“Leave me alone. Go. Go home.”
“Not a fucking chance in hell!” I banged my knuckles on the closed door. “Open this.”
“No!”
I clenched my fists in frustration. “Then at least talk to me about what just happened.”
“Go! Please just go. I don’t want to see you.”
I dragged in a breath and stared at the glossy white-painted door. I had no clue what was going on. In the past, if my ex hadn’t come she’d demanded I go down on her…what she hadn’t ever done, was say she’d had an orgasm when she hadn’t.
A red mist came over me. It wasn’t just anger it was confusion. “Open this door or I’ll smash it the fuck down.”
“Please, Mitch, no, go home. I’m done here.” A sob so loud it was like a steel band around my heart.
“You might be, but I’m not.” I bunched my shoulder, braced, and then charged at the door. It flew open on my first attempt, but then this wasn’t my first rodeo when it came tosmashing doors open. Work demanded it on occasion, so did Galahad.
She was backed into the corner, pink cheeks streaked with tears, and hands balled beneath her chin. Her eyes were wide and scared, and she looked from the little chrome lock on the floor to me.
“What the hell is going on?” I straightened and blew out a breath, held my arms down, palms toward her with fingers spread. It was impossible to make myself less intimidating than I knew I was but I tried my best.
“Nothing.” She sniffed then dashed her hand at her nose. “Please…go.”
“And leave you like this? It would take an earthquake, hurricane, and an erupting volcano combined to leave you like this. I’m going nowhere.” I took a tentative step toward her in the small room. “You can trust me…tell me anything.”
“Mitch.” She blinked rapidly. “I can’t…not yet.”
“That’s okay. Whenever you’re ready.” My heart squeezed again. What was going on with her? I had no idea. But what was evident were the scars ran deep and were still raw. “If we can be honest with each other then we can overcome anything.” I did my best to make my voice softer, soothing…not sure I succeeded.
“You think?” Her bottom lip quivered.
I set my hand on her trembling shoulder and squeezed. “Yes, I think you’re fucking amazing, the first woman since Sarah who has made me…feel. I’ve been in a damn dark place but…” What was I doing spilling all of this crap? “But you’ve been a glimmer of light, since I met you, and that’s made me feel maybe I can…” What did I want? What could I do again? Maybe I was as fucked up as Amy. Maybe we could navigate our shit together.
Maybe not.
“I just…it’s a lot.” Her pupils were wide, her breaths stuttering.
“I’ve got broad fucking shoulders.” I shrugged. “Let me take the load. Let me carry the whole damn load.”
Her eye contact remained steady, as though she were assessing my words.
I stepped closer, so close I could smell her. Smell the sex we’d just had. “Baby girl, come on. Don’t self-destruct like this.”
She crumpled; a folding of bones accompanied by a long exhalation.
I caught her and gathered her to me, the fragility of her almost my undoing and my protective streak surging.
A sob erupted, but only one, then she clung to me, limpet style, and pressed her cheek to the curve of my neck.
Shutting my eyes, I held her tight. What the fuck had happened in her past? I knew I was privileged to be this near to her. God only knew what pricks had come before me and hadn’t noticed there was a problem with this sweet, defiant, guarded woman.
“It’s okay.” I stroked her hair. “I’ve got you.”
She didn’t answer, so I bent, hooked my left arm beneath her legs, and scooped her up. I didn’t have to be anywhere, so we’d wait this out.
I was a patient man.
Chapter Five
