Fidelity (Infidelity #5)

I BALANCED THE shopping bags in one arm as I fumbled with the lock to our apartment with the other. It was hard to believe that Christmas was so close. The year was a blur. With trying to study and pull my grades up, after all we’d been through, I’d finally had a chance to shop.

It wasn’t only the studying; I’d been exhausted since Alton’s funeral. Not tired. I’d been tired before. This was bone-dissolving exhaustion, the kind that left me weak, the kind that sucked each and every bit of energy from my body. My OB/GYN said it was normal and everything was fine. On the positive side, I hadn’t had morning sickness and my appetite was more insatiable than ever.

As a matter of fact, as I turned the key, my thoughts weren’t on the Christmas presents I’d purchased or the maternity clothes I’d seen. It was on whatever Lana had simmering in our kitchen. I may have even daydreamed about it throughout the afternoon. Closing my eyes as I opened the door, I inhaled.

Spices and goodness were what I sought.

Instead, the faint scent of jasmine air freshener from the globe plugged into the wall was all I detected. I opened my eyes. The city’s lights sparkled through the windows and near the sofa a slender tree twinkled with white lights. Together they were the living room’s only illumination. Surprised and bewildered by the lack of aroma, I dropped the bags at the floor, kicked off my boots, and pushed my code into the security system.

“Hello?” I called, wondering if Lana was still here, just running late.

This time of year the days were short, too short. Though the sky was dark, I didn’t expect Nox for at least another hour.

Since we’d returned to our schedules, he’d been working hard doing whatever it was he did. I’d told him about the strange meeting that time in Alton’s office, the one that included Senators Carroll and Higgins as well as Severus Davis. It seemed as though something had been bothering him, and though I cared if it was related to that, I’d honestly been too tired and preoccupied to ask. Part of me was also scared.

It was last night after I’d been out to dinner with Cy and Pat that I knew that I’d been right. Nox had been worried about something. Perhaps the reason I hadn’t asked was because part of me was concerned that the baby had soured his mood. Even though Nox always acted happy when he talked about it and constantly questioned my health and emotions, I was nervous. It was easier to blame his mood on the odd assembly at Montague Manor.

However, last night with my tummy filled with a fantastic meal from my favorite Thai restaurant, I’d come home ready to wait for him and catch up on my pleasure reading. He’d had plans too and had said he didn’t know how late he’d be. All I could remember was that his plans included Oren.

When Nox returned home… it’s hard to explain but it was as if he were a new person or more accurately his old self. Whatever cloud of concern that had been hanging over his head was gone. He talked about his cousins from his mother’s side and said they wanted to have dinner with us.

Even now, as I carried my shopping bags down the hallway to the bedroom, the memory of his change of demeanor brought a smile to my face.

“Good evening, princess.”

I gasped as I spun in the darkened bedroom. “Oh my God, Nox, you scared me.”

With the light from the windows, I took him in. His suit coat was gone. His bright white silk shirt disappeared into the trim waist of his trousers. The black belt with the silver swirl on the buckle surrounded his hips and made my knees weak.

“I thought you weren’t going to be home until later.”

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me so close I needed to crane my neck upward to see the light blue that I adored.

“I rearranged my schedule. You said on the phone you had more energy.” His dark eyebrows bobbed as his lips turned upward. “Don’t tell me you used it all up shopping.”

I melted toward him, wrapped in his warm embrace as the beat of his heart thumped against my ear. “No, but did you tell Lana not to cook? I didn’t smell dinner.”

He nodded. “I did. I made plans.”

I exhaled. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy going out, but I’d been out. I looked back up. The gleam in his eye gave me the zap of energy I needed. I wouldn’t ruin his plans. “What did you have in mind?”

“I got you something to wear.”

“You did?”

He tugged my hand, pulling me into the closet. On the center sofa was what appeared to be a soft pair of leggings, fuzzy socks, and an oversized sweater. “What?” It wasn’t what I’d expected.

“Princess, I’m cooking dinner for you. There’s a warm bath in the tub. You rest.”

“You? You’re cooking? Why didn’t you let Lana?”

Holding both my hands he pulled them to his chest. “Oh, are you doubting me?”

I laughed. “No, hell no. A bath and comfortable clothes sounds amazing. I was expecting heels and a garter.”

“We still have the ones from that night. If you’d rather…?”

I kissed his soft lips. “After walking around Manhattan with Clayton all afternoon, I’d rather the fuzzy socks.”