“It was just one night, remember? Nothing more. Clint and Charlie will be home soon so you can leave.”
There was silence then he sat on the bed facing her. Fuck. She knew he wasn’t going to make this easy on her. Not Zeke.
“Look at me.”
She couldn’t refuse him. Refusing him would show weakness and right now, she needed to be strong.
Because kicking him out was one of the hardest things she’d ever done. So, she raised her gaze to meet his serious gaze.
“We agreed, Zeke.”
He snorted. “You set the boundary. That doesn’t mean it can’t shift.”
“It hasn’t shifted.”
“Oh, it has,” he drawled. “You’re just too scared to admit it.”
“I am not scared,” she shot back. “You can’t take rejection. I told you last night what I could give you. You’ve had it. End of story. Now you’re trying to act like I owe you more. I don’t.”
She glared at him fiercely. Please leave, Zeke. Please leave before I lose it completely. Before I cave and beg you to never let me go.
“All right. I’ll go.”
Shit. Shit. Part of her hadn’t wanted him to give in. Had wanted him to fight.
Jesus, Eden, you are screwed up.
Like she didn’t already know that.
It’s better this way.
“Good. I mean, this was nice for one night, but it was never going to go further. I can’t do that again.”
He leaned in, staring at her. “Why? Enjoy it too much? Did you wake up this morning and realize just how far you’d let me slip by those shields of yours? Did you realize just how much of yourself you gave to me?”
Fuck. Shit. Crap. How could he read her so easily?
“I thought so,” he murmured. “Remember this, Eden. I see the real you. All of you. I know when you’re scared. And I know when you’re running. Right now, you’re afraid. All of these feelings are frightening you. I get that. I’ll give you some time. But my patience only goes so far. I was willing to go slow. To give you time. But at some stage that will all come to a head. You are going to be mine. And you won’t be able to say I didn’t warn you.”
4
Six weeks later
Sweat, tobacco, and sex.
At least it didn’t smell like piss and blood.
Then again, the night was still young.
As Eden rolled her way into the bar, she ran her gaze over the inhabitants, pretending a bravado she definitely didn’t feel.
But then, wasn’t that her life? Pretending to be something she wasn’t? Pretending to be normal. She hadn’t been normal for years. Not since before the day her life changed forever.
The day she got her parents killed.
She’d had years of perfecting this mask. Of pushing deep emotions and feelings that were entirely too messy to deal with.
You let him in. You let him see more of you than anyone has seen in years. You let him touch you. Tease you. Take care of you.