“Then come here.”
This time, Freddy let her go. She walked over to Connor and looked up into his face. “Can you ever forgive me, Sir?”
She held her breath. Waited.
He cupped her face. “Only if you can forgive me.”
“What? What for?” His face blurred through her tears.
“I waxed on about all my rules. Communication. Respect. Honesty.”
“And I broke them,” she whispered.
“You didn’t tell me everything,” he agreed. “Kept something big that could have affected your safety and that is definitely going to be addressed. But I broke the rules too. I promised to never withhold my affection. And at the first big issue, I closed myself off from you. I should never have said I wasn’t your Dom anymore. I certainly didn’t mean it.”
“You didn’t?”
“No, wildcat. I regretted it as soon as I said it. And if we hadn’t been interrupted, I would have done my best to convince you of that.”
She glanced over at Freddy. “Do you think you could give us some privacy?”
“Nope, don’t suppose I can.”
She sighed. Connor pulled her over towards the door.
“I lied to you. Just like Greta.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Nothing like Greta. I thought that at the beginning. I was angry. And hurt.”
She sucked in a breath. She hated that she’d hurt him.
“But then I realized I was letting my past color my thoughts and decisions in the present. And that this was partially my fault.”
“How?”
“Because I did everything I could to protect myself. All of my rules, the fact that I insisted this relationship was for a short time, it was all to try to keep myself from being hurt again. And it kept you from confiding in me.”
“I’m not sure I still would have confided in you.” She looked over at Freddy. “I’d never do anything to betray him. I also didn’t know how you’d react if you knew who Freddy was.”
Freddy crossed his arms over his chest. “You going to judge her for who I am? For the fact that she was born into this family? With a father who treated her like she was less because she wasn’t perfect in his eyes?”
“She is perfect.” Connor took a step towards Freddy, hands clenched into fists. “She is loyal, protective, smart, beautiful. And anyone who can’t see that is blind and stupid.”
Freddy just smiled. “I agree. I won’t let her go to just anyone.”
She sighed. “Freddy, I’m not a dog you’re giving away.”
“No. You’re infinitely more precious. And I haven’t liked seeing you the way you’ve been lately. She hasn’t been eating. Or sleeping. She’s been doing a lot of crying, though. That’s not normal for my sister. She prefers revenge to tears. But not this time. You hurt her. I want to know you’re not going to be an ass like that again.”
Connor nodded. “I understand. I made a mistake. It’s not going to happen again. But be aware that I will protect her. From anyone who threatens her.”
Freddy’s eyes narrowed. “You won’t be keeping her from me. You won’t make her choose.”
“No, I won’t. But none of your shit better come back on her.”
Freddy nodded. “We can figure that out.”
“Is she still in danger from seeing Trevor shot outside Indulgence or has that been taken care of?”