Chapter Five
Mason
Fuck. She’s in a melt-down. I knew she eventually would, but I wasn’t sure when it would happen. I watch her as she throws the USB against the wall and slides to the carpet in front of the couch, holding her head in her hands. She rocks back and forth, now, and mumbles something I can’t quite make out. Shit. This isn’t good. Instinct takes over like it did when I saw my mom after my dad had beat the shit out of her and I’d rush in to rescue her.
I fall to my knees beside her and take her in my arms to cradle her. She doesn’t resist. Her head falls onto my chest and tears stain my shirt as her arms wrap around me. I don’t say a word and let her cry as I know it’s the only thing I can do for her right now.
“I’m sorry.” She sniffles and tucks a strand of her long dark hair behind her ear.
“It’s fine,” I say as I smooth the back of her hair with my hand. I have a hard time not becoming intoxicated with her scent. She smells like vanilla and gardenia all wrapped up into a sultry fragrance. I admonish myself to stop but my dick has a mind of its own. She adjusts herself on my lap and I pray she can’t feel my hard-on.
What the fuck is wrong with me? I should comfort her, but instead, I have a raging hard-on and all I can think about is plunging deep inside her.
I’m not sure how it happens, but suddenly, she straddles my lap. She lifts her head slowly and her eyes meet mine, full of desire and need.
“Melinda,” I say softly in an attempt to deter her although I don’t want her to stop. This is a bad idea, I know it in my head, but try telling my dick that.
“Please,” she pleads, her voice husky. She brings her sultry, pouty mouth inches from mine. I know better, but it doesn’t stop me. I slam my mouth down on hers. She moans loudly, her mouth as greedy as mine. Her good hand grips the hem of my shirt as she tries to pull it over my head. I help her and she throws it to the side. Her hand touches my chest as our mouths collide again. Our tongues dance together as if they were made for each other—the perfect fit, the missing pieces to our unfinished puzzles.
I growl low in my throat as her good hand slips down my stomach to find the bulge in my jeans. Before she can explore farther, I grab her hand and pull it behind her back to hold it there. Her eyes grow wide when realization spreads across her face. I’m a man who likes control—total control—and if this is going anywhere tonight, I’ll be in charge.
“Take off your shirt,” I command her and loosen my grip on her hand. She doesn’t hesitate, which I like, and begins to unbutton her shirt slowly. It’s a little too slow with her one hand, so I take the liberty and rip it open to reveal her black lace push-up bra. Her breasts are perky and perfect, a D-cup that fill my hands perfectly. I grab the fabric of her bra and pull it down to expose her nipples.
“Please,” she whimpers and throws her head back.
I push the coffee table away from the couch and lay her on her back on the thick white carpet. The contrast of her dark black hair and the white fibers fuels my fire. She looks like a Greek goddess spread before me. I climb between her legs and spread them wide with my knee as my mouth licks the tip of her nipple. God, she tastes sweet. She places her hand on the side of my head and she pushes me farther toward her breasts. I kneel, take her hand, and place it over her head.
“Don’t move it,” I command and she pants in response.
I take her lips in mine and my tongue sweeps through her mouth before I slide my mouth down her neck. She arches toward me. I unclasp her bra with one hand while my mouth continues its descent toward her now exposed chest. She’s stunning. The curves of her body are perfect, slender and toned, like a Victoria’s Secret model. Her beauty is beyond belief. Fuck, I shouldn’t do this, but she’s like a temptress, one I can’t get enough of.
When I slide her jeans down her legs, she’s now naked before me and I make a mental note that she’s commando. Sexy as fuck. Greedy with need, I dip my head to taste her between the apex of her legs. She arches, her desire evident by how wet she is. Her warm center pulsates and tingles on my tongue. She holds her breath as my fingertips tease her center. She disobeys and I feel her hand move to pull at my hair and urge me on. I penetrate her center with my fingers and she cries out. In and out, I pump them into her and bring her to the brink, but I don’t allow her to go over. I feel her muscles tense as her body begins to quiver beneath me.
