Her brows knit together, and she nips at her bottom lip. “No one?” she asks as if that might suffice.
I step forward. She takes a step back.
“Don’t lie to me, Danika. I know you were expecting someone other than me at that door just now. Who is it?” I bite through clenched teeth.
“Just a friend who was going to help me get out of town, okay? It’s no one to you.”
“No one? It’s someone you’re willing to trust over me.”
“I barely know you, Tommy.” Her shoulders sag. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this. Why not just let me go?”
“Because that’s not the kind of man I am. Why not have waffles for breakfast or skip my morning run? Why clean my gun when I just cleaned it last night and the night before? Because I have to have things a certain way, or I feel like I’ll crawl out of my skin.”
“What does that have to do with me? If I’m gone, you can get back to having things the way you want them.”
“Not if you’re the thing I want.” My words linger in the air like a single delicate snowflake. “You made me a part of this, Dani. I can’t just erase you from my mind.” She’s rooted herself more deeply inside me than she could ever know. Moving on wouldn’t just be a matter of erasing her. I’d have to lobotomize a part of my brain.
“What do you want from me, Tommy?”
“I want you to let me help you.”
“Help me … or keep me?” she asks hesitantly.
I use the pad of my thumb to free her bottom lip from between her teeth. “Would it be so bad to be mine?” I ask quietly, cursing myself the moment the words are out because they reek of vulnerability.
“That depends,” she answers honestly. “If by yours, you mean lock me in a room and control—”
“No, Danika,” I cut her off, engulfed in frustration. “I know it’s started off poorly, and I can’t explain any of it except that I don’t want you to go. I want to see you paint and watch the funny way you spread jelly on your toast. I want to stare at the tiny hint of ass cheek that peeks out from under your shorts, but most of all, I want to know that you’re safe. I locked the door because Iwas scared this exact thing would happen, and Biba would get his hands on you before I could stop him.”
My tirade ends, blanketing us in a suffocating silence.
“Oh.” One syllable, two letters, and a world of meaning encapsulated in the tiny word.
“If I promise no more locked doors, will you come back?” It’s my only concession and the only time I’ll ask, and I’m only doing so because I’d rather have her return of her own free will than force the issue. Not just because it would be easier. I want the damn woman to want me.
“But you and your family are going to end up in danger. You may not believe me, but that’s a big part of why I left. I’m terrified someone will end up hurt because of me—it’s not right for me to let that happen.”
“It’s right if I say it is.” I step closer, and this time, she doesn’t retreat.
“I don’t understand, Tommy,” she whispers.
“Neither do I,” I admit before pulling her close and kissing her. It feels so incredible to have her in my arms that I’m able to set aside my desperation and relish the taste of her. While her tongue is sweet, her surrender is the most delicious thing I’ve ever known. Her body molds into mine on a sighed breath that I devour with ardent intensity. I try to show her with each press of my lips that I don’t care about the danger surrounding her or the limited time we’ve known each other. I don’t care that none of it makes sense. I’ll walk through fucking fire for her.
A knock on the door turns our blistering kiss into a pile of smoldering ashes. Her eyes lock with mine, a flash of fear turning emerald irises to evergreen. We turn toward the door at the same time. She reaches for the handle, but I angle myself in front of her and take the lead.
“I don’t think so, little thief,” I tell her quietly.
“It’s just my friend,” she says with a note of urgency in her voice.
“Good, I love meeting new people,” I say dryly, then open the door to a tiny, doll-like woman with black and purple hair gaping up at me.
“Sach, I’m here.” Danika pushes past me and hugs her friend. Her very female friend.
“That’swho you were meeting?” I ask, unable to hide my surprise.
“Yeah, why? Who did you think it would be?”
I slip my mask of composure back into place. “No one.”
