I take and take and take more than I should… because I’m an addict who can’t help but spoil a good thing. I’m a thief who’s willing to cross the line, if it means stealing you away—if it means making you mine.
And I’m a man you’ve made so weak, I can barely recognize myself without you.
Chapter 27
‘Christian’
That night I dream of Reuben.
I don’t remember much of it, but I know it was the sweetest dream I’d ever had; I’d woken up feeling gooey and sweet on the inside, and I could feel tearstains across my face.
I’ve tried desperately to put space between us these past few weeks… I’ll be ending my time as Christian Adler soon. I don’t want to burrow any deeper into his skin than I already have.
But everywhere I turn, I see him.
My phone buzzes close by and I turn to reach for it, across the table. Last night was another one of Lucia’s attempts to acclimate me to alcohol… yet I feel more broken up than usual.
I’m still half-asleep and trying to gather my bearings when I answer the call, “Christian.”
There’s a single moment of silence on the other line before a familiar voice filters through.
“We need to talk.”
Reuben’s low voice makes me freeze.
He sounds tired. Like he hasn’t slept. The sound of his voice tickles my insides in both a bad and good way. Maybe… even now, I'm dreaming of him.
“Reuben?” I call out to him, still sleep-addled and there’s a long pause on the line before he releases his breath.
“Good morning, baby.” The tenderness in his voice, that nickname—it blends into last night’s dream and overlaps with all those mornings—of waking up beside him, flush against his skin and tucked tightly into his arms, with his lips on the back of my neck.
I shut my eyes tight against the wave of emotion.
“What's wrong?” I try to sound unaffected. Calm. “Did something happen?”
“... Space isn’t working for us.”
My pulse staggers.
No.
No, it has to.
“It is,” I lie. “I'm getting better.”
“No. It’s not.” He sounds so sure of it. His voice is a sudden wave of reason that makes me bite my lip.
“The family is meeting at the mansion today,” he says.
I remember. It’s the day when Reuben’s family gathers from all over—a reunion of sorts and a tradition they keep every year. Everyone with the Taiga name will be there, in the afternoon, to spend time together outside of business.
“But after that…” he sounds tense on the other line. Anxious. “We need to talk. Properly. I'm not letting you run anymore.”
Fuck.
No, I can’t let that happen.
“Reuben, you promised—”
