Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Riyad jerked awake, covered in a fine film of cold sweat, disturbing Callie from her own sleep, reaching out to him. "Riyad?" she asked sleepily.

"Go back to sleep," he ordered, stabbing a hand through damp hair. She eased back, looking up at him with concerned eyes. 

Moonlight seeped through the window, and open curtains, clearly seeing his features under the light of the moon, bathed across their bed. Sighing, he hovered over he as she eased deeper into the pillows, he brushed thick hair back from the side of her face. "It's alright, just a bad dream.'

Callie pressed her hand against his damp heaving chest, his heart racing much faster than it should be, under her touch. "More than that. You were edgy when you came back. What happened Riyad?" covering her hand with his own, Riyad lowered back into the pillows beside her. She twisted more towards him.

"Coming here has brought it all back." Callie waited as he fell quiet. He swallowed hard, holding her breath, flexing fingers against his chest under his hand. His breathing slowed, as did his racing heart.

"Which sent you to London?" she dared, releasing her own held breath.

Briefly, he closed his eyes. "Yes."

"It could be a good thing, Riyad, facing your past. You can't let this rule your life forever. I am here for you if you want to talk."

He gave a wary smile, raking a hand down his face. "Certain things should never be let go of, my sweet Callie. I have a better idea, tell me about your day." Opening his arm, she rested her head upon it, snuggling against him and told him about her time at the hospital. A regular event. At least once a day she tried to go in with May, just spending time with the children.

"How are you coping with the language barrier?"

"That is why I have May. Actually, I have been helping some with English through book reading. They read to me," she informed him with glee.

"A daily routine," he noted.

Her eyes flicked up towards him. "Is that a problem?" she didn't want to tread on anyone's toes.

"Not at all, as long as you are happy. I expected none of this to happen, Callie."

"Neither did I. I must admit it is better than doing nothing. At the mansion, I could come and go as I pleased." He arched a brow at that. "As in the mansion and foxes. This is different again, isn't it?"

"Yes," he sighed. She reached up and touched his face that was damp to the touch. Tossing back the bedding, Callie dashed into the bathroom, coming back with a wet face washer and handed crosses as she wiggled back in.

"And?" he prompted, looking down at the washer in his hand.

"Just to make you feel better." He wiped it across his face. "Does it?"

"I would feel better having a shower."

"Then have one." She twisted around and switched on the light above the bed, her eyes widened at his pallor and flushed cheeks. "Riyad," she gasped, placing the back of her hand on his cheek. Not an actual temperature, more of cold sweat. He reached for her hand and eased down.

"You could be right. Try to go back to sleep. I will go elsewhere."

"You won't. I have this to go over," she reached for the manual he had given her to read over. One he had written up for her, printed out, about the do and don't of the upcoming event.

By the time Riyad came back, he looked much better, settling back in the bed, shifting the pillows behind him, sitting up more. "Come here," she wiggled across, settling up against him, her head on his shoulder, and together they went over the manual. A cocoon of comfort bubbled around them.