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“I do know what I want, Callie. You.Allof you.” He takes my face between his large hands, the tips of his fingers digging into my head. Not enough to hurt, but enough to keep me still. “Agree to my terms. I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Give me seventy-two hours.”
He nods slowly and then drops his head to rest it against mine. “Until then, I intend to convince you.”
“Until then, I intend to resist you.”
Chapter32
Calista
I can senseHayden’s reluctance to let go of me, but he does and steps back. The imprint of his hands burns still against my skin, his final words echoing through the restless chambers of my heart. I stare at him, torn between relief for the delay and regret for a reckoning I'm still not ready to face.
How could any reprieve be long enough to prepare me for a man hell-bent on possession of my body, my secrets, and my very soul?
This man offers sanctuary and solace with one breath, command and conquest with the next. Safety and stability in exchange for absolute surrender on his merciless terms. However, I have no one to blame but myself.
I knew what I was getting into the moment I sought out his help.
It begs the question: Am I really upset? Or am I pretending to be because I’m not and I know I should be?
“Are you ready for bed?” he asks me.
It’s a simple question, but I can’t stop the nervousness that flows over my skin. After this lengthy conversation, I’m confident that Hayden won’t try to have sex with me. So why don’t I feel at ease?
“Yes.”
He tilts his head. “This way.”
Once again he places his hand at the small of my back and guides me down the hallway. To his room. When I stop, he does the same, turning to look down at me with confusion written on his face.
“That’s your room,” I say, by way of explanation.
“I know that.”
“Don’t you have a guest room?”
He nods. “I do, but you won’t be sleeping anywhere unless it’s with me.”
“Hayden…”
His eyes soften as he takes in my obvious distress. “I gave you my word, Callie. My only objective tonight is to keep you safe. Nothing more, no matter how much I want to.”
My stomach dips at the hunger in his voice. I might be fighting my attraction to him, but Hayden is fighting more than that. He’s battling his primal instincts. That’s what drives him to delve into the baser wants, the ones that seek out satisfaction at any cost.
He presses his hand against my spine, and I allow him to lead me inside. I walk over to the bed and sit on the plush mattress, more than ready to sleep in my dress. Not that it covers much, but it’s better than sleeping naked. I’m not brave enough to test Hayden’s limits, even if he did make me a promise to keep his hands to himself.
He makes his way over to a dresser and removes a plain, white t-shirt before offering it to me. “Here. Change and then come to bed.” At my hesitation, he exhales, the sound full of frustration. “What did I say? You know, you’re going to have to trust me at some point.”
“I know, and I do to a certain extent. But asking me to undress in front of you and share your bed is pushing the limits of that trust.” I cross my arms, distress giving way to irritation at him. “A guest room and t-shirt seem perfectly adequate for ensuring my safety tonight.”
“You don’t have to change in front of me.” He juts his chin in the direction of the bathroom. “Change in there, but you will sleep in my bed.”
Lifting my chin, I take the offered shirt and head into the en-suite bathroom, changing and washing up for bed. By the time I emerge, Hayden has dimmed the lights and lies atop the covers with his hands folded behind his head. I run my gaze over him, taking in the relaxed position, finding it at odds with the tension lining his body.
He sits up as I approach the empty side of the bed and pulls the cover back in invitation. I take a deep breath and slide beneath them, my movements stilted due to my uncertainty. He settles against the pillows once more and we lie in strained silence for several moments.
Until Hayden releases an exasperated sound and rolls to face me. “For fuck’s sake, relax. I’m not going to kill you.”
