I raced over to her door and put the key in the lock. My hands shook as I turned it. I opened the door and stepped inside. The house was silent. Not wasting any time with the lower level, I plunged headlong up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
I reached Catherine’s destroyed bedroom door. Before I could even take in the sight of her naked on her ruined bed, she took one look at me and screamed.
CHAPTER14
CATHERINE
Oh, God.
It was him.
He was back.
He raised his arms and tried to silence me. “Catherine. It’s not what you think. It’s me, Jekyll.”
I narrowed my eyes. I wasn’t able to see clearly without my glasses, but I wasn’t stupid. It wasn’t Jekyll, it was his brother Hyde.
I backed up against the broken headboard as I scrambled to reach for the blanket, which had been out of reach on the floor earlier. I swept the blanket over my body, holding it tightly against my breasts. “You’re lying. I know you two look alike. You’re Hyde.”
Jekyll approached.
I stiffened.
He backed up a few steps. “Sweetheart, it’s me, Henry Jekyll. Hyde is gone. I’m so sorry. He’s never coming back. I promise.”
My eyes narrowed.
He was telling the truth. It was Henry. Hyde would never apologize, and he certainly wouldn’t back away when faced with my opposition.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to rescue you.”
“Did Hyde tell you… did he tell you about us… about what we’ve been doing?”
He averted his eyes. “Yes. Well, some of it.”
My heart sank.
I leaned up, cringing when the handcuff chain clattered against the headboard. “I can explain.”
He shook his head. “Believe me, you don’t owe me an explanation.”
I gripped the sheet between my breasts. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I like you, Henry. I truly do. Hyde is just… He’s just…”
“A better man. I get it.”
I rose up on my knees, stretching my shackled arm behind me in an effort to lean in and make him understand. “No! No, don’t say that. Don’t ever say that. He’s not a better man. He’s just so intense. It’s, well, it’s hard to resist a man like him.”
Henry blushed. I knew I was hurting him with my honesty, but I needed him to understand.
I took a breath and continued, “You have to understand. Some men, they appeal to a woman’s darker fantasies.”
Henry’s brow furrowed as his lips tightened but he remained silent.
“Those men are like the handsome and devious villain in a romance novel. They are intriguing because of the danger and adventure and passion.”
Henry cleared his throat. “Really, Catherine…”