Laken threw her shoulders back. “Thought I might sell it on eBay,” she said sarcastically. “Reckon it will make me a tidy profit. I’m tired. I’m going home.”
She turned around, unsurprised when he matched her pace. It would go against Duncan’s nature to let a woman walk around unaccompanied late at night.
“Running away again, Laken?” he chided. “You know that some time you’re going to find yourself with nowhere to run to.”
Her shoulders hunched as she absorbed those words. Yeah, one day she guessed everyone really would get sick of her and she’d have nowhere to go.
“Hey, look at me.”
Duncan grabbed her shoulders, turning her.
“Why? Are you going to do a trick?” she quipped. He rolled his eyes.
“Let go of me,” she said irritably, using her temper to drive her hurt away. “You can’t just grab me anytime you want.”
“Stop, sub,” he said firmly. Her body immediately stilled. Damn, damn, damn. “Tell me why my words upset you.”
“We’re not in a relationship anymore, Duncan. You can’t just demand to know my every thought.”
“For God sake, Laken, the last thing I want to do is hurt you. I know it goes against your fighting spirit, but for once in your life can you just calm down and listen to me? I don’t want to know your every thought, although I’d give a hell of a lot to know what is going on with you. I simply want to know why what I said hurt you so much.”
“Well, how could telling me that everyone will get sick of me eventually not hurt me?”
“Christ.” She put up a pitiful fight as he pulled her close, because truthfu
lly, she wanted to be held by him. Tucking her in against his chest, he rocked her gently. “I’m sorry, Laken. That’s not what I meant at all. Nobody is going to get sick of you. You’re home now, with people who love you. All I meant was that eventually you won’t be able to run anymore. We all have to grow up and face things in our life, even those things we’d rather ignore. Time to stop running, Laken.”
Laken stepped back, glaring up at him angrily. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“No, because you won’t tell me,” he replied calmly.
“Because it has nothing to do with you, whatever we had has been over for years. I might be running, but at least I’m not living in the past. We are over. Stay out of my life. I don’t know how much clearer I can make it.”
Turning, she stormed off, thankful that her apartment was only a few doors away. Even though she knew he watched her, he made no move to follow.
“Laken,” he called out, his voice pure demand.
She stopped, forcing herself not to turn around.
“I catch you walking around late at night by yourself again, the kid gloves are coming off. I’m being patient right now. But you can only push me so far.”
Laken rushed inside, slamming the door shut. She leaned against it, taking deep breaths. She tried to tell herself that the shivers racing through her body were anger.
She lied.
***
Duncan stepped into Saxon’s, wishing that he was anywhere else. He had promised Kellan and Eli that he would meet them here. He didn’t see his two older brothers that much, even though they only lived in Dallas. Working for a private security firm kept them busy.
He walked into the bar. The play area was off to his right, through a large set of wooden double doors. He didn’t even glance over. He hadn’t felt the desire to take on another sub since Laken.
Laken. Damn woman was definitely pushing him. He did not like the idea of her walking around at night on her own. What was she thinking?
His patience could only go so far. They had both made mistakes in the past, but he was the Dom. It had been up to him to provide for her, to make sure she had everything she needed in their relationship.
He had failed her. But as a submissive, it had been up to her to tell him what she needed from him and instead of talking to him, she had run off.
He didn’t like the stress she was under. Perhaps it was time to take this a step further. The soft approach wasn’t working.