“To share with people.” I already feel exposed to him. I already feel like I’m telling him deep secrets, and I’m just saying what I want into the space between us. “I haven’t seen them in a long time.”
“I’m not sure exactly what—”
Zander’s calm, even tone is interrupted by the sound of the kitchen door banging open. Kam moves through the house with heavy footfalls. He knows I’m still awake. We were texting not too long ago. But I don’t understand why he’s here. I didn’t ask for help.
He makes it to the archway of the sitting room before Zander holds up a hand. “We’ve just begun a session.” I don’t miss how his grip tightens on the edge of the chair.
Kamden’s blue eyes dart between the two of us and I don’t miss how his left brow rises slightly. The man knows me well. Gently he asks, completely ignoring Zander, “Do you have a moment for me, Ella?”
He crosses the room and crouches down in front of me. “You sounded off. In your texts.”
“I’m fine.” It hurts to say things in irritation, so I try to pull it back, but it’s right there. I can feel it. Waiting to spill out. “You could have texted if you were concerned.”
“Or checked in with The Firm,” Zander comments and it takes great effort to keep my smirk hidden.
“I wanted to check on you … myself.”
A tingle travels up the back of my neck. It’s from a combination of guilt and unease. Kamden doesn’t trust me. Not only that, but I’m certain the memories that haunt me have taken over a piece of him as well.
“I’m all right.”
“You’re sure?” he presses and the frustration is too great to keep my voice anything but tight.
“I have people here all the time.” Like the man sitting behind him, waiting to have a session with me. “If something were really wrong, they would know about it.”
Still Kamden stays where he is, between the two of us, unmoving and not believing me.
“I promise—” I run frustrated hands over my hair. “I’m trying to do what I’m supposed to do, Kam, can you please leave?”
Kam’s jaw sets. “I won’t leave. You don’t seem well right now, and I’m not going to walk away until I’m sure you’re all right.”
Anger fuels an uncomfortable heat that forces my body to move. Not only that, but pain. Am I to be punished and not trusted forever now? He didn’t come to see me nearly as much as I would have liked at the center, and now he comes unbidden?
This is so ridiculous. So over the top. I get up out of my chair so fast that Kam has to scramble for balance. “Then I’ll be going to bed. We’ll talk another night, Zander.”
I push past where Kam stands still with disbelief. All day. I’ve waited all damn day for this, and Kam has to rush in like he knows everything. He doesn’t know everything. None of them do. Kam might know the most, but that doesn’t make this okay.
“Ella,” Kam pleads with me in a tone that brings about a renewed sense of guilt.
I don’t stop. “Wait. Ella.” I don’t turn around, even though it’s Zander’s voice behind me and not Kam’s.
I get one foot on the bottom step and turn my head back to look at him. “Don’t follow me,” I snap, not realizing how close Zander is to me. So close my breath is stolen.
Zander’s a foot away, maybe two. About to catch up with me. At my words his whole face changes into a commanding countenance. A hard one. A no-bullshit, no-nonsense expression that shakes me to the core. “Don’t say that to me,” he orders. “Ever.”
Dominating. That’s what he is.
And I like it. I like this about him. I crave that power radiating from him. It’s as much need as it is desire.
I’m only vaguely aware that Kamden isn’t in sight.
“Fine,” I answer back. “Please, I want to be alone,” I add and then turn on my heel and rush upstairs.
Zander
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The large house is quiet except for the wind battering the sitting room windows. That, and my thundering pulse.
I listen for her. Of course I do. I strain to hear soft footsteps on the stairs or even the creak of the floor above me, but there’s nothing. I check the security cameras from my phone. No sign of movement, either in the house or outside. Silent and still. If only my heart would settle.
Not much chance of that.
The only cameras to watch are focused on her sleeping form. Even with the darkness, her luscious curves tempt me.