“Not yet, hellcat,” I murmur into the inside of her thigh.
“Please,” she responds, her voice breathy.
Melinda
I feel primal as small spasms begin to erupt deep inside me. Mason’s lips are back on my nub and he teases it mercilessly as his fingers continue to pleasure me. I’m coming undone, my nerve-endings firing on all cylinders. I can’t control myself any longer as I peak and my orgasm explodes in waves throughout my entire body. His fingers continue their titillation inside my body, in and out, in and out, in a slow, steady motion.
His lips kiss their way back up my body and pause at each breast before they meet mine again. I taste myself on his lips and it’s intoxicating, a heady mixture of him and me. I want more. I crave more. He doesn’t disappoint. Quickly, he unbuttons his jeans, shimmies out of them, and exposes his full erection to me. Holy fuck, he’s huge. I lick my lips instinctively and want him to bury himself deep inside me. I lift my hips, and a slow, seductive smile spreads across his face.
Mason’s hands take my good one above my head once more.
“Don’t move them,” he commands again. I can’t help it and have to fight the urge to touch him.
“Mason,” I murmur.
“Do as your told.” His eyes bore into mine, intense and searching.
“Please…” I practically beg, now, and my body trembles with the anticipation of him inside me. He reaches for his wallet in his jeans and retrieves a condom. the wrapper tears and I watch as he rolls it over his large shaft. The tip of his manhood is at my entrance and I buck forward, wanting him to penetrate me. Taking my lips in his, I melt into his mouth.
This man whom I love to hate gives me everything I need right now. He thrusts into me and it’s even more than I imagined. He still holds my hand over my head and I’m lost in the sensation of us. He pauses for a moment, buried deep inside me, before he moves rhythmically. My hands ball into fists as a deep moan escapes me.
The ripples of another orgasm build within me again. I’ve never come twice with anyone, and here I am on the brink of my second orgasm within minutes of the last one. I wrap my legs around Mason’s waist as his thrusts grow more rapid. All the pain from my attack disappears with his touch. His lips never leave mine and our mouths are entangled in a sultry dance and he moves his hands to the sides of my face. He brushes my hair back. “Open your eyes,” he demands, his voice thick with pleasure. My eyes flutter open to find him staring intently into mine.
“Come with me.”
The intensity of his stare and those three words send me soaring on an orgasm so powerful, I scream with the intensity of it. Mason thrusts once more and releases but never breaks eye contact with me. There’s something scarily intimate about it that rocks me to my core. He leans down and takes my mouth in his. I wrap my good arm around his back and draw him closer to me. His weight somehow steadies me, and I realize I don’t want him to move. I wrestle with the emotions fighting within me. How can I give myself so freely to this man after what I’ve been through? It doesn’t seem right. I must be fucked up.
“We need to get you fed,” he says. He kisses the tip of my nose.
“I could eat,” I admit and brush the hair away from his face.
He rolls onto his side and caresses my stomach gently with his fingertips.
“I’ll order us something. Why don’t you freshen up, then we can talk about what just happened?”
Stunned, I stare at him and heat rushes to my cheeks. I don’t want to talk about what happened. I want to bask in the afterglow of the best sex I’ve ever had in my life, not dissect it. Way to ruin the mood, and I’m right back to hating him again.
Mason
I saw the hurt in her eyes when I mentioned talking about what happened between us. Too fucking bad. I’m not one of those guys who’s afraid to talk about sex. We need to talk about what happened because we both were wrapped up in the emotions of the situation. I should have stopped it. I know better than to sleep with a client, but fuck, she’s hard to resist—especially when she straddles my lap and her sultry mouth is inches from mine. She wanted it, I wanted it, but we can’t let it happen again.
“What’s for dinner?” she asks hesitantly.
“Chinese.”
