“You.”
“Mmmm, that’s right.Me.Not your nightmares, not the things in your head that have you scared and hurting yourself.Me.”
Unable to get enough of her, I go to kiss her again when my phone rings.
Trying to ignore it, I finally release her hair and comb my fingers through the silky strands.Slowly I ease her down my frame where she no longer has to feel the throb of my cock against her.
She’s so damn beautiful.
The phone falls silent when it goes to voicemail, but quickly starts again.
Sadie’s looking up at me, with eyes so blue I feel as if I’m staring into the ocean—where I’ll willfully crash against the shores and drown just to hear her song.
On the third time ringing, I cuss and answer with an aggressive snap.
“Sullivan.”
“About fucking time, Elias.I shouldn’t have to call you three times for you to answer the damn phone.”
Maverick.That only means one thing, I have to leave the damn state.I planned to send Sadie home and forbid her from relieving the ache I’ve caused, then try again tomorrow.But, looks like all good things must come to an end.
Without too much space, I release her ass and keep my arm coiled around her waist, holding her flush to my side as I correct him.
“I’m not always at your beck and call, boy.What’s so important you had to call me back to back?”
“Need you here at oh-six-hundred.GPS’d your phone and see you’re in Philly.It’s a long flight, don’t be late.”
He doesn’t get the courtesy of a goodbye; ironic since I give Sadie grief for the same shit.Hanging up, I shove the damn phone into my pocket and aim my attention back at the woman who’s ensnared me.She’s soft and hanging onto me, eyes hooded and a little gone, so this is my chance to plant the idea of ‘us’ into her beautifully cracked mind.
Cradling both sides of her face, I press the softest kiss to her lips then tilt my forehead to hers.
“Gotta work.I’ll be back in a few days to pick you up from your appointment.Do not take public transit or Uber.Understood?
She hums her response and I chuckle at its lazy tone.This woman has a chokehold on me, only fair I have one on her too.One kiss to her forehead is the last thing I give before I let her go.Like the gentleman I am, I ensure Sadie is steady on her feet then lace our fingers together and guide her back to the main entrance.
“Go to your parents.Don’t talk to anyone; I have no desire to bail you out of jail.”
She takes one last look at me before our hands finally disconnect.I can’t help but feel like a part of me has been ripped from the bone when I no longer feel her warmth.
“Sadie, be good.”I call out, trying to get one more glimpse of her.
She doesn’t stop, just lifts her right hand and flips me off.Smiling like the shmuckiest-shmuck that has ever walked the planet, I shake my head and disappear down the stairs before either one of us can look back.
Chapter seven
Sunshine
“Alright,Sadie,explainagain,”Mr.Kensington urges, as his pen scrawls across his legal pad, capturing the things I say.
He doesn’t look up at me when we are in sessions—half the time I think he’s doodling on his bright yellow paper instead of writing, ‘This girl needs to be in an institution.’
“Which part?”
“What do you mean by distractions and self-mutilation?Specifically, the mutilation.”
“It’s a tattoo, Mr.Kensington, not self-harm.”
“In the mind's eye, perhaps.Sadie, you experience intense episodes of disembodiment paired with violence.While you have not aimed it at yourself, partaking in risky activities in your condition is a flag for evaluation.Tattooing your body isn’t one of your normal activities, so I’m going to question the decisions behind it and whether or not you were in control when you allowed the procedure.”
