“I told you, you should have stayed in your room.” Jared said through clenched teeth, facing me with furious eyes. “Do you see what your disobedience can do?”

“Nothing happened. I could get away without you. I don’t need your help.” I was shaking and freezing.

“Don’t lie to me. If I hadn’t seen him coming after you, he would be raping you right now. Obey me just for once and go to your room.”

I was angry and too edgy to take orders in that moment. If it wasn’t for him and for the irresistible attraction I had for him, I wouldn’t have gone to that damn party, and if he hadn’t have been with Samira, almost fucking her in front of everyone, I wouldn’t have been nervous and thrown the champagne in that idiot’s face. It was his fault.

“Want to know what? I don’t want to sleep and you don’t own me. I’ll go back to the party and have fun.”

I tried to get away from the wall, but my legs were shaking and I couldn’t control them. I stayed right where I was.

“Actually, I do. You’re not going anywhere but to bed. If you don’t want to walk, I can carry you.”

“Don’t you da…”

I couldn’t finish the sentence before he picked me up, threw me over his shoulder and carried me to the door, like I was a sack of wheat, and that made me more furious and afraid that he might have another attack.

“Put me down you…. Animal! You have no right to treat me this way. I’m not your property.” I punched his back while I spoke. “Why don’t you leave me alone and go be with Samira? You didn’t need to interrupt your fun to come look for me. I don’t want you here!”

“I wasn’t there because of her. I was watching you because I knew you would do something stupid, and I was right.”

“I don’t need you watching me. I can take care of myself.”

“I can see that.” He stopped before my room. “Now, give me the fuckin’ key before I take it away from you.”

Without a choice in the matter, I took the small key from my belt and gave it to him. He opened the door and went inside, still carrying me. He put me in bed carefully and moved away, observing me in silence for a long moment. His dark eyes were undecipherable as he examined the entire room.

He moved to leave the room and I was tormented by the thought of spending another month, or even more, without seeing him. Something inside me screamed to not let him go. It seemed like a bad joke, but I’d rather have a fight with him than a conversation with any other person.

“Don’t go now.” I was impulsive.

Jared looked at me, surprised. He looked taller and more masculine from where I was on the bed.

“Why not? Are you feeling bad? Do you need a doctor?”

“I don’t need a doctor. I’m just a little scared of being alone. Can’t you just wait for me to sleep before you grab that other woman?”

“I wasn’t going upstairs with her.” He was calmer.

“If you were really taking care of me like you said, do it right. Don’t leave me alone.”

I scooted to the edge of the bed and gestured to an empty place beside me, asking silently for him to lay with me. I had no idea of what I was doing, if he laid with me and if he tried something, was I ready to give myself to him? Was I ready to give myself to a man for the first time in my life?

Again, that undecipherable expression came to his dark eyes.

“Inaya, I can’t do that.” He was whispering. “My brother likes you.”

That story again? When would he realize that I’d never belong to his brother, not even in another life?

“I’m just asking you to stay with me for a while, not to have sex with me.”

He hesitated and thought about it, then finally laid on the bed as far from me as he could. Still, it was enough for his scent to get to me, and his warmth called to my body with an unknown fire.

“I’m here. Close your eyes and sleep.” He was tense and didn’t look at me.

I moved my body to the side, just to observe him better and to capture his image in my mind before sleeping.

“Thanks for saving me from that moron. I lied when I said everything was under control.”

Jared turned on his side as well, looking deeply to my face and making my heartbeat faster.

“You can’t stay in this house. There’ll always be these kinds of parties and men like Tom. Unless you want to act like the others, and that can harm the baby.”

For seconds, I wanted to tell him I was not pregnant. That I made that up to avoid being with Jeffrey. But with Jared, it was different. I’d be his if he wanted, but what about later? I’d have to be available to all the others and I wouldn’t do that.”

“I have nowhere to go,” I said sadly. “I asked for a job as a cleaning lady in your house, but you didn’t want me.”

“It’s impossible in my house. I can’t trust myself to be beside you every day. I can try something else.”

I was skeptical. I didn’t hear it clearly, did I? Better than being with him, would be to have my own job and my freedom.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, at least until you have the baby. What can you do?”

“I’m good with computers and I speak a little German.”

“Did you learn German on the internet?” He seemed surprised.

“Yes.”

“This means you can learn easily. I’ll find something in my company and tell Jeffrey to find you some place to live.”

I smiled widely. Except for Jeffrey finding me somewhere to live, that was perfect. My first step to achieve my impossible dreams. After all, he would need to get me a work visa to give me that job and I’d be free. I just didn’t know how could I escape him when everyone saw my belly wasn’t growing.

“This will be great.”

“I know. Now, sleep. A pregnant woman shouldn’t be up late.”

I wanted to enjoy every moment beside him, but I didn’t know what to say. I just closed my eyes and kept quiet, knowing I couldn’t sleep so close to him.