28. Chapter 28

Cooking with a boner is not my favorite thing.

I'm hyperaware of the plug as I move about the kitchen, making myself a simple dinner of pasta with red sauce. Plus a chicken breast because Teddy keeps a lot of protein on hand.

Protein. Dick. Teddy's dick.

Ugh, stop it.

I adjust myself as I open the oven to remove the chicken. The plug shifts, and ungh, God. Blowing out a breath, I stand, my dick tenting my jeans obscenely.

"This is all your fault," I tell Teddy, even though the man isn't here. He's likely at his gate by now, ready to board the plane. "You're so mean and wonderful, and I miss you already. And you're not mean at all. I'm sorry I said that. I'll probably say it again because I like teasing you. And fuck, I'm carrying on an entire conversation with someone who isn't even here."

A knock at the door saves me from myself.

"Just a minute," I call loudly, willing my erection down. Fucking hell. When I'm fairly sure my dick won't be the first thing greeting my guest, I head to the door.

My smile slips when I see Antoni waiting in the hall.

"Hey, Kipp," he says softly, giving me an uncertain smile.

"Um. Antoni, right? What are you doing here?"

He nods. "Can I come in and explain?"

"No. I don't think so. We can talk right here."

He looks surprised by that answer, but his smile never falls away. "Fair enough. So, uh…" He huffs a laugh. "This is going to sound odd. But, um, I wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into with Theo."

An uncomfortable tingle slithers down my spine. "What do you mean?"

"How long have you known him?" he asks.

"Over a year and a half."

"And did he ever tell you he's worth millions?"

What. The fuck.

I keep my mouth shut, and Antoni's lips purse, his expression screaming, you poor thing. "I didn't think so," he says evenly, "considering you live here."

The hell is wrong with this place? It's nice.

Antoni rolls onward. "Theo plays the martyr really well, Kipp, but he's not a nice man. It took me years to see it. You should get out now while you still can."

"Uh-huh," I say, edging back, but Antoni takes a step forward, his hand on the door.

"Please," he says. "I don't want to see you get hurt like I did. Did you sign a prenup?"

I grit my teeth, not about to give anything else to this man, but he must be able to read it from my face because his brightens.

"You're entitled to that money, Kipp. Whether you stay married or get divorced, half of it should be yours."

"I don't need his money."

"You will once you leave," he pushes.

I shake my head, but Antoni plows on, crowding into my space.

"I know what he's like. And at first, it feels good, right? It feels like the best thing in the world, letting him take care of you. I never thought he'd change. But he did."

My pulse hammers wildly, and I take another step back, wanting out of this interaction, but Antoni follows me, the tip of his boot inside the apartment now.

"It was small things at first," he says. "Spanking me harder. Pushing my limits. Not listening when I said no. Cameron got me out of there. He saw, and he saved me."

I shake my head. "You're lying."

"He's a good manipulator, Kipp," he says, nearly mirroring what Teddy himself told me of Antoni. "He'll hurt you eventually."

"You need to go."

"Please listen to me."

"Go. Now," I say firmly, trying to close the door.

Antoni steps back, but he doesn't remove his hand. "If he sells his shares, he's worth millions. That money is yours, Kipp. Don't forget that."

Having said what he came here to, Teddy's ex backs away and turns, disappearing down the hall. I shut the door, my pulse thundering heavily, every single part of me wishing I could hear Teddy's voice in my ear, soothing me, saying it's okay, that I'm fine, that we're fine.

I call him on instinct, but he doesn't answer. He must be on his plane already.

With a sigh, I sink to the floor, wincing when the plug jostles. I thunk my head back against the door, my dinner in the kitchen probably cold by now. It doesn't matter.

Fuck.

There's no doubt in my mind Antoni is full of shit. Well, not about Teddy being worth a lot of money. I already knew that. Teddy told me as much before, albeit indirectly. It wasn't hard to put two and two together when he said he had majority shares of a company worth at least seven figures. Probably more than that now.

So yeah, I know Teddy is theoretically rich, even if all that money isn't in his bank account. But the part about him being abusive? Bullshit. Complete and utter crap.

My chest aches knowing that man is the one who hurt my Teddy. Antoni is a good liar. His voice and expressions screamed sincerity, but I know Teddy. We might not have been married or, hell, on regular speaking terms until recently, but I know that man. I know his kindness. His caretaker instincts. I know his laugh and his smile and even the way he thinks.

I know his heart.

I know he'd never hurt me.

