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Her gasp brings my back up. “You wouldn’t.”
There is madness in my eyes and I let her see it. Let her understand. “Oh. I would.”
She visibly regroups, gathers herself. “Acting is my job. It’s how I make money to pay for Scout to go to school. It’s how we eat!”
“You have me for that now!” I jerk my pants up around my waist and draw the zipper. “How much is school? I write a check.”
That catches her off guard. “I…I mean…I didn’t expect you to do that.”
“Why is this surprise to you, Whitney?” I tear at my hair, wanting to pull it out by the roots. “Do you not understand by now that I am going to take care of everything for you? All of your life.”
“I would never just assume someone else would pay for Scout’s tuition.” A line forms between her brows. “I mean, Banner offered, but—” She cuts herself off, nervous eyes flying to mine. “N-never mind.”
“Banner.” My blood singes the walls of my veins. “How badly he wanted what is mine. I should have fucking killed him. Maybe I will ask for rematch.”
“There is no need,” she whispers, sliding off the bed and wrapping her arms around my waist. “I’m here, Maxim. I only want you.”
I breathe in through my nose carefully, out through my mouth, trying to calm the storm of jealousy. “Then you will quit this acting?”
“No.”
The thunderheads of my storm darken to black. “Kotik…”
Her arms drop away and she straightens her dress with jerky movements, seeming to gather her thoughts as she does this. “I’m not totally naïve. I realize if we’re going to be together, you will be…helping me and Scout. You made more money last night than I’ll see in a lifetime. But I’m not just going to sit around the house like a kept woman. You picked the wrong girl if that’s what you were expecting.”
“And you picked wrong man if you thought I’d let you kiss anyone else.” I grip her chin, tilting up her face, dark feelings seething inside of me. “Do you know what it does to me? Imagining such a thing? I would rather claw my fucking eyes out than watch it!”
A humorless laugh puffs from her lips. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“I will not change my mind on this, Whitney!” I roar, backing her toward the bed.
“How easily you take away my independence. Everything I am, just stripped away.” She shakes her head, tears in her eyes. “Maybe this was a mistake.”
Panic filters in through my anger. “No. No, kotik. Was not mistake.”
“I’m a provider. I’m the sister who solves the problems. That’s what I’ve always been and I like who I am. You can’t just turn me useless to make yourself feel secure.”
“That is not what I’m doing.”
Is it?
My feelings for her are overwhelming. I barely know which end is up anymore.
“I want to be alone,” she says. “I have to think.”
There is something caught in my throat. “I don’t think I want you to think.”
Because she could decide I am bad for her.
Maybe I am.
Once again I could not be gentle between her legs. There are marks on her throat, her neck, and I am sure if I looked under her dress, she would be red and swollen from my cock. Now I am shouting at her and making her eyes wet. Am I terrible at having a woman?
God I hope not.
Because I am keeping Whitney. Yet I will be miserable if she isn’t happy.
The time on the bedside clock catches my notice and inwardly, I curse. “My manager was calling because there is event tonight at club. My sponsor is throwing victory party and I have to show up for a while. You will come with me, Whitney. Please.”
I cannot be away from you.
Oddly, I think it is me saying “please” that makes her agree.
I have to remember to use this important word more often.
“What time?”
“We will leave at nine o’clock tonight.”
She nods, turns away from me. “I’ll rest until then.”
“And think?”
“Uh-huh.”
I make a miserable sound, my fingers curling into helpless fists.
“You promise you’ll keep working on a meeting with my sister?”
“Yes,” I respond firmly. “I promise.”
I reach for her, but she can’t see me and walks away.
But I am not some weakling who takes a punch and hits the mat. If she is unhappy with me, I need to find a way to change that. I don’t want to take away the things that make Whitney feel useful and happy, but there will be no budging on the subject of her kissing other males. Is not easy fix. What I can do now is give my kitten her sister.
Focus on that. Make it happen.
Make her smile.
“See you tonight, kotik.”
Whitney
I’m almost finished dressing for tonight when I get a text message.
Thinking it’s Scout, I lunge for the device, a smile already curving my mouth.
