Chapter 491:

“No need,” he replied, his eyes gleaming. “I don’t need nicotine to cope. I’ve had my fill of you tonight; my mouth can rest now.”

Alicia was surprised. “It took you that many times to feel satisfied? I thought you’d be worn out!”

Caden chuckled softly. He always found Alicia’s candidness about their intimacy amusing. He took her hand and pressed it against his crotch. “Well, does it feel like I’m worn out?”

Alicia quickly snatched her hand away, swatting his arm. “Stop it! You’re trying to take advantage of me again.” Despite her words, she didn’t pull away, instead wrapping her arms tighter around his neck. “Let’s go to sleep, okay?” she said softly.

Her gentleness was unusual, and Caden savored the moment. “All right.” He hoisted her up and carried her to the bedroom.

But her docility was short-lived. “I mean, if you suddenly dropped dead, what would I use for pleasure?”

Caden clicked his tongue, squeezing her hip. Alicia giggled, burrowing deeper into his arms. “I know I always joke about finding someone else when you’re gone, but I’ve grown so used to you that I don’t think I could even look at anyone else.”

A tender warmth filled his chest, but his desires stirred. He suppressed them. “What time is it?”

Alicia vaguely remembered checking his monitor. “It’s well past three, I think.” Three in the morning was far too late for anything strenuous.

Caden set her down with a deep sigh. “Let’s just sleep, or we might not wake up on time tomorrow.”

“So, you have trouble waking up sometimes too? I thought you operated like a robot with your strict schedules. Sometimes, I imagine I’d just have to feed you some oil, and you’d go for three days straight.”

Caden smirked. “If I could run for three days straight, do you think you’d survive?”

Alicia shuddered. Then, realization dawned. “Do you have important business tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’m leaving on a flight at six.”

“So early?” Alicia gasped. “Then why on earth did you stay up so late?” She pulled him to the bed, covering his eyes as if that would make him fall asleep instantly.

Caden wasn’t one for childishness, but he didn’t mind. He placed his hand over hers. “Aren’t you going to ask where I’m going?”

“Oh, right. Where are you going?”

“Terriland,” he answered without hesitation. Normally, he wouldn’t have shared this detail, especially since he was investigating Corey’s background. Tomorrow’s itinerary was supposed to remain secret. But Alicia had asked, so he answered.

“The situation in Terriland is pretty volatile,” Alicia said, worried. “Are you going there by yourself?”

“I have people stationed there. If you’re concerned about my safety, you have nothing to worry about.”

His words did little to comfort her. “Guns are legal over there. Are you really going to be okay?”

“I’m going there for business, not for confrontation,” Caden explained patiently. “No one would have any reason to target me.”