“Giraffe.”
Scooby dropped the flogger, unhooked my ropes, removed my clamps and plug, and untied me, pulling me against him, but I shook my head and pushed away. “No. This was a bad idea. Go home, Crew.”
I escaped into my bathroom, dragging my robe around me, as I burst into tears. I let myself cry for about seven minutes before peeking into my bedroom to see it empty. I was both relieved and devastated that he’d left, but I knew it was for the best.
I decided to lock up since I really did need to pick up Lord tomorrow, maybe not as early as I’d inferred to Violet, but still, I had to pick him up the second I had a break.
I made my way out of my room, heading down the hallway, freezing the second I realized I wasn’t alone. “I told you to leave.”
Scooby nodded. “I’m aware.”
“I giraffed,” I hissed.
He smirked. “That’s for pausing playtime, honey, it doesn’t apply to conversations.”
“Don’t call me honey.”
He closed the distance between us, cupping my face, and stroking my cheek. “Jesus, you are beautiful.”
I pulled away from his touch. “Why are you here?”
“Because I love you, Rowan, and I’ve been a fuckin’ idiot.”
“Well, that’s true.”
He held his hand out to me. “Please, Twinkles, let me apologize the right way.”
“I was all in,” I whispered. “You broke that.”
“I know, baby. I know.” He grimaced. “I’d lost my brother, you were threatened… again, then my mom… I fuckin’ lost my mind.”
“So, you’re here to, what? Tell me you found it?” I retorted.
“That depends on you.”
“Of course it does,” I breathed out.
He waved his still outstretched hand and I caved, slapping my palm in his and letting him pull me into his arms. “I’m sorry.”
I sighed. “I know.”
“Well, whatIneed to know is if you forgive me.”
“Yes, I forgive you. But that doesn’t mean we can just start up where we left off,” I admitted. “You have some, um, serious rage issues, Crew. And you need to deal with them.”
“I don’t have rage issues, Rowan. I protect what’s mine. There’s a difference.”
“Vengeance isn’t protection.”
“You said you were all in, Rowan. Vengeance is part of the deal.”
I pulled away. “You crippled a man in front of me, right before murdering one. How is that vengeance?”
“Protecting. My. Own,” he growled. “They came after you, Rowan.”
I bit back tears. “You could have called the police. You should have let them deal with them.”
He dragged his hands through his hair. “Cops aren’t an option for us, Rowan, and I know you fuckin’ know that.”