“No, I’m trying to quit.”
He looked down at me with lifted brows. “Good girl.”
“Reward me.”
“Good try,” he said.
“Kannon, maybe I shouldn’t stay here. I didn’t mean to impose again.”
“Don’t be silly, Carrie.”
“I’m being serious. If you’re just going to tie me up like some prisoner, then I’m no better here with you than I am with them.”
“I’m not trying to punish you, Carteay. I’m not tying you back up either. We’re close to three days. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to make sure you stay off your feet. You know how important it is that you heal properly. Do you need a bell or something to put in here?”
“No, Kannon, I need you. Why can’t you sleep in here with me?”
“Last time you were here, I crossed the line. I knew I was fucking up, but even more, I knew what I was feeling was the most real thing I had ever felt. My feelings for you haven’t changed, but now I know better than to want more than I can have. Now I don’t have to wonder what you would do if it came down to me or your career. Now I know that you’re always going to choose you, and that’s fine.”
“Don’t say that, Kannon.”
“Why not? It’s true. They say the truth hurts sometimes, but I’m man enough to take it. The bottom line is, I should have been there for you. I let my feelings get in the way of being there for you the way I should have. This time, I’m not asking for permission. Good night, pretty girl,” he said, blowing a kiss before walking away, closing the bedroom door, and leaving me drowning in my tears.
The bed shifted under Kannon’s weight when he slid into bed next to me. My heart drummed in my ears as I anticipated what he would do. I had been lying there for hours, trying to fall asleep. So far, I hadn’t gotten one wink. I was devastated to know that Kannon felt so strongly about my actions.
One of his hands found my waist as the other landed on my throat. I took a deep breath, trying to figure out if I should be afraid or not. This was Kannon. Even though he’d tortured me by tying me up and keeping me in bed a whole day and a half under doctor’s orders, I wasn’t afraid.
Maybe I was crazy, but nothing would make me scared of him until he caused me physical harm. I allowed him to pull mecloser until my head rested on his chest. Listening to the familiar cadence of his heartbeat brought me comfort from the brief moment of intensity.
“You hurt me, Carteay. I . . . I knew I should have been there for you.” Kannon kissed the top of my head before continuing. “This time, I’m not letting up until you’re free and those niggas are in the ground.”
“Kannon, please don’t do anything that could get you hurt. I’ll never forgive myself. I only left because I couldn’t let them hurt you.”
“You think I give a fuck about that? I can handle myself. I’m not asking you to let me fix it for you this time. Just know that I plan to.”
“I don’t want you to give up on us.”
“There is nothing to give up on, right? You asked me for a few days to escape from your shit, and I gave you that. It’s on me if I fell in love. That’s not on you.”
“But I want this. Don’t shut me out, Kannon.”
“You don’t have to say that, Carrie. You’re always going to choose you, your career, or whatever you need to choose to help you run when things get tough.”
“I don’t want to run anymore, Kannon. I want you.”
“I wasn’t trying to wake you up. I just . . . Get some rest, Carrie.”
I moved my hand down his stomach to the freaking steel beam that was tenting his pajama pants. Before I could wrap my hand around it, he grabbed my wrist.
“Carteay, stop. We’re not doing that.”
Instead of listening to him, I threw my leg across him and moved to straddle his hips. I moaned when my pussy brushed across the hardness of his dick. She was so sensitive these days that it was crazy. I dropped my chest to his and kissed my wayup his neck to his jawline. His chest rose when he took a deep breath.
“Mercy,” he hissed.
“Kannon, don’t be like that. I know you want me. I can tell you want me.”
“Mercy,” he grumbled. “Carteay, get the fuck up.”
