With All That I Am: Bound To You

Jealousy, Jealousy

Winter was getting restless. She didn't say so, but Karina noticed and it made her uneasy. It had been four months since she brought her back from Colorado. She gave Yizhuo access to her money and to her relief, Yizhuo made no drastic moves and continued to live with her mother. Winter spent three days a week with Yizhuo and Aunt Victoria, either hanging out at their house or going out to do girl things. Yizhuo joined Winter at the gun range. Mark reported that they were becoming quite skilled.

Karina was able to pull back on her need to have Winter call her every hour when she was out of the house, but she couldn't resist checking the house cameras when her wife was home.

If Winter knew how much Karina watched her, she would freak, but the older woman couldn't help it. She needed constant access to her wife to get anything done. Karina was back to working fifty hours a week and it felt good. At times, she reached for the phone to call Aeri before she remembered she wasn't there.

The rumors surrounding the money laundering and her father's murder made one of their casino's a hotspot and they were raking in a great amount of cash, which only built the Yu businesses higher and higher. Yuqi made improvements in Yu businesses that made all the difference in the world. For the first time in Karina's life, she was able to think about something besides business and that something was her wife.

Karina knew that a psychologist would have a field day with him. Her love was an obsession, but that was nothing new. She had been captivated by Winter from the start and resented her hold on her until Winter left, making her realize how worthless her life was without her.

Karina held nothing back now.

She claimed Winter every chance she had to reinforce their bond, to ensure she knew she loved her. The need to shower her with gifts was wasted on Winter since she wanted nothing. The first three months were rocky with both of them waking from nightmares in a cold sweat. Winter had bouts of depression that kept her in bed for days at a time. Karina didn't mind staying home to care for her and Yuqi didn't question her absences from work.

Everyday Karina loved her out of the darkness.

Winter bloomed and when she smiled at Karina with her eyes shining, she could barely breathe.

Karina felt drunk on her, addicted to her smiles and laughter and love. She steeped herself in Winter and it kept her demons at bay.

The cops were monitoring here. For the first time in her life, she was as clean as a whistle. Karina put out lures to see if the underworld would reveal the new leader's identity. Nothing came back. Not a whisper, which made her sick with worry. There were always rats in the underworld, greedy fuckers who would sell their own children for profit. What made this new leader untouchable and why was everyone more afraid of this fucker than her? The unanswered questions tortured her, making her all the more protective of Winter who, thankfully, didn't buck against her, yet.

Karina didn't sleep as much as she should. She spent most nights holding Winter against her and plotting the murder of the faceless man who dared challenge her.

Karina clicked on her computer screen and accessed the security cameras around the house. Although half of her week was taken up, Winter spent most days cleaning even though they had a maid, or she would be swimming or pacing. Winter spent a lot of time in Karina's office where her parents' ashes were. Karina didn't intrude on her privacy. That was between Winter and her parents and Karina respected that. She asked if Winter wanted to go on a trip, but she declined. Karina was running out of things to distract Winter. Her wife didn't complain, but she sensed Winter's growing agitation.

Winter was recovering physically and mentally from the trauma and with that came more energy, which she didn't have an outlet for. Karina was trying her hardest to get her wife pregnant not only to make her dream come true of having a daughter a reality, but also to bind Winter more tightly to her.