Page 4 of Kept By the Gemini

I cringe when I think about the familiar phrase. Every woman in a bad relationship says it.

“Are you gonna be good here by yourself, Daisy? I can stay.”

I’m shaking my head before he even finishes. “I’ve got this. I really appreciate you letting me stay here. I promise I’ll figure out someplace to stay within a day or two.”

He pauses in the doorway on his way out and turns back to me, handing me a set of keys and eyeing me closely. It takes everything I’ve got to keep the look of unconcern on my face.

“Okay. I’ll go now so you can get some rest. But I’ve asked you and asked you to call me Dexter, Daisy.”

“That wouldn’t be appropriate,” I say primly.

He grins. “I love it when you say things like that.” Before I can tell him that he shouldn’t say things like that, he sets the keys on the little table by the door and walks out, closing it softly behind himself.

I turn and study the townhouse. It’s much nicer than my little apartment. It’s also in a nicer area.

My bare feet sink into the plush gray carpet and I sigh in happiness. Padding over to the couch I sink down, letting the soft cushions cradle my exhausted body.

But it doesn’t take long for the creeping unease to skim over my skin like a cold breeze. My eyes drift to the open windows with the sun barely a dim memory. Dark is slithering ever closer and I shiver, running my hands up and down my arms, sitting upright and trying to hold onto my sanity.

It’s always like this. Every damn day I wake up and wonder if this is the day. The day he finds me again. The day he walks all over me again. Until he manages to get himself thrown in jail. Again.

Only to get out and find me. Again.

I thought when I left town and made a new life for myself somewhere far away, that he’d lose interest and leave me the hell alone. No such luck.

Here I am again, sinking into the same old feelings and fears, letting my boss take care of my problems instead of standing up for myself.

There’s a rustling outside and my head pops up, staring out the window. It’s open to the cool night breeze coming in and the curtain stirs with the air moving.

I stand and dart over, slamming the window shut and locking it, my heart racing out of control. If only I could shut the window on all these damn creeping fears and regrets.

I pull the curtains and make sure the door is locked tightly. After a quick look around to make sure that there is no easy access, I run up the stairs and slam the door shut on all my fears. The bedroom is lovely. Serene, pale blue with calming ivory accents and little glints of silver and pewter. It’s like staying in a high-quality hotel room. Just stunning.

I let the calm the room evokes wash over me and close my eyes, taking a deep breath. The first deep breath that I’ve taken in almost twenty-four hours.

I open my eyes and step into the bathroom, gasping. I turn in a circle, stunned. This is the bathroom of my dreams. Soft white quartz countertops with a little flash of silver flecks in the pure white. Fluffy pale blue towels are stacked on shelves beside the massive shower with stacked white tiles and a pebbled base.

A huge soaker tub sits on the hexagonal white tiles glistening with a gray fleur de lis pattern. I can’t decide whether to take a shower or a long soak in the massive tub. But after another jaw-cracking yawn, I decide to take a quick shower and undress, pulling out a towel so soft that it’s like a flower’s delicate petals.

I step under the hot spray and moan when it hits my sore body. I’ve been wound so tight that my body feels stiff every damn day. My muscles unwind and I let my mind drift.

Only to pull up short when I picture Dexter under the spray with me, his big hands holding my hips, his heated blue gaze boring into me and making me burn with desire. His mouth hovers over mine for just a second, just a breath while his eyes search my own green eyes. And like I’m hypnotized, I barely nod my head. Just enough to let him know that I want this.

And then he’s on me, lifting me into the wall, my legs wrapping around his trim waist, my fingers tangled in his dark hair, tugging at it while he gasps into my throat and his teeth scrape along my sensitive skin.

My fingers slide down and dig into his tanned, bulging shoulders, making him hiss at the sting.

I shake my head and drag myself back into the present, my body throbbing with frustrated desire.

I cannot want my boss. It would be career suicide and I need my job. Right now it’s all I’ve got going for me.

As I slip under the covers later that night, the silk cool against my heated skin, a small voice inside me whispers that I have another thing going for me. I have a man who’s willing to help me.

I need to learn to help myself though. I’m not a victim. I’m a strong, independent woman and I need to start acting like it and stop leaning on Dexter for his help.

It’s time to pull my big girl pants on and take care of the mess my life has become.

ChapterFour

Source: www.allfreenovel.com