C.A.K.E

Chapter 8: Eli's Choice

Elliott makes it back to his home around one in the morning. He hadn't intended to be this late getting

home. But he hates leaving things half done. If he didn't get the samples ready for testing, it could have

been weeks before the lab had another opening. This case has been delayed long enough already.

He spends a few moments just sitting in his car and staring at the concrete wall of the parking structure

in front of him. Aside from his constant work-related stress, his personal life is threatening to strain him

even more than usual. His kids are back in town much earlier than expected. Much earlier than the

court-ordered agreement he and Melinda signed says they should be. It's not likely Melinda approved

their trip home. Otherwise, he would have gotten a call from her. And that can only mean that she's

gearing up for one of her legendary rampages.

He runs a hand over his face, rubbing at his eyes. Exhaustion creeps through every part of him. The

last thing he wants to do this week is to deal with his ex-wife. He sighs and gets out of the car, praying

that this isn't the calm before a massive storm.

“Good morning, Dr. Stone.”

Edward, the night concierge, greets him. Though he knows the building has 24/7 concierge service,

hearing the young man's voice stops his tired trek across the lobby.

“Morning, Edward.” Eli adjusts the bag on his shoulder and catches his breath. “Don't you ever take a

break?”

“Not for more than five minutes.” He shrugs. “Never know when someone might need something.”

“Right. Then don't let me distract you from your post.” He waves goodnight to Edward over his

shoulder, as he steps on the elevator.

The apartment is quiet when he steps inside. Eli expected the twins to be waiting up to explain their

sudden runaway status. But nothing is moving in the moonlit darkness of their living room.

Elliott puts his things away in the study, before heading for the master bedroom. He leans against the

door frame to smile at the sight on the bed. His three favorite people are fast asleep on top of the plush

bedding.

Rowan and Teagan are sprawled across the bottom of the bed, while Arden lies at the head of it with

her knees pulled toward her chest. They're still dressed like they all passed out in the middle of a

department store ad.

Eli removes his shoes one at a time and sets them at the foot of the bed. He climbs onto the covers

and moves toward Arden's sleeping form. Thanks to the memory foam mattress, his arrival doesn't

disturb the slow breathing of his family.

He rests his hand on Ardi's waist. Then he lets his grip drift lower, excited by the way this particular pair

of Levi's is hugging her bottom. Eli slides closer so that he's spooning her body, hooking an arm around

her middle.

Being next to her warmth flushes the fatigue out of his tired bones, replacing it with another basic need.

A certain part of him is now very much awake and knocking at the zipper of his jeans.

Elliott brushes Arden's hair off her neck and buries his face there. Nothing has the power to make him

feel whole again like holding his wife.

For a moment, he just breathes her in. Vanilla and brown sugar, with a hint of citrus—her scent must be

what heaven smells like. He takes another deep breath and tightens his grasp on her waist. He kisses

her neck, tasting every glimpse of her skin.

Arden stirs and places her hand over the arm he has tucked around her waist. She sighs and arches

her back so that her butt is pressed firmly against his crotch.

“I really hope your name is Elliott,” she whispers.

“Turn over and find out.” He plants another kiss at the back of her neck.

“What if I don't like what I see?”

“Then keep your eyes closed.” He gives her hair a slight tug and grinds his growing erection against

her backside. “I know you'll like what you feel.”

“A cocky one, huh?”

He puts his lips to her ear. “The biggest.”

She stifles a laugh, turning her head into the comforter. He tightens his grip on her waist, barely able to

contain himself now.

“You seem very sure of yourself. But ...” Arden moves her hips in tortuous circles. “I'm not convinced

yet.”

He flips her onto her back and positions himself between her legs. Their eyes meet and smile at the

mutual desire reflected in them. He keeps his body raised above hers, by resting his weight on his

forearm. Eli places his other hand on her neck, making her hold his gaze.

“Doing a lot of talking for someone in your position.” He licks his lips, while his attention falls on the two

buttons that have been left undone on her blouse.

As she breathes, the fabric shifts. Her breasts play a mean-spirited game of peek-a-boo with him, from

the cover of her thin shirt.

“Then shut me up.”

He meets her eyes again and shakes his head. “You got a mouth on you.”

Arden pouts her lips at him, then skims the inside of her lip with her tongue. “Wait 'til you see what I can

do with it.”

Eli claims her lips with his. Their exchange is desperate. Her chest rises each time their lips part like

he's stealing a piece of her with every kiss. He slips his hand underneath her shirt.

She pulls away from his lips and smirks. “I don't know where your hands have been.”

“Me either.” He grins. “But I know where they're going.”

Their lips meet again. She moans into his kiss when his grip greets one of the girls.

“Hey, Zack and Miri.” Rowan's voice startles them. “Y'all do realize we're still in the room?”

“On the same bed?” Teagan adds. “And we can hear you.”

Rowan raises his hand in his sister's direction. “Did she mention that we can hear you?”

Elliott and Arden separate like horny teenagers who just got caught behind the bleachers.

They slide back on the bed, with the decorative pillows and headboard providing some much-needed

support. The pair adjusts their rumpled clothing and smooths each other's hair, in an attempt to regain

some of the authority they just lost.

“All right, get up here.”

“I do not need a visual aid, Dad.” Rowan shields his eyes.

“Ro, Tea ... Come here.”

Arden's sugary sweet voice beckons them, and they obey. They're helpless seafarers against her siren

call. Though unlike those deceptive beauties, Arden is a safe haven.

The twins settle in between Ardi and Eli. They ignore their dad's stare, and that vein in his neck that's

thumping under his flushed skin.

