sigh. "You miss me, don't you?"

Again, I didn't answer. I just stared at him, which by his expression annoyed him.

"Answer me!" He groaned and I quickly nodded.

"Yes." I answered, guilt eating me.

You didn't do anything.

I was about to agree with myself when his voice came again. 

"I miss you too. I miss my pussy. I want you to get on the bed and show her to me."

I stood up grabbing the computer and made my way to the bed.

But just as I got on it, the sound of the call ending made me turn to look at the screen. A small of relief escaped thinking the connection must have been lost so I held my breath hoping he wouldn't call me back.

And he did. But just as my shaking hand reached to answer, it ended again. I looked at the screen in confusion and I sat there waiting for another call from him, but nothing happened.

I waited and waited and nothing happen this time, so I let my body relax against the bed, silently thanking whatever force that has been on my side these past few days.