He doesn’t look happy, but he bows his head in a reluctant nod.“If it’s what you want, I’ll comply.”
It’s what I want to hear, but I don’t know if I believe him.“What’s changed?”
“I realized you’ll keep running from me if I continue to push too hard.You’re stubborn and will probably run right into danger.”
I huff.I could say the same about him.
“And if I lock you down, a part of you will die.I’m not willing to live without any part of you.”
He’s going to try to control me no matter what I do.I have nothing to lose if I simply surrender.
I take his hands.They’re large and capable, and was it only a few weeks ago that I didn’t allow him to touch me?Now I can’t imagine going any length of time without his hands on me.
“Rex, I need to tell you something.”
He holds his breath as if waiting for a blow.
“I can’t fight you anymore.”I pick up his hand and hold it to my cheek, needing his comfort as I admit, “I can’t win, and even if I could, I don’t want to anymore.”
“What do you want?”
“I want...I need you to help me.I can’t do this without you.”The darkness I felt at my townhouse is gone, obliterated by Rex’s presence.I need him.
Without him I won’t survive long enough to do what I need to do.
Without the pressure banding around my head, my tears are leaking out.I haven’t cried for so long—not since my aunt died.
I fight my tears back, letting my words rush out of me.“I don’t want anyone else to live through this nightmare, Rex.Please, please, just help me.”I give up and press my face to his strong shoulder.He’s so solid, his free hand tracing comforting circles on my back.Our bodies are always so in sync; why can’t the rest of us fall in line?
“Of course, I will,” he murmurs.“Inara, I’ll do anything for you.”
My breath shudders out of me.I let my tears disappear in the dark fabric of his expensive suit and raise my head.Time to negotiate terms.“I need to go into work.”
His hand on my back stills, but he says, “All right.”
“And you can’t come.You can’t interfere with the investigation.”
“You can’t stay at your townhouse.Your room at the Hotel Magnifique is always available for your use.”
I take it as a good sign that he’s not ordering me to stay there.
“All right.Then that’s where I’ll sleep.It beats a giant golden birdcage.”The joke slips out before I can stop it.
The side of his lips quirk.
“Where did you even get a cage that big?Never mind.I don’t want to know.Just don’t lock me up again.”
“I’ll try.”
I shake my head at him, almost smiling as we fall into our familiar pattern of banter.“You’ll try?You, the great Rex Roy, who succeeds at everything?”
“Not everything.”He sobers and kisses my hand.
I bite my lip, remembering the accusations we threw at each other in the heat of the moment.I need his help, but I don’t trust him anymore.Not like I did.
But maybe we can start over.
“Truce?”I turn my hand over so he can shake it, and he does.
