28. Beau
BEAU
W hen I got back to the shop, I doubled-checked that everything had been locked up tight.
We were only open a half day on Saturdays, so everyone was already gone except for Sam.
She’d waited until I returned so there’d be someone watching the place.
I was sure if I asked, the Theriots would send guards over.
Maybe I would once I heard from Corbin about his talk with Remington.
Sam gave me a rundown of the work she and the others had done that morning. “Do you want me to stay? I assume you’re going to try to get caught up this afternoon.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I need to, but I need to change and eat something first, and I’m mostly going to deal with paperwork. You don’t need to stay.”
“You’re sure?”
I nodded. “You’ve already been here almost a whole workday.”
“All right. See you tomorrow.”
As soon as I reached my apartment, I stripped out of the clothes I’d hastily put on the night before and showered.
Even though I’d just get dirty in the shop, I needed it.
Arguing with Remington had left me feeling sweaty and gross.
I needed to wash all that off and hopefully wake up a little more.
Corbin and I had slept in, but we’d been up for much of the night.
My stomach was rumbling by the time I was out of the shower.
All I’d eaten so far that day was eggs and toast. I needed more fuel.
I opened the fridge and stared at what was inside, but instead of really seeing the half-empty shelves that didn’t hold much beyond leftovers and some condiments, I kept reviewing the conversation at Remington’s house and wondering whether I’d done the right thing leaving Corbin there alone.
I reassured myself that he had to stand up to his brother on his own. I believed he loved me enough that he would fight for what he wanted, what he deserved. He didn’t need me to fight that battle for him. I wanted control when I was with him but not in that way.
I wanted to hold him down and feel him struggle beneath me.
I wanted to be in charge of when he came and when he wasn’t allowed to.
I wanted to wrap my hand around his neck and shove my dick inside him, work it in and out as slow or fast as I chose, and I wanted to spank him again whenever he needed it.
I didn’t want to fight all his battles for him or make all his choices.
I wanted him to feel like he’d decided what he was doing with his life.
My fridge began to beep, angry that I’d left the door open for so long. I turned my attention back to the food inside, but before I could pick out something to eat, searing pain shot through my head. I squeezed my eyes shut and staggered, falling against the refrigerator.
What the hell? I tried to turn around, but I couldn’t. Blackness closed in on me. I fought it, but my knees buckled. As I hit the ground, I heard a woman laugh. Then the darkness took me.