Good Men Don’t Break
1026 Words
The woman's perfume hung sharp and bittersweet like poison.
She grasped his neck without hesitation. Her lips too close, too sure of herself in her smile.
"Hi, handsome", Selene seductively whispered.
Cassian Ward didn't flinch.
He gently set her arms away from him, stepped back, and raised his left-hand with the wedding ring gleaming in the lights of the hallway.
"I'm married."
And that was it. No flirt. No hesitation.
He turned away and was already replacing his earpiece.
He was Cassian Ward, corporate bodyguard, ex-military officer, working in the private industry.
Not the sort of bark commands or to try and dominate.
He was of the sort to see everything, not say anything unless it mattered, and walked like he was made of serenity.
He was subdued. Held back. Unmoveable
He was a man who would hold doors for other people without prompting.
Who would carry his wife's bags when she claimed not to be able to manage them herself.
Who would leave tiny notes in her lunchbox simply to remind her she was doing well.
The kind of man who never overlooks anniversaries or texts or kisses you goodnight.
He was for hard work, not theatrics. In keeping his word no man had bound him to keep.
He was paid to defend someone else’s disorder, never to create one.
He didn’t look back when he left the club. He didn’t have to.
She was not the type of female to pursue.
She was the kind to wait for men to turn around.
And Cassian wouldn’t.
Not tonight. Not ever.
Later in the evening
Cassian went into a flat, shutting the door behind him, and deposited his keys on the dish Lana had selected last Christmas.
In his pocket was a miniature bouquet of white lilies, her favorite flowers. In his other hand was a stash of her favorite sour candy, which she would always say she didn’t crave but wolfed when she thought he wasn’t watching.
Soft slippered feet had stepped noiselessly across the floor. Then arms had wrapped him round from behind.
“Welcome back home, Love,” Lana whispered, warmth and slumber in her voice.
He turned and enveloped her in his arms and kissed her on the forehead and presented flowers to her.
"I was thinking of you," he whispered."Missed you. Thought you could use something sweet."
She looked down at the flowers and then at the candy and then again at him with this half-asleep grin which was making his chest ache.
Lana was the kind of person to make each day become like a gift.
Smiling at all times. Reaching for his hand without saying anything. Loving to be in love. That was all of her talking soft touches, check-in texts, remembering what he didn't remember to say.
She was smart too. Clever in ways people didn't perceive.
Served full-time as Nico Blackwood’s personal executive assistant over at Vale Industries and dealt with everything from departmental reports to his moods. Selene’s company, technically, but Lana never used to know the name.
In spite of late nights and last-minute meetings, she came home to him like it was the best part of her day.
She didn’t desire excess. Didn’t like status.
All she had ever wished for was for her man to return home when he said he would. A future to hold with both arms.
And right now, the future of his was just like that, him and her and the flowers and the buzzing of their flat.
She looked up at him with a smile and half-closed eyes. “You smell of vodka and perfume.” "Vodka was the crowd. Perfume was. a client."
She raised an eyebrow. “You mean the type with legs and malicious intent?”
He kissed her forehead. “The kind who staggered intoxicated into me. And assumed I was flirting by catching her.”
Lana grinned. “Did you say she was barking up a very married tree?”
"I offered it to her."
“And?”
“She walked away.”
"Good girl," goaded Lana, tugging at him toward the couch. "Stop talking and cuddle me."
They were curled up on cushions like it was their religion. His arm was around her waist. Her legs wrapped around his. The TV was on but neither of them were looking at it.
Cassian exhaled into the softness of it all.
"How was it at work today?" he inquired, fingers tracing along her spine.
Lana sighed. “NovaLux was NovaLux. Nico wanted another budget report by ten, then disappeared from us for three hours. He’s in a bad mood this week.”
Cassian grunted. “Every week then”.
She laughed into his chest. “Pretty much.”
“You still want to grudge on them?”
“Honestly?” She asked him. “I would quit in a flash if we had some sort of savings accumulated.”
Cassian didn't blink an eye.
"I know." She kissed his jaw. "I just like it better when you are picking me up after work."
"I like it when you fall asleep with me before dinner."
"I enjoy it when you won't force me to eat microwaved pasta again."
He smiled. “Now that’s just disrespectful.”
Then, after she stretched out her chest and yawned, Lana spoke quietly, “We really are doing this, aren’t we?”
"What's this?"
"Living happily as a married couple."
He looked at her. Touched her hair away from her face. “We aren't faking anything.”
"I'm terrified," she breathed. "But I still desire it."
He kissed her temple. “Then we will take our fear and desire it anyway.”
All around town
There was a black car stopped in front of a private tower.
Selene Vale stirred in the back of the vehicle, black eyes, white lips, shoes somewhere on the floor.
He tried the door but it didn't move.
She was thinking about him in the hallway. The man who didn’t smirk. Flirt. Chase.
He had treated her like she wasn't exceptional.
If she were nothing at all.
And somehow. That was worse than hatred.
- Writer
