Free Oak, Sophie - Away From Me (Siren Publishing Classic) by Sophie Oak Page B

the mug on the counter. He said the only thing he could think to say. “I wish I had been there.”
    “At the time, I did as well. She cried for you when she came out of the anesthesia. She was in so much pain. She was confused, and she called out for you over and over again.”
    Cal felt his hands clenching. He attempted to keep his face still, but his chest felt too small. “I didn’t know.” It felt like an excuse. He should have gone after her. He should have known something was wrong. He should never have accepted his dismissal.
    Chris’s eyes softened slightly. “I know, but you have to wonder why she chose not to tell you. She didn’t trust you. Just because she wants you, doesn’t mean you’re good for her.”
    Callum’s first instinct was to pick up the smaller man bodily and toss him over the balcony. He took a deep breath. That probably wouldn’t further his cause with Gabrielle. “We were both being very stubborn at the time. I thought she was manipulating me.”
    “She probably was,” Chris conceded. “She’s not the saint everyone thinks she is. Gaby comes off as very soft and sweet. Then you listen to her chewing out one of our vendors or watch her deal with an unruly guest.”
    “She can take a strip out of your hide, that’s for sure.” Cal smiled, remembering one particular phone conversation he’d overheard when she’d discovered one of the contractors he’d hired to renovate the bathroom was overcharging them. She’d been patient for a while, but when she didn’t get her way, she’d cussed a blue streak. Callum recalled standing outside the office listening in. He’d been quite proud of the way she refused to back down and got everything she deserved. He hadn’t mentioned it to her. He’d pretended not to have heard a thing. He’d known that it would be a turning point in their relationship. He would be accepting her as something beyond a submissive. He would be accepting her as a partner, and he hadn’t been ready for that. He wasn’t sure he was ready now, but he didn’t seem to have a choice.
    Chris’s eyes narrowed. “I’m surprised you know about Gaby’s temper. I thought she played a role with you.”
    “Oh, she did, indeed.” Callum gestured to one of the elegant seats that formed the intimate parlor of the suite. He sat down on the sofa, willing to try the coffee again. Chris sat back, and Callum continued in a civilized fashion. “She pretended to be perfectly submissive, but I knew from the beginning it was a bit of an act. Gabrielle likes to be told what to do during sex. She craves it. Like many very strong females, she almost needs permission to allow herself to let go. Submission gives this to her.”
    Chris waved his explanations away. “Yes, I know this. I’m not a tourist. The question is, why did you allow her to pretend to be twenty-four seven with you?”
    Callum shrugged. “It wasn’t pretend. She really was for the time she was with me. I thought, at the time, she could be happy like that. I can see now that I was gradually giving up control as I became more comfortable in the relationship. At first, I kept everything very separate. By the end, Gabrielle had taken over the accounting for my law practice. She ran the household. She ran my life. I was the one pretending to still be in control.”
    “Is that why you refused to marry her?”
    The coffee mug came down on the end table more forcefully than Cal intended. “That is none of your business.”
    Chris gave no sign he noticed Cal’s loss of temper. “I disagree. It’s my task to keep her healthy. Part of that is to keep her spirits up. I’ve been an oncology nurse for six years, Mr. Reed. Medicine is only a part of recovery. Gabrielle’s will and spirit are very important. I’ve managed to keep her calm and focused up until roughly two weeks ago. Our meditation sessions have gone to crap since she came back from Dallas.”
    “Meditation?”
    “And yoga,” Chris replied. He