AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She’s quick to apologize and for a moment it seems like she’ll turn to face me, to beg me, but her hands don’t leave, they hold her back.
She has no idea how many times I’ve been called a psychopath by men who died minutes later. Their voices shriek at me from the depths of my memory. They were right. She’s right. I’m a psychopath. I’m a murderer. I’m going to hell once I’ve finally been killed. I’ll burn for the things I’ve done.
“Get your clothes on and get out.”
I don’t know where it’s come from, but I need her to leave. With the emotion that swarms me, the realization of the power she has over me, to compel me to feelthis, I can’t be around her right now. “Now.”
“Declan, I’m sorry,” she repeats, slowly standing but not reaching for her clothes just yet.
“You can go home for the rest of the night,” I add as I move away from her attempt to press her hands against my chest. Dropping the ruler to the drawer, I detach myself.
“Get dressed.”
“Please, Declan. I’m sorry—”
“How many times must you make me repeat myself?”
“I’m sorry,” she pleads as she obeys, slipping her dress over her head.
“… you would do anything to stay, wouldn’t you?” I doubt if I should be so sure that she’s not the one who’s the informant.
“I didn’t realize it would hurt you like that.” Brushing her dark hair from her face, she tells me, standing awkwardly by the desk, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“When you say that … I believe you.” A whisper at the back of my mind reminds me that this isn’t some paid service or a rendezvous with a flame. She could be working with Scarlet. Using me. Fucking me just to get close. And yet, I can’t stop the words from slipping out. “So don’t hurt me. I don’t ever want to hurt you either.”
A shuddered breath shakes her shoulders as she nods up at me. “I won’t hurt you. I promise,” she tells me in lowly spoken words. Her longing gaze reflects an eagerness to start over, to leave all of this conflict behind.
Today has been difficult, between her admission regarding her abusive ex and our current dispute. There’s a tension between us unlike what’s been there before.
Glancing down at the desk, I consider telling her to bite down on the ruler and fucking her from behind, giving both of us exactly what we need. That’s all we need right now and then all of this goes away. It’s what I’d planned on. Every thrust from behind would give her a hint of pain, heightening the pleasure. It’s what she needs. I need it too. The haze that clouds my judgment vanishes as my phone rings, disrupting the moment.
It’s Jase, no doubt with more information about the informants.
“Declan?” My name is a whispered and cautious question on her lips. Her cheeks are blotchy and her hair disheveled. I should love this look on her, this obvious need to make things right with me, but I loathe it.
What the fuck am I even doing with her?
“Get your shoes on,” I command her and she’s quick to move. I assume in hopes that this conversation is over, but it is far from over. “If you behave like that again, I’ll lock you in a real cage.” Pausing in her movements, she peers back at me silently. “Do you understand?”
She nods and swallows thickly before saying, “Yes.”
The phone rings once more and I answer it. “One second.” Bringing the phone down to my chest, I watch as Braelynn fixes the sleeve of her sweater dress. It’s not until she’s somewhat composed that I speak.
Although it’s more than evident that she’s emotional and still shaken.
“If you keep secrets from me, I won’t know and you’re going to end up hurting yourself.” Fully clothed, she stares back at me with her eyes glistening, her arms crossed over her chest. Her bottom lip wobbles and the thoughts that flit through my mind are insane. Truly deranged.
The desire to hang up on my brother, to coddle her and love on her until she doesn’t look at me like that any longer … it’s unfathomable.
So I do what’s best for her, what I should have done from the very beginning. “Go home, Braelynn.” She should have left the first time I warned her and never come back.
She doesn’t respond verbally, only with a single nod before briskly leaving.
The moment the door closes and I answer my brother, all I can think is she might do just that after today.
She may never come back. It leaves me with a sinking feeling in my chest, and a chill and numbness that stay with me for the remainder of the night and into early morning. I stay up the entire time knowing all too well, if she were smart, she’d never step foot in this office again.
BRAELYNN
