Chapter: 856

Alicia pinched her cheek. "I am serious!"

Caden nuzzled the crook of her neck and inhaled her enticing scent.

“Please don't ask anything else. Just scream my name later, and we're good."

Alicia felt her face burn. "I won't scream."

Caden chuckled. He pulled back and looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You talk tough now, but we both know you'll end up screaming and begging in no time."

He swooped in for a kiss. “I have my favorites among your phrases, you know. Care to guess what they are?"

Alicia paused and thought about it. He had made her say a lot of nonsense in bed, she could scarcely remember which ones he liked best.

“caden," he suddenly said, mimicking her tone, "I think I'm going to die."

Alicia let out a yell of embarrassment and covered his mouth with both of her hands.

Much, much later, as she dozed off in bed, Caden left the room to take a call.

He had left the bedroom door slightly ajar, and through her half- sleeping state, Alicia noticed that he had turned on the light in the study.

She saw him sit behind his desk with a grave expression on her face.

Alicia instantly sobered up. She slipped on of his shirts on and dragged her weary body to join him in the study. “What's wrong?"

Caden pulled her onto his lap. "Just some trouble with the business."

"Anything I can help with?" Alicia asked as she smoothed the crease in his brows.

“It's just a minor issue," Caden replied. “Nothing to worry about."

Before long, Alicia was dozing off again.

Caden pulled her tighter against his chest. He didn't let go of her, even as he dove into work.

Alicia only took a short nap. When she woke up, she was met with Caden's troubled face. "Still not done?" she asked, concerned now.

Caden glanced down at her. "Go back to bed."

Seeing him like this, Alicia found herself wondering about the early days, before he became successful. If he still had to work so hard in person to this extent after he became a famous businessman, how had he managed in his early twenties before he made a name?

A thought occurred to her. “Caden, you don't smoke or gamble. You're not a heavy drinker, either. What do you do when you're stressed?"

Caden stroked the smooth, supple length of her thigh. “I never touched cigarettes in all my life, but I really feel like having a couple right now," he said, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.

"I'll go buy some for you," Alicia offered.

"There's no need." His eyes gleamed with meaning. "I don't need nicotine to cope. I've had my fill of you tonight, so my mouth can rest for now."

Alicia was surprised. "It took you that many times to feel satisfied? I thought you'd be worn out by now!"

Caden chuckled under his breath. It always amused him when Alicia spoke candidly about their sexual romps.

He took her hand and pressed it against his crotch. "Well? Does it feel Like I'm worn out?"

Alicia snatched her hand away and swatted his arm. "Stop it! You're trying to take advantage of me again."

Despite her words, Alicia made no move to leave his embrace. On the contrary, she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck. "Let's go to sleep, okay?" she said softly.