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I’d let myself envision a future.
One that I damn well knew wasn’t within my grasp.
Silly, foolish, naïve girl.
I shook my head at myself, my heart aching. This wasn’t Gareth’s fault. Of course, he wouldn’t have been there when I woke up. The favor was done. He’d held out as long as he could, which was more gentlemanly than I think he’d ever admit about himself, and then I broke him.
And in doing so, I’d sealed my fate.
He would send me packing now.
Well, I’d get started for him.
I would keep my head high and not show him how badly I didn’t want to leave.
Was it healthy to want to stay under the wing of safety and happiness he offered? I wasn’t sure. He kept saying I’d traded one monster for another—my family, a network of monsters who’d kept me cloistered and in the dark about so damn much, and my…Gareth. The broody prince of a rival family who’d made me feel more at home in my own skin than I ever had before.
That didn’t sound monstrous or toxic to me. That sounded a lot closer to…
No, I wouldn’t even think it.
I had no right to.
I couldn’t be angry with him. I’d put myself in this position, and I’d gotten exactly what I asked for.
I’d start my own life now. Somewhere. Somehow. I just had to figure out how to do that.
I grabbed my suitcase and laid it open on the bed, rapidly shoving clothes in it that I assumed he wouldn’t mind I took, even though he’d purchased them. God, as much as I appreciated him providing all the safety and luxuries he had, I hated that I had nothing of my own at the end of all this. No net to catch me as I fell.
Pity party for one? Yep.
I’d get a job somewhere. I had friends now, so maybe Savannah or Daisy could give me some advice? I could text them…no, call them and?—
“Where are we going?” Gareth’s voice sounded from the doorway.
I’d been so lost in my thoughts I hadn’t even heard him come in.
I quickly swiped the tears from my cheeks, willing myself to stand tall even though the sight of him literally made me want to crumble.
“I’m no longer an asset,” I said, shocked when my voice didn’t crack. “You’ve been nothing short of amazing by taking care of me, Gareth. No one can say you didn’t thoroughly carry out the favor I called in. So, thank you. Honestly, you saved my life. But I know you need to get back to living yours.” I blew out a breath, hurrying to zip my suitcase, giving my hands something to do. I hauled it off the bed, turning to face him. “I’ll see myself out.” I’d worry about changing out of the robe later. I couldn’t stand there a moment longer.
I felt like I was breaking myself into pieces, putting on this brave face. And how was that possible? I’d only officially been with Gareth a little over a month…but it felt like so much longer than that. It felt like…forever. Like I could live my days with him forever and still not get enough.
That was intense, I totally knew that. And maybe my future therapist would call me out on my almost too-dependent attachment to my would-be savior, but that was for future me to worry about.
Gareth stood like a statue, a muscle flexing in his jaw as he lingered in the doorway.
I swallowed hard, sucking in a sharp breath as I grabbed the suitcase and rolled it, walking toward him, willing him to move so I could leave.
He didn’t budge.
“Do you want to leave?” he asked, his voice the kind of cool calm that would scare most people.
“I’m no longer valuable?—”
“Do you want to leave, Serenity?” he asked, softer this time. “It’s a simple question, angel,” he continued when I struggled to spill the truth. “If leaving is what you truly want, then you know I’ll never stop you. I’m not some captor who will chain you to my bed…” He tilted his head back and forth, a darkness churning in his eyes that made a warm shiver dance down my spine. “Not that I haven’t thought about tying you up and marking more of that smooth skin of yours, but that’s beside the point.”
A gasp left my lips, and he stepped closer.
