I turn around to find her hurrying across the room, heading for the hallway. I know she probably wants to change, but I feel like a fucking asshole. “Eve.”
She doesn’t stop or glance back.
I hurry to follow her. She’s in her doorway when I speak again. “Eve, I’m sorry.”
She shuts the door, and I hear the lock turn.
“Fuck.” I pace the hallway, needing to talk to her. Needing to make this right. Five minutes go by, then ten. Not a single sound is coming from her bedroom. Finally, I lean against the door and knock. “Can we please talk?”
Nothing.
“Eve. Please.” I’ll happily beg for as long as it takes. I hate that I’ve crossed a line with her and possibly hurt her feelings or triggered her in some way. Or worse. I wouldn’t want her to think I was making fun of her fetish. “I shouldn’t have said what I did. It was insensitive. I didn’t mean to make light of your kink. It was rude and uncalled for. Please forgive me.”
She yanks the door open so fast I nearly fall into the room. Thank God I have a hold of the frame.
She’s no longer dressed for the office. She’s not dressed at all actually. She’s in that soft pink robe. She turns around and starts pacing. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“It’s not fine. I’ve obviously hurt your feelings.”
“You didn’t hurt my feelings, Colt. Stop it. You have it all mixed up, and how could I expect you to understand? You were thrown into this lifestyle two days ago. You hardly know what the fuck to think about much of anything.” She stops pacing and draws in a deep breath.
I consider interjecting but it doesn’t seem wise. I hold my spot, my grip still on the doorframe.
Her words rush out. “The truth is that I’m stressed. I’m stressed because you’re in my private space where I come to unwind and be who I want to be at the end of a long day. And I can’t do that with you here.”
I swallow. I suspected this was a problem. “I’m so sorry. I don’t want to infringe on your space.”
She rubs her brow. “You can’t help it. And I don’t blame you. But I’m used to a certain routine that I’m not getting. So, forgive me for freaking out.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. What can I do to make this better? Would you like me to go into the guest room and shut the door so you can have your space? I can do that.”
She shakes her head. “Of course not. That’s not fair to you.”
I search her face, trying to come up with something. Anything. “You’re used to being in your little space at home.”
She nods, her teeth clamping down on her lip now. A tear slides down her face.
Fuck.
I release the doorframe, watching her closely as I slowly approach. I want to touch her, but I won’t if she doesn’t want me to.
She drops her gaze to the floor, her head dipping. I pull her into my arms, grateful when she lets me and slumps against me. Her small hands go around my waist and she holds on tight.
I thread my hands in her hair and cup the back of her head. “I’m so sorry,” I repeat.
After a few moments, she tips her head back and looks up at me.
I stare into her eyes, searching for answers. I don’t get them, but when she licks her lips, my gaze slides to her mouth. We’re so close that I can smell the breath mint she must have eaten after lunch.
She shudders in my arms, and that’s the last straw. I can’t stop myself from lowering my lips to hers. I kiss her gently at first, then deeper, angling my head to one side while I direct hers at the same time.
When she moans into my mouth, I growl back, stroking her tongue with mine, then sucking it just enough to make her tremble. I walk her backward until she hits the wall, and then I press against her as I continue to devour her.
She’s heaven, and I’m the devil.
When I finally break the kiss and look into her eyes, she’s panting. “Oh, God.”
“Yeah…”
She looks away.
I grip her chin and force her to look at me. “I need to know something.”
She swallows.
“Who was I just kissing? Which Eve?”
She stares at me, her chest rising and falling. Finally, she responds quietly, “I don’t know.” She starts trembling again.
I set my forehead against hers and stroke the sides of her face with my thumbs. “It’s okay, Eve.”
“It’s not really.”
I draw back a few inches to give her room to breathe. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I want you to spend the next two hours in your little space. Dress how you would if I weren’t here. Do all the things that help you relax at the end of the day. Let me make you dinner. Let me pamper you for two hours.”
“I don’t know, Colt. That’s huge. I’m not sure I’m ready for something like that.”
“Do it anyway. Do it for me. I know I’m asking you to take a risk, but I’m also asking you to trust me that I won’t let you down. That I won’t freak out. I can do this. I can stay out of your way and give you the space you need.”
She hesitates.
I lift a brow. “See, now, you’re just being defiant. I think you’ve known me long enough to realize I would never do anything intentionally to hurt your feelings. Do you still think I’m the sort of guy who would make fun of you for living your truth?”
She shakes her head. I see her little peeking through.
I lift a brow.
She licks her lips. “No, Sir.”
My cock jumps to attention, and I pray she doesn’t notice. In fact, I take a step back, grip her chin, and meet her gaze dead on again. “You have ten minutes to