She rolls her eyes. “We had Chinese before.”
“I know. I’m kidding. I ordered room service. I hope you like steak.”
“I’m vegetarian.”
I eye her curiously.
“Bullshit.” I call her bluff.
She grins. “How did you know I was lying?”
“I told you, I’ve worked with women for a long time. I always know when there lying.”
“How do you know?”
“I read body language. The body gives off subtle signals when it’s dishonest.”
“Like what?” she challenges.
“Like, you paused every time you told the story of you running in Central Park. To the novice, it’s not noticeable, but to someone who’s in the business of working with liars, I noticed. You also didn’t make eye contact immediately when telling your story, as if you were hiding something. That’s a dead giveaway to me.”
She rolls her eyes at me again.
“Stop rolling your eyes at me.”
She glares and turns to pick up her wine glass.
“And just so you know, that can’t happen again,” I say and brace myself for her response, even though I want it to happen again.
“Fuck you,” she responds icily.
“You just did.” I immediately regret the words once they’re out of my mouth. I shouldn’t have said them, but this hellcat of a woman has a way of getting under my skin. Shock, then anger crosses her face.
“You’re a real prick,” she says, and I’m surprised when she doesn’t retreat. Her eyes are defiant as she glares at me.
“That’s nothing I haven’t been told before.” I’m being a total prick, but I need to put some distance between us. What happened is fucking with my head and I can’t have my head fucked with right now.
The knock at the door diffuses our escalating battle, and I give a silent thanks. I’m not up to another fight with this woman. I want to eat and go to bed so I can wake up tomorrow and get to the bottom of this shit show.
Theo rolls in the dinner cart and sets our plates down on the dining room table.
“Will there be anything else, sir?”
“That will do it, thanks.” I tip him and watch Melinda give him a faint smile of appreciation before he retreats out the door.
“Hungry?”
“I’m actually starving. Can we call a truce while we eat?” she asks and catches me off guard.
I have a sneaky feeling she’s up to something, but I concede for the moment. I’d love to eat a meal in peace without having to have my guard up.
“So, what’s your plan?”
“Tomorrow, I’ll go back to your apartment and make a thorough search. I’ll watch the security footage Pete pulled to see if we can get a read on whoever left the second box near your front door. They obviously know someone who got them into the building or they work there. That place is like Fort Knox, so it has to be one or the other. I checked your office and didn’t find anything there. But I wasn’t looking for a recording device because I didn’t know you were being blackmailed.”
She shudders at my words.
“What if you can’t get to the bottom of this?” Her eyes give away the fear she tries so desperately to hide.
“I will get to the bottom of this. Have no doubt.”
“I’m so scared this will get out. How will anyone ever take me seriously again? The reputation I have worked so hard to build will be taken away from me.”
I want to reach across the table to touch her hand and comfort her but stop myself before I do. I have to stop touching this woman.
“I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” My gaze captures her fearful eyes.
“I’m scared,” she admits and her voice breaks.
“I know.” And I do know because I’ve seen the look of fear and terror in the eyes of many battered women. It’s not something that’s easy to forget.
“I want to help as much as I can. It’s hard for me to sit still. What can I do to help?” Her voice is steadier as she finds her emotional footing.
“You can stay safe. That’s what I need you to do.” I hope my words give her the stern warning I meant them to give.
“I won’t sit around and do nothing while my life unravels. I can’t do that. Let me help, please.” She tosses her hair over her shoulder with an air of defiance and I feel my dick spring to life. Jesus, this woman will undo me.
I place my fork on my plate and I grit my teeth as I fold my arms across my chest.
“What?”
“I’ll let you help on one condition.”
She perks up, leans over the table on her elbows, and listens intently.
“You’ll stay with me until this mystery is solved. When you are able to return to work, I go with you. Wherever you go, I go. Wherever I am, you are. If someone’s out to get you—we know they are— we can’t risk you being alone. Ever.”
