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“Well, well. Look at the time,” Ian snorted. “I’ll let you two work this out. I gotta run. Talk to you later. Bye.”
Joshua hung up and shook his head. “Pussy.” He chuckled.
“Well?” I asked impatiently.
Joshua laughed even harder. “That’s the wrong way to start this conversation, little one. Would you like to start again?” He lifted his brows in an egotistical arch as he tore his eyes off the road for a split second.
“Can’t we just be two regular people and have a normal conversation?”
“I’m not a two-sided coin, little one. What you see is what you get. With everything that’s happened, I’m sure it’s easier for you to wear your tough-girl armor. I get that. But it’s my job to keep you in your place.”
I hung my head and scrubbed my hands over my face. It was easier for me to confront things head on when presented with a challenge. Yes, I’d given the man my trust and submission; it filled me with a sense of completeness, but Joshua wanted me to mesh both the fragile and the strong? It couldn’t be done. They were two totally separate entities within me.
I sucked in a calming breath and pulled out the submissive inside. “Would you please tell me about the cabin, Master Stephen?” I asked, trying oh so hard not to grit my teeth.
His chest expanded, and a warm smile tugged his lips. “I’d love to, little one, after we get some food.”
Joshua signaled, taking the exit ramp, and pulled into a truck stop. Seated at a booth, I asked him again about the cabin.
“We’ll talk about it in the car, Mellie.” He smiled.
I opened my mouth to speak then snapped it shut. Tossing my head back, I stared at the ceiling and counted to ten. In my peripheral vision, Joshua smiled and studied the menu.
And the lesson for today, ladies and gentlemen, is…patience.
He had me so furious I wanted to scream. And I still hadn’t figured out a way to pilot my own destiny while kneeling at his feet.
What are you whining about? You can have both, you’re just too scared. Scared to let go of that stranglehold you have on your pride. What more does the man have to do to prove he’s not going to let you down? Okay, so he’s thumped his chest a few times. He even got a little snippy once, but you asked for it. How many times have you lost control? The scales are tipped, but not in your favor. He wants to help you, not only with your submission, but also save your life. Look at him sitting there. None of the fuck-buddies you’ve had would go out of their way to keep you alive like Joshua. If you trust him to save your life, for shit’s sake, trust him to save your heart. Or are you nothing but a coward?
Tuning out the annoying voice in my head—the same one that had done a complete one-eighty since I met Joshua—I closed my eyes. Too exhausted and confused to sort it out, I simply wanted peace of mind for five damn minutes.
“Is there a winner of that war going on inside your gorgeous head, Mellie?”
Stop lying to him. But more importantly, stop lying to yourself.
“Yes, Sir. You are.” Gazing into his eyes, I found that peace of mind, and I welcomed his penetrating stare without reservation.
“Hmmm,” he murmured. “‘Bout damn time. I like it. I like it a lot.”
“Me, too…I think,” I whispered.
Joshua cleared his throat. “Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page. Now to answer your questions, Ian has a cabin an hour or so from Chicago. I’ve gone there with him several times. It’s surrounded by six acres of woods and secluded.”
“You’ve gone with him alone?” The question popped out of my mouth before I had a chance to bite it back. I had no right to ask, but the little green-eyed monster within wanted to know.
“Most of the time, he and I went to get away from the city, to hunt and fish and sometimes we brought along a sub to share,” he replied directly.
“And exactly why are we going there now?”
“Because it’s away from Chicago, and like I said, very secluded. It’s where we intend to hide you until this shit with Walker is over.”
“But why the entourage? I mean, why are Sanna, Dylan, Nick, Ian, and everyone coming, too?”
“Because they’re our friends, our family. They want to be there to help make sure nothing happens to you, or me.”
“How long are you planning on keeping me there?” I frowned. My question sounded accusatory. “That came out wrong. You know what I mean.”
“As long as it takes. Until Davis is arrested,” he replied resolutely.
