“Whoa, whoa, whoa, pet. It’s okay,” I soothe, crouching in front of her. “You’re safe.”
I make a show of grabbing my knees with my hands, worried it was my touch that set her off. What the fuck happened? She was fine in my room, leaning into my touch, begging me to fill her. What changed?
“I’m going to touch you, pet, okay?” I say, showing her my palms and slowly lowering my hands to her body. Her eyes are glassy, and it looks like she’s looking through me, not at me. “You’re going to be okay. I’m going to carry you to Alyx’s room.”
As delicately as possible, I scoop her into my arms and move quickly down the hall. Using the toe of my boot, I bang on the door, and Alyx throws it open with a look of irritation before he sees Emma in my arms.
“What the fuck?” Alyx asks as I push past him, gently setting her on the bed.
“We had a successful scene, and I was escorting her back to your room. She flinched when I touched her back, and when I pressed her about it, she used her safe word and dropped to the ground.”
“Why are you wearing different pants?” His eyes widen. “Did you fuck her? You weren’t supposed to fuck her. This is my best friend’s little sister. He’ll kill me if I let anything happen to her.”
“Relax, I didn’t fuck her,” I assure him standing from the bed and crossing my arms. I easily have a few inches on him, and even though he can’t see it through the mask, I glare down at him.
“Chill, Zade, you don’t have to get all Daddy Dom on me.”
“Zade?”
“It’s a book about— you know what, never mind,” he says, pushing past me to check on Emma. “Em, you okay? Talk to me, sis,” he says, gently stroking her spine as she curls onto her side, facing away from him so he can continue the gesture.
I’m hit with a confusing wave of jealousy watching him comfort her, and I shake my head to clear it away. I need to get out of here. “You good with her?” I ask, backing toward the door.
“Yeah, man,” Alyx says without looking at me.
“Wait,” a small voice rasps. I’m next to her in two strides, kneeling at the foot of the bed as her tiny frame faces me at eye level.
“What is it, pet?” I ask quietly, fighting the urge to push the hair on her cheek behind her ear.
“I need to see you again,” she pleads, locking those doe eyes on me, and even though my mask is tinted and she can’t see in, I swear she’s looking right into my soul.
“Don’t know if that’s the best idea…” Alyx starts, but she cuts him off.
“Please, I need to see you again. I need you.”
It’s clear she could use my guidance, and I was naive to think that one session would be enough. But it has to be enough—she is a risk I cannot afford to make. She’s someone who will make me break all my rules. The kind of woman that men start wars over, like Helen of Troy. And suddenly I want to abandon everything to protect her. Something about her triggers my hero complex, and I have an overwhelming desire to help her and protect her, but from what, I can’t be sure. I should walk away. I have way too many fucking problems that I can’t afford to drag her into.
“Please, sir. I need your help,” she begs as a single tear glides down her slender nose, pausing on the tip, before dropping onto the black comforter.
My mind flashes to the last time a woman said those words to me. I couldn’t deny her, and I know I won’t deny Emma.
Her small hand reaches toward me, and I take it, bringing it up to my mask as if I’m able to kiss it. All I can do is offer her a small nod in response.
She deserves a lot more than I can offer her, but just like I always do, I’m going to help her anyway.
CHAPTER 3
EMMA
Ilie on the bed in Alyx’s private room for much longer than I should, but I’m afraid to move, and I can’t pinpoint why. His hand is still making gentle, sporadic strokes on my back, making it clear he’s probably scrolling on his phone.
Letting out a deep breath, I lean up on my elbow, knowing I need to move or I’ll stay here all night.
“What did he do? To set you off,” Alyx asks gently.
“I don’t want to talk about what happened in his room.” I’m not ready to tell him about anything when I’m still processing it myself.
“I’m not asking about that.”