I knew she wouldn’t go for it. She’s too independent to be tied to someone twenty-four seven. She shoots me a look that would kill me if it could.
“Fine,” she says defiantly and juts her chin out.
Fuck. What have I gotten myself into?
Melinda
I fight hard against the tears that want to fall. I feel like a captive in my own life and now, I succumbed to my captor. I clench my jaw to stifle the sob in my throat. I won’t cry any more tears over this. Not for anyone, and certainly not for Mason.
“I’m glad you agree. I don’t think you understand the gravity of your situation.” His voice is firm. Gone is the comforting voice, the sexy voice, the commanding voice a girl could get used to.
I force myself to smile at him when all I want to do is throw my wine in his smug, sexy face. Ugh, he’s fucking infuriating.
“I’ll get your plate.” He rises and takes my plate to the sink. I take that moment to excuse myself and head to my room. It’s been a long day and my emotions are seriously screwed up. I’ve been through the entire gamut today. I think I’ve felt every emotion a human could possibly feel in the space of twelve hours. Now, I’m exhausted and want to pull the covers over my head and pretend my life isn’t falling apart around me.
I turn the water on in the shower and get undressed but despite the difficulty of lifting my t-shirt over my head. Why the hell didn’t I put on a button-down again? This sprained arm makes my life difficult. When I finally maneuver out of it, I step into the shower and allow the warm water to wash over my body. My mind drifts back to Mason and making love to him on the living room floor. Heat rises up within me and I know I’m wet between my legs.
“Stop it, Mel,” I admonish myself aloud. He said it would never happen again and part of me knows he’s right. It shouldn’t, yet a part of me wants it to. There’s something about loathing a person yet being sexually attracted to him that lifts sex to a whole new level.
I startle when I hear the shower door open and turn instinctively. Mason stands there naked and his eyes rake boldly over me. An intensity I have never felt before flares through me. Instead of turning him away, I envision myself crushed by his embrace. A gentle flush of pink rushes to my cheeks. I’m not sure why I feel shy after what we did earlier, but I am. I shift my gaze hesitantly to his.
He doesn’t say a word as he steps into the shower. A mixture of emotions courses though my body. This man frustrates the hell out of me yet makes me feel safe and I feel intoxicated by his mere presence, something no other man has done. He pulls me to him and leans down to claim my mouth. I don’t hesitate . The feel of his mouth tangled with mine is something I don’t think I’ll ever have enough of.
I’m aroused and my nipples spring to attention at his touch. He pins one between his two fingers and rolls it gently while applying pressure. My heart thunders loudly in my chest as he teases my nipple with his fingers. Boldness washes over me. I take hold of his hard cock and smile wickedly at him.
Teasingly, I stroke him, then tighten around his aching shaft and move my hand in a slow and steady motion. His head tilts back as he moans his approval. I feel powerful as I watch him pulsate with pleasure.
He reaches his hands for my breasts and squeezes them hard until I cry out. He moves one hand to the apex of my thighs. I moan and my head rolls back as his fingers slip inside me.
“Oh…”
It feels amazing and I don’t want him to stop. I arch my hips to give his fingers more access to my channel.
He spins me quickly so my back is to his chest and his fingers find their way back into me. My head rests on his shoulder as he continues to finger fuck me. He moves me forward and bends me over the shower bench. He slips easily into the slick wetness of my desire and we both release a low moan. It’s the only sound he’s made since he entered the shower. This man likes control and if I’m honest with myself, I like that he does.
He pumps into me hard and slams into my warm center where I ache for his fulfillment.
“Mason,” I cry out as he continues to hammer me from behind. Holy fuck, I’ve never been fucked like this before. I lock around him and tighten my pulsating core as he pummels me.
“Come with me,” he commands. Those three words send me over the abyss once again.
I do as he commands. The shuddering sensations of my orgasm shoot out of me and detonate around us like fireworks on the Fourth of July. I scream my release.
