Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Thirty-One

Once he got word, Riyad had them packed out of the room and headed towards the airport where the plane was ready, fuelled, waiting for them. Callie followed without saying too much, still not her usual self. Settled her in, he then talked to the attendant before joining Callie, made sure she was buckled in as the engines kicked over, rolled out towards the tarmac, cued, waiting for permission to leave.

Once in the air, Riyad kept a close eye on her. She lacked interest in anything and looked drawn. "How about getting some sleep? There is a bed on board."

"Maybe later," she curled up in the chair, leaning up against the edge of the chair, looking out the window. He organised a pillow and blanket where she settled in at his side, while he went over palace business on the laptop, making calls, catching up on the last few days, making sure she had plenty to drink and something to eat that she only picked at.

Shutting down the laptop, Riyad placed it under the seat into a safety pocket then stood, reaching down to scoop her up into his arms. Gasping, her arms went around his neck, eyes wide, then snuggled into him. Just as he thought, she didn't want to be alone, and who could blame her.

He carried her down the aisle towards the bedroom, pressed a button, sliding the door into the wall and stepped in, where he laid her down on a king-sized bed, joining her, stretching out at her side, seeing the relief in her eyes as the door closed again, automatically.

Riyad cradled Callie into his arms as she curled up against him and clutched at his shirt as he placed a kiss on top of her head. He hated seeing her like this. His little ray of sunshine was gone, for now. She needed time, glad to be leaving Australia. Get back to normal life. Their normal life, one he planned on making with her.

Light fingers flexed on his chest, rippling heat through him that he welcomed and absorbed. "Try to get some sleep, we have a long flight in front of use," he reached above their heads and pressed a button. The plane window shades rolled down, darkening the bedroom on the private plane. She hadn't spoken a word. He missed her chatter.

Never thought he would see the day, smiling to himself, planting a kiss on her cheek, most of her face buried into his chest. She peered up at him with wary eyes. She didn't even look like sleeping. "Your fur-babies will be glad to see you again." Her fingers curled around his shirt, missing her touch on his flesh that was burnt into his memory. "Let's get you out of your clothes."

With very little help from her, he stripped Callie down to her fancy underwear. The matching lacy bra cupped her perfectly rounded high breasts, teasing his sight. She was perfect in every way, cradling her face in his hand; he caressed a wane cheek with his thumb. "Beloved, you will get through this. We have our entire lives in front of us."

Swallowing hard, she briefly closed her eyes, resting back against him before he got the chance to shift and free the bedding, so just held her in his arms, where she wanted to be, it seemed, swelling his heart. They would get through this like everything else they got through. She had brought him out the other end.

He touched her hair even that was limp, not its usual bouncy shiny thickness. She was a shell of herself, caressing the side of her face, tilting her chin so she had to look at him, brushing a thumb over pale lips. "Come back to me, Callie Carson. No matter what you think, you are still the same person. Do not let this break you. You are better than this. Them. You are my wife. Brave. Strong. A fighter," wiping away a tear as it fell. "I need you talking to me. How can I help if you do not talk to me?" She gave a choking half-laugh.

"You never talk," came out in a croaking voice then cleared her throat.

"I kept a lot inside of me. Then I met you. Do you not see we connected without words? Opening up has never been a family trait."