The Forgotten Wife

6. A Kiss Goodbye

Meilani

I tug the shoelace tight and fluidly stand back to my full height. My thighs are on fire after holding the crouch for so long and balancing on my toes. I'm suddenly thankful for all those times Aiden dragged me to the gym with him and forced me to do squats, without them I'm sure I would have fallen on my ass.

Despite my heels, I still don't manage to meet eye level with Aiden, instead my eyes line up with his Adam's apple. I tilt my head back to stare into his eyes and notice his hazel eyes have darkened considerably with desire.

I become aware of how close we're standing, there is only a small breath of space separating our mouths and my breasts are just a whisper away from brushing against his chest.

I turn away from him still annoyed about his behaviour earlier with the nurse. I wish he wasn't right about me being jealous but I was. It's been so long since he has even so much as looked at another woman, I've gotten comfortable with being the object of his desire and I'm not used to competition. I guess I thought that even without his memories he would still desire me above all others.

I notice the blonde nurse still lingering by the door and I direct my annoyance at her. "Oh, you're still here," I note disdainfully.

It's meant to be her job to take care of patients not to grope them. It was completely unprofessional behaviour, there really is no excuse for her hand to be where it was. Aiden on the other hand was probably just reacting to her touch. I know he's a bag of hormones recently since it's been months since he's had sex. It's probably the longest dry spell he's ever had.

But it doesn't stop me from feeling betrayed by him, he should have pushed her hand away sooner. He never should have let her feel comfortable enough to do something so bold, he must have encouraged her or flirted with her or something.

"You can go," I add in the same tone. "We have no need for your particular skills."

She blushes bright red as the implication of my words reach her and she bolts from the room mortified.

Shit. I just acted like a colossal bitch to her. I let my anger get the best of me and I lowered myself to her level. Dammit! I shouldn't have done that, just because she made a pass at Aiden it doesn't give me the right to insult and humiliate her.

I feel terrible, my heart sinks as I realise that loving Aiden hasn't made me a better person, it made me worse. I feel so insecure and I'm lashing out at girls I consider a threat. I don't even want to stay with him but the idea of him being with another girl still crushes me.

"You're sexy when you're mad," he whispers into the side of my neck. His warm breath tickles my skin eliciting a wave of goose bumps to spread across my side. I shiver in awareness when the front of his body presses against me.

I close my eyes and fight back my arousal like I've done countless times over the last few months. I push on his cotton shirt and separate him from me. The cool air rushes in between us and helps me clear some of the lingering arousal.

"I haven't forgotten your part in this," I remind him annoyed.

"Me? I was an innocent victim assaulted by his nurse," he pleads with wide eyes.

I sigh heavily at his overly false protest. "Let's just get out of here," I say grabbing his bag. I hate the sterile smell that always lingers in the air, it brings back too many bad memories.

I pull open the door and drag in the wheelchair that the doctor left for me.

"No, I can walk," he protests backing away from the chair like it might bite him.

"Doctors orders, it a policy or something," I reply with a shrug pushing It closer to him.

"I'm not an invalid," he defends stubbornly.

"I don't much like it either but unless you get in this chair, you are staying in this room," I threaten.

"Fine," he concedes angrily before taking two uncomfortably slow steps towards the chair and collapsing into it

I place his bag in his lap and push him out the door. I can hear him muttering angrily under his breath but I can only make out the occasional word like 'unnecessary' and 'embarrassing' mixed with a few swear words.

He's acting like a big baby.

I smother a giggle at his childish behaviour, I know how much he hates looking weak. Being wheeled through the hospital for everyone to see is probably doing his head in. I slow my steps purposely to give everyone a chance to take a good long look.

"You're driving like a Nana," a small boy taunts as he pulls up next to us in his own wheelchair.

"Race ya," I respond before putting up one foot on a bar on the back of Aiden's chair and pushing with my other foot. The boys smile lights up and he begins furiously pumping his arms to keep pace with us. I laugh as I lose my shoe but I still keep going.

We are nearing the elevator at the end of the hall and I pull up my second foot on the bar to coast to the end. It's a pretty tight race but Aiden slows us slightly by placing his hand gently over the metal bar attached to the wheel.

The boy lets out a delighted whoop as he wins our impromptu race and spins his chair in a tight circle. He races off before I can congratulate him and Aiden and I both watch him disappear back down the hall.

I push the down arrow next to elevator and leave Aiden there while I hobble back and fetch my lost heel. I return just in time for the doors to ding open.

Aiden and I travel back to the penthouse in complete silence but I can feel his eyes on me often while I drive. He watches me as I key in the code for the underground parking lot and park in one of the designated spaces for our apartment.

It's makes me feel slightly uncomfortable the way he watches my familiarity with things from his old life. I swipe the key card for our floor and I touch the letter P and watch as it lights up. We step out into a private foyer and I unlock the only door which leads directly into our home.

I dump his bag onto a decorative table near the entrance and turn to Aiden. "I'm sure you know your way around, I'll see you later," I say reaching for the door again but stop when his hand closes around my wrist.

"Where are you going? Aren't you meant to look after me or something?" he asks.

"I have to go back to work, I have a meeting in half an hour," I say checking the time on my watch. "You'll be fine here. Henry is downstairs if you need anything and you can always reach Ethan or me by phone if there is an emergency," I say brushing off his concerns.

"Hmm maybe this won't be so bad then," he remarks.

"Great, Ethan said he emailed you some documents to look over and you should probably shave too. You're looking a bit unkempt for dealing with Mr. Yokishima."

"Who?" he responds confused.

"Ethan said he was trying to catch you up on the recent hotels and resorts you acquired in Asia, Mr. Yokishima works with you on those, he has a thing about looking presentable.

"Okay, sure," he agrees hesitantly.

"I'll be home for dinner, bye," I say reaching up and placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a quick kiss on the lips.

I freeze as I realise what I've just done. I just kissed him goodbye out of habit like I've done hundreds of times before.

I offer him an awkward smile and hurry back out the door before he can say anything.