Wow, is all I think when he pulls out of me and sits on the bench. He pulls me down to straddle him and I wrap my legs around his waist and place my good hand on his hard chest. I like the feel of him beneath my palm a little too much.
Without a word, he pushes the hair from my face and his gaze is fiery as it locks on mine.
I blink, unsure of what to say. He slides his powerful hands over my bum and pulls me closer to him. He claims my lips possessively, and we kiss in the shower as the water rains down on us. My mind is absolutely numb when he finally ends the kiss.
“Let me wash you.” He picks me up effortlessly and sets me on my feet. I watch him carefully as he squeezes body wash on a loofah and washes my entire body gently. His gentle care makes me shudder. I let him take his time and he washes each part of me with precision. When he’s finished, he washes himself quickly and shuts the water off. He grabs a towel from outside the shower door. He opens it and nods his head for me to move forward. I step into its softness and he wraps it around me. He takes another and begins to dry my long black hair. So few words are exchanged, yet the gesture is almost too much for me to handle.
Mason
I don’t know what came over me. As I walked down the hallway to my room, I heard her shower running. It was as if my body was a magnet pulled toward her and there was nothing I could do about it. I tried talking myself out of it, but my desire was too strong. She didn’t scream or say no, and we both felt the undeniable magnetism build between us. Fuck. I should know better, yet here I am letting the wrong head guide me once again. I towel her off gently, knowing her body is still healing from her beating. Few words have passed between us, which is probably for the better. Every time we talk, we end up fighting, so fewer words is safer.
I reach for the brush on the bathroom counter and motion for her to sit on the vanity stool. She’s wrapped in a fluffy white towel and I begin to brush her hair as she studies me in the bathroom mirror. When I finish, I help her to her feet and walk her to the large king-size bed in the bedroom.
“Stay with me.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.
Torn by conflicting emotions, I shake my head.
“Please.” Her voice trembles over her word. I watch as she takes a deep breath and bites her lip nervously. “I’m afraid to be alone. When I close my eyes, I…” her voice trails off.
I shouldn’t. I know without a doubt I shouldn’t stay, but again, my brain doesn’t think clearly. I draw down the bedcovers and help her in. She drops her towel before she climbs into the bed. Fuck. I know I should turn and walk out the door, but I don’t. Instead, I take her in my arms, and spoon her from behind.
She sighs before she closes her eyes and falls into a deep sleep. Since I never sleep, I’m awake when the nightmare begins. Melinda becomes restless and her body jerks in her sleep. I press her closer to my chest and that seems to settle her until she lets out a shriek before she sits abruptly in bed. “Don’t touch me!” she shouts. Her eyes are wild with panic.
“Melinda. You’re safe.” I reach for her to let her know it’s me but she flails and strikes me in the chest with her good arm. Instinctively, I grab her arm to stop her from hurting herself and she tries to release herself from my grip.
“Melinda. It’s me, Mason. I promise, you’re safe. Look at me. Can you look at me?”
The panic in her eyes cuts me to the core.
“Mason?”
“Yes, hellcat. It’s me.”
A sad smile tugs at the sides of her mouth. “I tend to have nightmares whenever I close my eyes,” she admits.
I completely understand where she’s coming from since I’ve had them my entire life.
“You’re safe here with me.”
She snuggles against my chest “I hate feeling like this. I feel like I’m not me anymore, as if those guys in the park took a piece of me that I’ll never get back.” She swallows hard in an effort to regain her composure. I can feel her heart pound in her chest. The fear is right there on the brink of her consciousness.
“I won’t let anything happen to you. Go back to sleep now.”
I wait for her to fall asleep and finally doze myself. She doesn’t move from my arms for the rest of the night, and I don’t mind. I want her to rest so she can heal. She somehow seems to fit perfectly within my arms which, if I really begin to dissect it, is a little unsettling.