Antoni and Cameron want those shares. They want full control of the company because right now, Teddy holds a cleaver over their heads. He'd never let the blade drop, but they don't know that. He could cut them off at the head any time he wants. He's too good for that, of course, but the potential is there.

Assholes.

Part of me thinks they deserve to suffer. They deserve to live in worry after what they did to Teddy.

But part of me wonders if Teddy is only torturing himself, keeping that last tie to his past and the people he once loved. Would it be better for him to just…let it all go?

Not having the answer, I pick my sore ass up off the floor and reheat my dinner. I eat alone at the table, but the picture of that quaint street in Quebec greets me from the wall. Pretty soon, Teddy will be there. I wonder which house is his grandparents'.

Next to that canvas is another in black-and-white. It's a pond with geese and a few ducks. Two little boys sit at the edge of it. I never asked, but now I wonder if that's Teddy and Cameron. They're turned away from the camera, so I can't see their faces. But it would make sense. The clothes look dated.

I ache all over again, wishing Teddy were here but knowing he's heading to exactly where he needs to be. I ache for his betrayal, too. For what he lost. He didn't deserve that. Doesn't deserve to still be going through it. And they definitely don't deserve him.

With dinner finished, I watch TV for a bit, the throb in my ass blooming back into pleasure as the minutes pass. I squirm on the couch, knowing I won't touch myself or relieve the building tension. Not yet. When I go to bed, I shoot a quick text to Teddy for him to find once he lands.

Me: Thinking of you.

I fall asleep imagining Teddy is inside me. And in the morning, I come with his name on my lips.

Whoever said "distance makes the heart grow fonder" was an asshole. It's true. But it sucks. It's only been two days, and I already feel like a moping, sad sack of a human being who can't function without their one true love in their arms.

Goddamn it. I've turned into a fictional teenage heroine.

The thing is I went from barely speaking to Teddy to living with the man. To seeing him every single day. To expecting him to be there in the mornings when I wake up and in the evenings when I come home to decompress. He became part of my routine, something I could depend on. And now he's gone, leaving a big, warm, vanilla-scented gap in my day.

I don't like it. I miss him. And texting hasn't been enough.

I still need to tell him about Antoni's visit, too, which has been grating at me like a sliver in my toe. But you don't drop a hey, your asshole ex showed up to sabotage our relationship and fuck you over at someone via text. Not that we even have a relationship. Not officially. We're just husbands. Who fuck. And kiss. And who maybe have feelings for one another.

"My life," I groan.

When my phone rings, I nearly fall off the couch in my haste to reach it.

"Hello?"

Teddy chuckles. "Hey, Kipp."

"Sweet Jesus, your face," I whisper, staring at the man I haven't seen in two days. He's smiling at me, all handsome and bearded and looking like he smells good. And fuck. "I miss you."

His smile softens. It looks like he's outside in front of his grandparents' garden. "I miss you, too, sweetheart."

I try not to whimper.

"Are you wearing my shirt?" he asks.

"No comment," I say primly, smoothing the material over my chest. "How's it going over there? How's your grandpa?"

"He's doing as well as can be expected," Teddy says, running a hand through his hair. "He's still on bed rest for another day or two but is griping about it. It's a good sign."

"I'm glad he's okay," I say seriously. "Do you feel better? Being there?"

"Yeah," Teddy breathes. "I'm glad I came. I think I would have regretted it otherwise."

"I get it."

"You doing okay?" he asks. "Eating enough?"

I snort. "Yes, Daddy."

Teddy's lips twitch.

Fuck, those lips.

Clearing my throat, I ask, "Does it bother you when I joke around like that?"

"You mean calling me Daddy?"

"Well, yeah. Because I know you said you like it, but there was only that one time where…" I peter out, cheeks hot, and Teddy smiles. I'm pretty sure he knows I'm referring to the time I said it seriously. "But I've never called you that when we're, you know…"

"Having sex?" he asks bluntly, uncaring about potential eavesdroppers.

"Yes, when we're having sex," I say loudly. "Cripes, Teddy, I was trying not to scar your grandparents if they were near."

"They're not," Teddy assures me, chuckling softly. "It doesn't bother me, Kipp. I don't need you to call me Daddy when we're fucking. And as you've so often told me, you tend to use humor to deflect. I suspect saying it in jest is easier for you, as it takes the weight off while still allowing you to use the term, and that's okay. I like what we are, and we don't need to follow some formulaic guideline when what we have works for us. I know you trust me when we're together, and that's all I need. It's all I ask for."

