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And it didn’t stop him from wanting to protect me.
He’s a monster and a savior, all in one.
My skin prickles at the memory of his threat: “I’ll make them suffer in ways no one has ever suffered. Before I fucking kill them.” There’s no doubt in my mind that he meant every word. To a degree I don’t want to clarify. He’ll use his hands to enact vengeance.
And use those same hands to extract pleasure from me.
My thighs clench at the memory of his touch, the way his fingers whispered across my skin. “You’re right,” I murmur, my words more for me than Harper. “There’s… something between us that I can’t wrap my head around. He’s acknowledged it as well and told me that we’re inevitable.”
“Wow, that’s fucking romantic.” She tilts her head. “Or psychotic. Take your pick.”
A reluctant smile works its way onto my mouth. Only to disappear at my next thought. “That’s true, but he’s intense. It’s one of the reasons that makes me hesitate when it comes to him.”
I swallow hard and glance at Harper, who’s watching me with a mix of concern and curiosity. There’s no way I can tell her everything, but she’s smart enough to read between the lines.
“So, he’s a real bad boy, not some jackass pretending to be tough, huh?” When I nod, she arches her brow. “And not just the garden-variety kind. Interesting.”
I groan. “I know how it sounds. But when I’m with him he’s the only one who makes me feel safe.”
“Considering you have a stalker, that’s not exactly a bad thing.”
“I know.” I groan again, louder this time, and cover my face with my hands. “I feel like no matter what I do, it’ll be a mistake.”
“Look at me.” When I let my arms fall to my sides, she pins me with a look. It’s caring but stern and I stand a little straighter. “You’re one of the strongest, most hard-working women I know,” she says. “If being with Hayden felt wrong, you’d already be out the door. But you’re still here and talking it over with me, aren’t you?”
Her words resonate with unexpected truth, loosening the knots of tension along my shoulders. She’s right. I wouldn’t stay if I really thought Hayden would hurt me. Even when I provoked him last night, he always remained in control of his actions and his temper. The only time he didn’t was because he was enraged on my behalf. Notatme.
“No one can take away your strength,” she says. “Not even Mr. Tall-dark-and-dangerous-dick-size Bennett. But if he does step out of line, I’ve got a bat with his name on it. And it’s not just any bat, but a ‘Lucille.’”
I blink at her. “A what?”
“Zombie show reference. Don’t worry about it. I’m just saying I’ll fuck him up bad. Regardless of what you decide, please be careful.”
“I think I’ll stay with him and take it one day at a time. Worst-case scenario, I can sleep on the floor in your dorm, right?”
Harper chuckles. “Yep!”
I throw my arms around her and squeeze my friend tightly, beyond grateful for her support. And perspective. Although my connection with Hayden is intense and complicated, I’m going into it with my eyes open to the risks. His protectiveness is seductive and giving up some of my independence won’t be easy, but at the end of the day, I have a stalker.
Hayden is the perfect person to deal with that.
Chapter37
Hayden
Calista isn’twhere she’s supposed to be.
I glance down at my phone, noting her position on the map displayed on my screen. The Sugar Cube. Of course. After everything that happened last night, it makes sense she’d run to her friend. I’m not exactly sure how much she’s going to reveal to her co-worker, but I’m not concerned.
I won’t allow anything or anyone to get in between me and Calista.
Not even herself.
Ironically, she’s the one putting up the biggest obstacle. Although, some of her barriers dropped last night. Or she wouldn’t have told me the name of the private clinic.
Every time I think about it, I almost lose my shit all over again.
I glance at the defense table, taking in the creases and stress lines on the attorney’s face. She doesn’t like losing a case—no one in our profession does—but she hates it when she loses to me. Maybe I shouldn’t have fucked and discarded her.
