AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He bends and kisses me deeply. “I promise I’ll be back later tonight, but I won’t disturb you and Owen.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer for a kiss. For some reason, I don’t want to let him go.
“What’s wrong, little vixen? You’ll be safe with Owen.”
And that’s just it. “The last time one of you left I almost died,” I whisper.
Owen is behind me before Tobias can respond, and he puts a hand on my shoulder.
“If it helps, I can track him wherever he goes tonight. We’ll know the minute there’s trouble. But there isn’t going to be any trouble. So come on, love. I want to see what dress you picked out.”
Reluctantly, I kiss Tobias one more time and let Owen pull me away from him.
It isn’t until he opens the door to step into the hallway that I remember I’m naked. But Tobias is careful not to expose me to the security team still standing guard at our door.
When the door is closed and it’s just me and Owen, he pulls me close and suddenly a dam breaks. A dam I think I’ve been holding in since I got kidnapped by Lorenzo.
He doesn’t say anything, just stands there and lets me cry, stroking my hair every few minutes and rubbing my back.
When I raise my head, he pulls out a handkerchief so I can wipe my eyes and blow my nose.
“Sorry about that,” I say, feeling sheepish. “I didn’t mean to fall apart. You know that’s not my style.”
He puts a hand on the back of my neck and pulls me in for a gentle kiss. “You’ve got a good excuse. Now, do you want to go to the club with me tonight, or should we stay in?”
My eyes light up. “I’d love to go to the club with you, Sir.”
He grins. “Good girl. Let’s go see what you picked out to wear.”
Chapter thirty-one
Chapter 30
Owen
Myfingersbrushdelicateskin on Bellamy’s bare shoulder as she sits in the chair I’ve pulled out for her. We’re having dinner in a new Greek restaurant recommended by Tyson Vance. I bend and kiss her neck gently, then sit across from her.
“Tell me how you’re really doing,” Bellamy asks.
It’s the third variation on the question so far tonight. She’s convinced something is wrong with me.
“I’m adjusting,” I say, picking up my menu.
Her brow wrinkles as she presses her lips together. “That’s not much of an answer.”
“What do you want me to say, Bellamy?”
She drops her head, and I set the menu aside, to give her my full attention. “I want things to be normal between us. They’re still a little weird.”
My laughter comes out sharper than I intend, and her eyes fly to mine, a mixture of hurt and annoyance swimming in them. “That’s an understatement, love. We’re going to have to get used to a new normal between us. Tobias changes things. He was always going to change things. They’re simply changing in a way that includes me now. And I’m thrilled about that. You do not understand how relieved I am that I get to keep you in my life. But let’s be real, Bellamy. Things are different. The normal you’re looking for doesn’t exist anymore, and I’m still walking around with the fear that you’ll be ripped from me again if Tobias changes his mind.”
Her lashes flutter as she blinks rapidly, and I hope she’s not trying to hold back tears. Tonight is supposed to be about enjoying ourselves. She reaches across the table and puts her hand over mine. “I just want to make sure you don’t think… I’m using you or something.”
My forehead scrunches in confusion, and I flip my hand over beneath hers, so our palms are touching.
“Using me how, love?”
Her eyes dart anywhere but me and her hand twitches atop mine. “To make things with Tobias more bearable?”
