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It drew her to a stop. “Please, don’t do this,” she whispered.
“Me?” He let out a soft laugh, then crossed his arms. “What am I doing other than coming over because clearly you needed me to? You called me, you dropped this shit off on my doorstep, so you’re the one who started this.”
Kat swallowed hard, her shoulders dropping, her old confidence seeming so far away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call you.”
“Course you didn’t. Kat actually asking anyone for help? God fucking forbid.” He snorted and peered around. “One bed or two?”
“One.” As soon as she answered, she cursed herself for falling so easily into Bradley’s trap. He’d always made her mindless.
“I’ll take the couch, then.”
“Excuse me?”Thatgot her brain working. The idea of allowing Bradley into her space at all was a lot, but then the fact he seemed to think he’d bestayingwas entirely too much. “You better mean that you’re stealing it, because you sure as hell will not be sleeping on it here.”
“Good to see your bite isn’t gone. Be a pity if someone defanged you.” Bradley didn’t argue with her—he never really had before.
Some Doms stomped their feet and yelled. They felt the need to prove they were in control. Kat had always enjoyed that type, had mostly played with them. They were easier to manipulate, easier to get what she wanted from.
Bradley hadneverbeen that type. Maybe it was what had ended them, the fact that he stood firm where he was. He didn’t budge, didn’t raise his voice, never had to prove anything.
“You can’t be serious,” Kat finally said. “You can’t just show up after all this time and think you get to tell me what to do.”
Bradley faced her directly, and the weight of that gaze was crushing. He reached out slowly and caught her chin, forcing her gaze to his dark eyes. It took her back, made her remember and get lost in the times she’d stared into those eyes before. And on the tail of that, the memory of how happy she’d been tore through her.
“What’s happened between us doesn’t matter, Kat. You’re hurting, and your stubborn ass is trying to deal with it all on your own, and you’re suffering. Did you really think I’d just stay away when I found out? That I’d hang up the phone and ignore it?”
“What about your ranch? You can’t just drop everything.”
“Being the boss has some benefits, including that I’ve got plenty of help to handle the place while I’m here.”
“This is stupid,” Kat muttered softly, easily recognizing the set of Bradley’s jaw to tell her he wasn’t budging.
He stroked his thumb along her jawline, softening his grip. “Yeah, it is, but I’m still here and I will be until you’re back on your feet. Argue all you want, bitch all you want, but it’s never deterred me before.”
Kat let out a slow breath, knowing he spoke the truth. She had never won against him, and that was really the end of them, like it always was for her. Not that he scared her—she wasn’t afraid of him.
If Kat safe worded, he’d back off. He’d still want to help, still do what he could, but he’d never force her into something she couldn’t handle. That almost made it worse, though. It made her accept that while he was being pushy and annoying, he wasn’t really forcing her into anything.
“How long are you going to stay?” she asked as she gave in.
“That’s up to you, Kat. I’ll be here until you stop needing me.” And damn it, that didnotmake her feel better at all.
* * * *
Walking into Sanctuary was so much harder than it should have been. Kat drew her hands into fists as she forced one foot in front of the other.
The place looked different—it always did when it was empty during the day. Kat was one of the few with access anytime she wanted it, mostly because she’d gotten her hands on a key one time and Toya had never taken it away.
At night the place was lively, had a heartbeat all its own. During the day it seemed dead, like a husk left behind after something terrible had happened. She struggled to recognize it at all, to feel any connection to the building that had been her source of safety before.
Damn Jerry.
Even thinking his name made her shiver, but she forced herself forward, refusing to give everything up to that asshole.
Not that she’d planned on going anywhere. Bradley had been hovering all day, taking up space in her house, silent and judging her.
At least, that’s how it felt.
In reality, he’d had his e-book reader and had planted his ass on the couch. When she wanted to pace, to lose her shit, his presence had put her on edge.