Melinda
My eyes flutter slowly open and I realize I’m not alone. Thoughts of last night flood in and those memories deliver a delightful shiver up my spine. I’m draped over Mason like a throw blanket, warm and cozy in his embrace. I actually slept last night after my nightmare, something I haven’t done since the hospital. The only reason I slept there was because I was drugged. The one night I spent in my apartment, I spent most of the night tossing and turning as I tried to escape the memories that haunted me. I lift my head off his chest and see a faint glint of humor in his eyes.
“You’re up.”
“I am,” I reply hesitantly.
“You finally slept.”
“I did. It’s been a little while. How did you sleep?” I sit up in bed, cover myself with the sheet, and hug my knees to my chest. I don’t know why I suddenly feel shy, but I do.
“I don’t sleep much.”
“Why?” I narrow my eyes and wait for him to respond.
“I never have. I don’t need much sleep to function anyway, so it works.”
I watch him cautiously as he peels his naked body off the bed. God damn, his muscles are like they’ve been etched from granite. Toned, long and lean, and not an inch of body fat covers his body. I lick my lips unconsciously.
“Do you see something you like?” His eyes light up while he pulls on his jeans.
“As a matter of fact, I do,” I reply, feeling brazen, my shyness gone as a sultry smile curves across my lips. I don’t know what’s gotten in to me, but I ache to have him inside me again.
“I’d love nothing more than too climb back in bed with you, but I have some things I need to tend to today. I’m sure I have messages from both Sam and Ryan, wondering what the hell’s going on.” His voice is low and smooth.
“What time is it?”
“Eight forty-five.”
“Holy shit. I never sleep this late.”
“You needed it. I’ll get you some coffee.” He strides out the door bare-chested, his jeans hanging below his V. God, that man is delicious but I need to get a hold of myself. I adjust my sling over my arm—I hate the damn thing—and do my best to get dressed. I’m sure I look a fright, but I won’t let him leave me in this hotel room by myself today. Wherever he goes, I go. Those were his rules, and I intend to obey them.
He hands me a cup of black coffee as I enter the kitchen.
“Thanks.” I take it from him and the tips of our fingers touch. That damn electric shock courses through my body. He arches his eyebrow but doesn’t say a word. I sip my coffee to distract myself from him.
Harry picks us up at the back of the hotel. He’s in a different car, per Mason’s request. I hate that we have to sneak around but know it’s necessary right now. No one can know where I am until we get to the bottom of this.
“Where are we going?” I ask, curious.
“To your apartment first. Pete will meet us at the back door. He’s already checked for any reporters and we’re clear.”
“Then what?”
“That depends on what we find. I’ look over the security footage from yesterday and we’ll go from there.”
It doesn’t sound like much of a plan to me, but it’s all we have at the moment. My phone rings and jolts me from my thoughts. I look down to see Sarah’s name on the screen.
“Hey,” I say, happy to hear from her.
“Hey. How’s it going?”
“Pretty good. Still healing. Sitting still makes me feel a little stir crazy.”
She laughs. “I’m sure. You were never one to sit still. Do they have any leads?”
Mason watches me and listens to my every word. I pause and raise my eyebrow at him questioningly.
“Not a word,” he mouths.
I furrow my brow as I don’t like his new command.
“No, new leads. I don’t think they’ll find anything. Muggings in Central Park are pretty common place.”
“I know, but I wish they had something. It’s pretty screwed up what they did to you. They didn’t even get anything, did they?”
“Only my apple watch. I’ve cleared it, so there’s nothing on there. They could sell it, but it’s the oldest model so who’d want it?” My laugh is insincere because Mason now has my hackles up.
“When will you come back?”
“Hopefully, next week. I’m waiting for the doctor to give me the okay.” I catch Harry’s gaze in the rearview mirror and he gives me a half smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
What the fuck is going on?
“I’ll check back in with you later. Ryan’s calling.” God, I’m a fucking liar, I think as I push the end button.
