Chapter 41
FORTY-ONE
brINLEY
King
How are you feeling this morning?
I glanced down at my phone that sat on the bathroom counter for what had to be the twentieth time, wondering how in the hell he expected me to respond to the text.
Talk about a loaded freaking question.
What words were there to say when last night had shifted an intrinsic part inside me? Set something that had been wronged back to right?
Like I know how to dream again seemed like a really imprudent way to start the day.
I leaned back toward the mirror to finish applying mascara, figuring no response was better than the one I wanted to surrender.
My phone vibrated again.
King
If you don’t respond to this in thirty seconds, I’m going to leave the clubhouse to come check on you, and I have important business to attend to. Having to walk out of here on my crew is not going to make me happy.
I couldn’t help but grin.
Surly bear.
Me
So grumpy at 7:45 in the morning. It seems you must be feeling a little less satisfied than me.
I pressed send before I could think better of it. They say not to poke the devil and, here I was, trying to rile the beast.
King
I’ll take it that you’re feeling extra good this morning, then.
Gone was the intensity that we’d fallen asleep to last night. The chaotic storm of emotions that had swelled and throbbed as he’d stared across at me while I had Kai tucked to my chest.
Now? I felt a surge of electricity strike all the way from the clubhouse.
Me
You can rest assured that I am quite chipper this morning.
There I went, laying down bets on a clearly unfavorable hand. Clearly, I was at the disadvantage. No chance of winning.
King
Glad you feel that way because I already miss the taste of you on my tongue. This coffee is not going to do.
Need sailed through my senses. A tumult of butterfly wings that flapped haphazardly in my belly.
Me
Are you thinking about me when you should be paying attention to that “important business” you were attending to?
King
That’s the whole problem, Brinley. Can’t get you off my mind. You’re becoming a distraction that I can’t afford, and I think I’m willing to pay the consequences, anyway.
That time, the butterflies that toppled and turned were of an entirely different variety. A different breed.
Foolish ones that wanted to fly right into the flames.
King
Can’t wait to touch you again. Mark myself a little deeper.
My thighs trembled.
Me
I’ll be waiting with eager anticipation.
Was I really so readily admitting it? But there was a whole lot of peace in surrender.
Me
I’d better go. I need to finish getting ready. It’s almost eight.
King
And just where do you think you’re going?
Me
Work. I need to pay my dues for my stay, remember? Someone once told me I’m quite the handful, and that office is still a mess. I have yet to fully work my magic on it.
Flickers of fear from yesterday licked in the periphery.
But I tamped them down.
I wasn’t going to allow myself to become trapped again. Wouldn’t let some deranged villain set me back to start.
Not when I was finally starting to feel free.
A response immediately blipped through.
King
Not a fucking chance that you’re stepping foot in that office again.
A huff of indignation puffed from my mouth, all while my stupid heart pattered with his care.
God, I really was weak when it came to him. But sometimes you had to whittle yourself all the way down to the nub to give way for healthy growth.
Me
I’ve got news for you, King. I’m not going to be a prisoner in this room.
I might as well have stamped my five-inch heel.
My phone immediately vibrated in my hand.
King
And I won’t allow you to be in unnecessary danger.
Me
Tell me there aren’t at least three men now guarding the gate?
I sent it with the full force of a challenge.
King
Gates are locked up tight. If someone wants in, they are going through security first.
A little relief hit me at the confirmation, not that I expected anything less.
Silas was clearly not to be toyed with, and I knew that trespasser from yesterday had put him over the edge.
Broke something in him, too.
Me
Exactly as I thought.
King
Doesn’t change a thing.
Me
Sure it does, King. And this girl isn’t conceding. There’s work to be done.
A surge of determination rolled through me, and I set my phone aside, dug through my makeup bag, then leaned forward to apply pink gloss to my lips.
I sat back and took in my reflection.
Eyes bright and curls barely tamed.
And for the first time in years, I was almost able to recognize myself.