"Well shit, Teddy."

He gasps. "Watch your language, Kipling Delaney Lavoie. There are old people about."

I fall into laughter, my eyes a little teary in a way I suspect has nothing to do with Teddy's joke.

"Honestly, Kipp," he says, a gentle but serious expression on his face. "Even if you were to never say it again, I wouldn't be disappointed. I never could be when I have you."

My breath catches, and I pray Teddy can't see the way my lip wobbles. I feel ridiculous having such a visceral reaction to those words, but I think he truly means it. And coming from a family whom I've done nothing but disappoint, the idea that I couldn't let down Teddy is a remarkable thing.

He makes me feel solid. Secure. The only other time I've had that is with Niko. But I never felt for Niko what I do for the man who wears my ring.

"Thank you, Teddy."

"Mhm. Now tell me, what've you been getting up to?"

"I, um… Ah, crap." I rub my hand over my eyes before blurting it out. "Antoni showed up the night you left, and I'm fairly certain he's the devil."

"Wait, what?" Teddy asks, eyes going wide.

"Ugh," I groan. "Antoni showed up here. I answered while your plug was in my ass—thanks for that, by the way—and he went on to tell me what a horrible person you are and how I should convince you to sell your shares and then divorce you for your millions."

I cringe as I finish, the whole thing sounding even more ridiculous when I say it aloud.

Teddy blinks at me in shock for a moment before cursing loudly.

"The old people," I whisper.

"What the actual fuck," Teddy growls.

"I know, I know," I say calmly. "But Teddy, obviously I don't believe a shitty word out of that man's mouth. I'm not going to sue you for your millions. I mean, you're a lawyer. Like I'd even have a chance."

He stares at me blankly.

"Not that I would in the first place!" I add quickly. "I don't want your money. Or to divorce you. I don't want any part in something that would hurt you. I never want to hurt you."

"Kipp," he says softly.

"And I don't believe for one second you'd ever hurt me, either, despite what Antoni claimed. He…" Fuck. "He said you were abusive, Teddy. I thought you should know that. Even though it's the most ridiculous bullshit I've ever heard in my life. That man has a special spot in hell waiting for him, let me tell you."

"He seriously said that?" he asks, scrubbing a hand through his hair.

"Yeah," I answer softly. "But it's okay. I don't believe him. No one who knows you would believe him."

He shakes his head, looking so distraught I can feel it in my chest. "Thank you for telling me, Kipp."

"Of course," I reply, my nerves rolling over for a second. "Teddy, can I ask you something?"

He nods.

"Why are you holding onto those shares if you want nothing to do with the business?"

He's quiet for a moment before he answers, the lines of his body taut. "Because I earned them. I built that business from the ground up with Cam. I worked hard, and then I lost it all. After everything we went through together, I lost my brother and my boyfriend and my job, all at once. But they didn't get to take my hard work away from me, too."

"Okay," I say softly, trying to keep my voice soothing and calm in the face of Teddy's obvious ire. "But they can't erase your achievements, Teddy. Not ever. And couldn't you do something with that cash? Something good? You could fund a whole fleet of pro bono lawyers for kids who need them or, I don't know, start a scholarship program for up-and-coming law school students. I just think you're hanging onto the last tether that ties you to a painful part of your past, and maybe you'd feel a little lighter if you cut the cord."

He huffs, shaking his head. "It's not about the money," he says hotly, kind of missing my point. "It's not."

"Okay," I say placatingly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset, and I'm not trying to push you. I just…" I care? I want what's best for you? "I'll let it go, sorry. It's not my business."

"It's fine," Teddy grumbles, but clearly, it's not. I pushed a button I should have left alone. Right on the heels of giving him news of his meddling ex, I did the same thing—meddled.

"I'm sorry," I repeat.

"Stop apologizing, Kipp. You did nothing wrong."

Sure feels like it, though. "Okay, well…"

"Sweetheart," he says, and my gaze snaps to his. "You did nothing wrong."

I blow out a breath and manage a nod.

Teddy rubs his forehead, looking off to his left. "I should go. I'm taking my maman to the market."

"Of course. Go. I'll talk to you later."

Teddy's gaze meets mine for a long moment. "You okay?"

I nearly huff a laugh. Me? If anything, I should be asking Teddy that. "I'm fine. Go on," I say lightly.

He gives me the ghost of a smile. "Talk soon."

"Yep."

Teddy's face disappears, and with it, all the warmth leaves my body.

Fuck.Way to screw things up, Kipling.

God freaking damn it.