Chapter: 857

She wasn't always so gentle and pliant with him, so Caden enjoyed the moment to its fullest.

"ALL right." He braced himself and hoisted her up, then carried her back to the bedroom.

But Alicia's docility was short-lived. "I mean, if you suddenly dropped dead from exhaustion, what am I supposed to use for pleasure?"

Caden clicked his tongue and squeezed her hip, causing Alicia to giggle as she burrowed deeper into his arms.

"I know I always say that I'll find someone else when you're gone, but I've grown so used to you, I don't think I can even look at anyone else."

Once again, Caden felt a tender warmth in his chest. His desires stirred as well, but he did his best to suppress his urges. “What time is it now?"

Alicia vaguely remembered glancing at the clock on his monitor just a moment ago. “It's well past three, I think."

Three in the morning was far too late for strenuous activities.

Caden set her down on the bed with a deep sigh. "Let's go straight to sleep, or we might not wake up on time tomorrow."

"So, you also have trouble waking up sometime, huh? I thought you operated like a robot, what with your strict schedules. Sometimes, I imagine I'd just have to feed you some oil, and you can get going for three days straight."

Caden smirked. "If I have the ability to run for three days straight, do you think you'll survive?"

Alicia shuddered at the thought. Then something dawned on her - "Do you have important business to attend to 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 and covered his eyes with her hand, as if that would make him fall asleep instantly.

Caden had never been one for childish behavior, but he didn't mind Alicia's action. In fact, he covered his hand with her own. "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 tell Alicia such things, especially since he was going there to investigate Corey's background.

Tomorrow's itinerary was supposed to be a secret to avoid alerting his enemy's spies. But Alicia had asked, so Caden naturally answered.

"The situation in Terriland is pretty volatile at the moment," Alicia said, her voice tinged with worry. “Are you going there by yourself?"

"I have people stationed there. If you're concerned about my safety, I assure you, 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 a confrontation or a fight," Caden explained patiently. "No one would have any reason to target me."

Alicia hummed and mulled it over for a while more before letting out an awkward chuckle. “I suppose you're right."

Caden put his arms around her waist and pulled her close. "Don't worry. I'll make arrangements so that if I actually die out there, they'd sent my remains back to you, fully intact."

Alicia smacked him in the shoulder, not the least bit amused by the idea.

“And if they are unable to send my whole body," Caden continued playfully, “I'll make sure they at least preserve my lower half. That way, you can still have a chance to make a mold out of my you-know- what. You can use it whenever you miss me."

Alicia heaved an exasperated sigh. “Really, Caden. Do you have to be so melodramatic?"

Despite her annoyance, she couldn't quell the unease that crept into her heart. “I'll set an alarm and make you breakfast before you leave."

When Alicia opened her eyes the next morning, the sun was already high in the sky.