“Does your mother know you're here?”

“Of course. She's sitting right here,” Teagan answers, pointing at Arden.

Eli groans. Teagan knows what he meant. He doesn't correct her, though. Arden is their mother. She's

nursed them back from every fever, and been there for every honor or competition.

He regrets the decision he made twelve years ago every time he looks at Arden. They would have

made beautiful children together. Maybe that's what burned Melinda up, made her be so vindictive.

One of the conditions of their agreement was that he couldn't tell Arden about the vasectomy. But he

did. He couldn't have her thinking something was wrong with her body when they didn't get pregnant.

She deserved to know.

Being the understanding soul that she is, she said that wasn't a deal-breaker for her. Arden claimed

she didn't want kids. So his deliberate infertility was a blessing.

That was the first, and to his knowledge, the last time she lied to him.

Her bond with Rowan and Teagan was instant. There was no way she hadn't dreamed of showering

her infallible maternal instinct on children of her own. He knew she was settling for him, and he was

selfish enough to let her do it.

He starts his line of questioning again. This time he refers to the twins' biological mother by her first

name. As they do, when she's not around.

“Does Melinda know you two are here?” he asks.

“Question is, does she care.”

“Rowan, don't be flippant.” Eli rubs at his eyes. “Unless Melinda gave you and your sister her express

permission to come home, you guys can't be here. This is her time with you.”

“She doesn't want us there, Dad,” Teagan whines.

“Did she say that?”

“No, but—.”

“Then stop searching for excuses, because you don't like spending time with her.”

Before the twins can respond, Arden steps into the crossfire.

“Elliott, it's late. There's nothing we can do right now. So let's save this for daylight hours.”

Eli nods, though his jaw remains clenched.

Ro and Tea give both of their parents a kiss and say goodnight, before leaving the room.

“We're putting them on a plane in the morning.” He stares straight ahead, choosing to burn a hole in the

wall rather than look at her.

Arden straddles Elliott and puts her arms around his shoulders. He rests his hands on her waist, letting

his fingertips slip under her shirt to massage her back.

“Let's consider that for a second.”

He closes his eyes and throws his head back on the pillows. Then he frowns at her.

“There's nothing to consider. They have to go back.”

“You know as well as I do, that Melinda can't be bothered with her own children.” He turns his head

away from her, and she grabs his chin to make him focus. “They're much better off here with us.”

“As far as the courts are concerned, Ro and Tea belong to her three months out of the year. That's the

custody agreement that we all signed.”

“She hasn't even realized they're gone. What's the worst that could happen, if we let them stay?”

“Jail time. As in, ten to twenty.”

“You're exaggerating.”

He scoffs. “We're kidnappers.”

“And her ass is unfit.” Arden's voice climbs another ten pitches.

Eli sits up and hugs her to his body. She's trembling.

“Baby, calm down,” he whispers into her hair.

“They came back to us, Elliott.”

“They came back to you. They love you.”

“I love them.” There's no hesitation in her response.

“I know you do.”

Elliott kisses her, and she relaxes in his arms. She looks at him, smiling at the blue eyes gazing up at

her.

“I'll buy the tickets next month,” she says.

He kisses her neck. “Tomorrow.”

“All right, next week.” His lips go lower, and she sighs. “Friday. That's the best I can do.”

Eli unbuttons her shirt and pushes it down her shoulders. For a second, he forgets that he's trying to

persuade her. The sight of her breasts threatening to spill over the scalloped edges of her bra makes

him lose his entire train of thought.

“What was I saying?” he asks, still transfixed.

She lifts his chin, bringing his lips to hers. “Friday.”

“Friday.” Eli nods like an obedient puppy.

He lays her back on the bed and slips off her jeans. Then he pulls his shirt over his head and tosses it

on the floor.

“Elliott, I need to tell you something.”

“Can we talk while you're naked?” He manages to strip her of her shirt, and that magnificent

contraption of underwire.

“About the other night, when I ...”

He knows what she's referring to, and she doesn't need to apologize. Work has made him unavailable.

No wonder another man was able to sneak into her dreams. As long as that's where Casper stays, he's

not threatened by the intrusion. Eli kisses her, catching her lip in a gentle bite before pulling away. He

looks her in the eye.

“I know, and it's fine.”

Her brow furrows. “You know?”

“Yes, baby.” He touches his lips to hers again. “But you're going to be screaming my name tonight.”

She grins. “Yes, sir.”

The apartment's automated system dings. It's the concierge's desk. They both groan at the interruption.

“What is it, Edward?” The question rushes out in an aggravated grunt.

“Sorry to disturb you, Dr. Stone. But you have a visitor,” the young man stutters.

“Who is it?”

“Where the fuck are my kids?” Her grating voice roars over the intercom.

Arden sits up on her elbows and rolls her eyes. Elliott sees the disgust forming on her lips. He switches

the system's camera to the one in the lobby.

A whirlwind of dirty blonde hair dances across the screen. Then a pair of frigid, blue eyes glare up at

the lens. He feels all the blood in his body transform into battery acid, burning his skin from the inside

out.

She must have sensed that Eli was about to be really happy. That woman feeds on sucking the joy out

of him. Most of the time, she attacks him over the phone. Her levels had to be running low because

here she is in the flesh.

The woman screams into the camera. “Get your ass down here, Elliott.”

He watches, as she threatens a bewildered Edward with her six-inch heel. It's too fucking early for this

bullshit. Elliott rakes his hand over his face, cursing the day he told the crazy blonde downstairs, I do.

Melinda Carven-Stone. The Wicked Bitch of the East ...