She steps closer to the screens, focusing on one in particular. “Is that mybedroom?”
“Yes.”
Lux’s hand comes to cover her mouth before shrieking, “What the fuck, River!”
My boots thud on the floor as I eat the distance between us. “I can explain,” I tell her as I reach for her.
She jerks away from my touch, and a pang of guilt squeezes at my chest.
“How long have you been watching me? How did you get these into my house?” Her voice cracks with disbelief.
I hate it…but as much as I would rather pretend…I don’t want to lie to her. “Since the night I brought you home from the cabin. While you were passed out, Hayden installed them.”
“Oh my god!” Her eyebrows snap together. “How could you do that to me?”
“I needed to make sure you were safe.”
“You sat outside of my houseeverynight,” she bites back.
I shake my head. “Yes, but it wasn’t enough.”
“I can’t believe this.” Lux’s posture straightens.
A beat passes and I let the silence settle between us, aware she’ll probably need some time to accept it—and because I’m not sure what elseto say or do. I wish I could understand more about human emotions. The ability to read people and properly respond to them, are two entirely different things.
Confused and unsure of how to act, I stand in the middle of my office with my hands at my sides.
“I don’t even know what to say.”
“Is there something I should say?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what do you need me to say to make you feel better about this?”
Her arms fold across her chest. “I don’t know, River. Is there something you’d like to say? Maybe an apology or an acknowledgement that this is really fucked up.”
“Sorry you had to find out this way.”
“Do you not have remorse?”
I shake my head, then take a couple steps toward her, but she backs away again. “Not really.”
“Why not?” The tone of her voice is pleading with me to admit my fault, but I can’t. I was infatuated with her and I needed to make sure she was safe no matterhowI did it.
“From the moment I met you, you became my responsibility. And I was ready to do whatever it took to ensure no one harmed you again.”
Lux’s nostrils flare as her eyes blink rapidly. “By invading my privacy and putting cameras in my house?”
I reach out to touch her arms and she doesn’t back away this time, giving me hope. She wants to be mad, but there’s a part of her that understands my methods—and maybe even finds pleasure in it.
“Yes.”
“You should have just told me.” Her voice lowers slightly.
“That, I am sorry for.” I let my thumb caress the skin of her bare arm.
“I don’t know what to say.”
