The pain in Kalie’s eyes tore at Erik’s heart.

She tightened her hand around his arm. “Please,” she murmured. “What can I do to change your mind?”

“Nothing.”

He started to pull away, but she held tight.

“But… I’m in love with you.”

He frowned, his eyes hard on her. “No, you just think you are. Why do you think you’d fall in love with a man who told you right up front that he didn’t want a relationship with you? You were in a relationship before where the man didn’t love you and rejected you in the end. Clearly, you’re setting yourself up for the same pattern of rejection. But with me, you can sink into being my slave. Convince yourself none of this is about you. Then somewhere along the way you’ll finally realize you don’t love me and leave. Or you figure I’ll walk out on you and you can convince yourself again you don’t want love.”

He leaned closer to her.

“You might want to continue old patterns,” he continued, “but I’m not about to let myself fall in love with a woman who doesn’t really love me back.”

She shook her head. “My love for you is real. I know we haven’t known each other very long, but I know it’s true.”

“Just like you did with your ex? You stayed with him for six years and only after he’d hurt you could you see the truth that you never really loved him.”

He took her hand and squeezed. “Kalie, I don’t want to hurt you like that. The sooner I end it with you, the sooner you’ll realize your love for me is a lie.”

She shook her head. “It’s not. I know it.”

But he walked away. Once in his bedroom, he locked the door.

During the night, he heard her try to open it. When she realized the door was locked, she knocked. He didn’t answer, so she pounded.

“Stop that or I’ll come out there and gag you, then tie you to your bed.”

The pounding stopped and he eventually fell asleep.

In the morning, after he’d showered and dressed, he opened the door to find her curled up on the carpet outside his door. Naked and asleep.

“Wake up, Kalie. We leave in half an hour.”

He stepped over her and continued into the kitchen to pour himself a coffee.

* * *

On the plane, Kalie tried to talk to him, but he shut her down every time, finally threatening to bind and gag her.

Oh, God, her heart ached as she watched him read. She’d lost her chance with him. And it was so much worse now than it had been before, because now she knew she loved him. Deeply and completely. It was like nothing she’d ever felt before. She felt safe in his arms. Loved and protected. And she saw the love in his eyes, too. But he was lying to himself. As completely as she’d lied to herself about not wanting love.

After the plane touched down, he guided her to the waiting limo and got in with her. Too soon they were at her apartment. The driver opened the door for her.

She turned to Erik, longing to see some warmth in his eyes. Anything to give her some small hope.

But his eyes were cold and detached.

She wanted to grasp his hand. To cling to him and beg that he reconsider.

She dropped her gaze, then got out of the car. Her heart broke as the shiny black limo drove away.

* * *

Erik stared out the window of his office. It was late, but he didn’t feel like going home yet.

It had been two weeks since his time with Kalie and the whole time since he’d parted from her, he hadn’t felt like being at home alone. He kept himself busy at work, staying late into the night, going home exhausted and falling into bed. But still sleep eluded him.

Because all he could think about was Kalie… and how much he wanted her in his bed.

Fuck, what the hell was wrong with him? First Sylvia, now Kalie. After his experience with Sylvia, he’d promised himself he wouldn’t fall for Kalie. He didn’t want that kind of pain again

Yet here he was.

Well, enough. There was one thing he could do right now to help.

He picked up the phone.