Page 35 of Ironside
“What’s your safe word, petal?” I prompted.
Lena shook her head.
“No. I’m fine.”
“Lena,” I said sharply.
She blew out a breath, brows drawn together. She wanted to push herself through it. But I hated seeing her like this—frustrated with herself, tense, fighting to deal with the pain.
“I can’t,” Lena finally whispered.
Instantly, I pulled out and took the bottle of lube away from her, setting it on the nightstand. Tugging the sheets up around us, I nestled Lena into the curve of my body, enveloping her in my arms. She reached back, grazing her fingers along my cock that was still achingly hard.
“Don’t worry about that, petal,” I said, catching her wrist.
“But I like making you come.”
“Later. Not right now.”
Lena gave a little pouty huff and wiggled deeper into my arms.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled against my bicep.
“No apologies, remember?”
“I know,” she sighed. “I just wish my body would work the way I want it to.”
I kissed the back of her neck, holding her tighter. Lena was here, in my bed, in my arms, in my home, and that’s all I cared about.
After a few minutes, Lena’s breathing evened out and her body grew soft as she slipped off into sleep. I kissed her bare shoulder, nuzzling into her neck while I breathed in the scent of her skin.
The next thing I knew, the glow of sunlight filtered through my blinds and slanted into my face. I squinted and turned away from the glare.
Then I noticed the absence of Lena’s warmth beside me. I put a hand out to find the sheets were cold and her side of the bed was empty.
“Lena?” I called.
Silence.
My heart lurched in my chest. Over twenty years ago, I woke up just like this, alone, with a note on my bedside table, and the woman I loved had disappeared.
Was I about to relive that hellish nightmare all over again with Lena?
“Oh, petal, don’t do this to me,” I mumbled under my breath.
Sweeping the sheets aside, I scrambled out of bed. Yanking on my jeans, I searched every inch of my cabin, calling Lena’s name.
Her clothes were gone, along with her purse.
Nausea boiled in my stomach. Digging my phone out of my back pocket, I willed myself to take a deep breath and calm down. Think clearly.
Maybe there was a perfectly reasonable explanation why she would sneak away in the morning before I woke up.
I didn’t know what that would be. But jumping to conclusions wouldn’t help.
Dialing Lena’s number, I waited while the phone rang and rang.
No answer.