“What?” I snap at both of them and my gaze moves back and forth between the two men.
Mason runs his hand through his hair.
“What?” I yell a little louder.
“You can’t trust anyone right now,” he says.
I can’t believe my ears.
“Are you fucking kidding me? If you think for one minute that I can’t trust my very best friend, you are insane. Sarah and I have been friends for almost twenty years. I trust her implicitly.”
“You can’t take any chances until we figure this out.”
Harry’s eyes are soft as they look into mine.
“Mel, you know how much I love you and right now, Mason’s right.”
“Not you too! Come on Harry. You know Sarah. She would never hurt me.”
“I know, but you have got to cover all your bases.”
“Did you tell him?” My body shakes with anger and the need to slap Mason is at the surface.
He shakes his head. “I haven’t said a word.”
I inhale deeply through my nose in an attempt to calm myself. I notice the exchange between the two men and feel in the depths of my soul that Mason is telling the truth. I also know that Mason trusts Harry, which is good, because my driver is one of my biggest confidants. I lean my head back on the seat.
“I hate all this,” I say, exasperated.
“I know.” His hand takes mine. He squeezes it gently to give me reassurance. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. But you need to be careful about what you tell people, even those closest to you.”
I like the feel of my hand in his.
“Even Ryan?”
“Even Ryan.”
“What about Sam?”
“I’ll handle Sam.”
“You know they’ll both call and check in on me.”
“I do but you can be vague. Stick to your story going with them, even though neither of them believes it.”
I want to punch him and jump him at the same time. He gives me a sly grin as if h reads my thoughts.
“We’re here.”
Harry’s words break the hypnotic connection between us.
“Stay here. Let me look first.”
I watch Mason as he checks the back alley and talks with Pete. He gives us the all clear. Harry helps me out of the car.
“You’re in good hands,” he says as he leads me around the car and hands me off to Mason.
“Thanks, Harry.” I pause to give him a quick hug.
“Let’s go.” Mason takes my hand and pulls me along behind him. He walks briskly inside the building and onto the employee elevator.
Once inside my apartment, I’m not sure what we’re looking for. Mason moves to my bedroom and searches it with a fine-tooth comb.
“Jesus!” I hear him yell.
I run toward the sound of his voice.
“What? What is it?” I’m a little out of breath.
“Were there any pictures of you in your bathroom?”
Oh. My. God.
“No. Not that I saw. Why?” I’m shaking because the reality of what he’s about to say scares the living shit out of me.
He exhales a long breath, then his expression stills and grow serious.
“Your bathroom has a camera in it too.”
I can’t breathe, lights flicker before my eyes, and I clutch my chest.
“Melinda…I need you to focus on my voice right now.” His tone is smooth. There’s no alarm in it. I know he’s trying to keep me calm but his words sound so distant. Panic riots within me, and I feel as if my breath has been cut off. I can’t control my trembling body.
“Melinda, look at me.” His voice is firm, yet warm. He takes my hand in his and rubs his thumb over the top of it. “That’s it. Look at me.”
Slowly, he comes into focus. As I fight my way through the cobwebs of this fucking nightmare, I finally find my balance when I look into his warm brown eyes.
“Good girl. I want you to take a few deep breaths for me, okay?” His fingers find the bottom of my chin and tilt my face up to his. The gentle gesture causes my pulse to spin. I inhale deeply and try to get my wits about me.
“That’s it.”
He pulls me against his chest and holds me close. I inhale deeply. Him scent comforts me.
“We’ll leave right now. I’ll text Harry. I don’t want you back in this apartment until we know it’s clear, understand?”
I nod. It’s all I can manage.
“You need to call or text Emily and let her know not to come back until we give her the okay. Got it?”
Again, I nod. I seem to have lost my voice. Some would probably call it shock. I don’t know if that’s exactly what it is, but it’s pretty close, I imagine.