Page 57 of Rush

I step back and take my phone out of my pocket. My fingers tap on the screen and the live footage of her apartment comes into view. She inhales sharply.

“You’re watching me?”

“Protecting both of you. I need to know you’re safe, Sam. You and Dylan are my life. If anything happened to you, I would die. I bought your apartment building, and I was allowed to make the changes to your place. “

Her body trembles and her hands cover her mouth. The color leaves her face. “You’re acting like a psycho!”

My body tenses, and it hurts so fucking much that she said it. If I didn’t know Sam the way I do, if she was any other girl, I might believe she really feels that way. Not my girl though. She just needs time to cool off, to think about it from my perspective, and she’ll see why I had to do it.

“Wanting to make all your dreams come true makes me a psycho?” I ask, my grin turning devilish. Stalking toward her, she shrinks back until she’s against the wall. My hands run down her sides, feeling every curve of her body and feeling mine turn hard just from the feel of her. She shivers in my grasp and some of her guard lowers. “I might be a little unhinged when it comes to your safety and our daughter’s, but everything else I’ve done is so I can give you the world.”

Sam doesn’t break, her resolve held tight. We aren’t going to fix everything tonight and I’m okay with that. She isn’t going anywhere and I have the means to keep her with me until we face all of my demons.

“Are you hungry? You didn’t eat earlier.”

She shakes her head and bites her lip. “I can’t eat right now.”

“Sam, you have to take care of yourself. Don’t let the things I’ve done affect your health,” I try and coax her, going over to the fridge and taking out the Tupperware container with leftover potatoes and BBQ chicken. I stick everything in the microwave to warm up. Slowly, she follows me to the table and sits at the chair. When the food is hot, we eat in silence. I can practically hear the humming of her thoughts.

When she’s done eating, Sam stands, her fingers gripping the edge of the table. “I need to head back.”

Placing our dishes in the sink, I turn to her, shaking my head. “We both know that once you came here tonight, you weren’t leaving, Sam.”

Her jaw drops. “I said I’d give you an hour then I was leaving!”

My shoulders shrug. “And you stayed here two hours.”

Her eyes flash before she turns and runs toward the stairs. Sam makes it to the door, her hands yanking the handle and throwing her weight into it. I follow her down, slamming my body into hers. “Don’t hurt yourself trying to get out. I don’t want to tie you up or sedate you, but I will Pretty Girl.”

She yells in frustration, turning in my arms. My stomach clenches seeing tears falling down her cheeks. “How can you say that? That isn’t normal. You sound like a neanderthal!”

Leaning in, I run my nose along her cheek. “What I feel for you is not normal. The lengths I will go to keep you are endless.”

A sob leaves her throat and her legs give out. I catch her body against mine and lift her in my hold. Her chest shakes from crying. I hate it, but I still refuse to let her go. Carrying her to my bedroom, I strip her out of her pants and sweatshirt, gently removing her bra before sliding one of my t-shirts over her head. She lets me wash her face before helping her lie in bed. Only then do I leave to grab my cell phone and shoot off a text to one of the only other people who may understand my level of devotion.

ME: Thanks for taking Dylan tonight. My brother will get her tomorrow.

REIGN THORN: Sometimes we need to make the choices for them that are for their own good. Respect.

After changing and turning off the lights, I slide into bed behind Sam. Her breathing has slowed, her face looking peaceful despite the day she’s had. I wrap my arms around her waist, curving my body around hers. She doesn’t move, if anything she snuggles in closer. Grinning in the dark, I know we’ll be okay.

jameson

. . .

Sam’s body stirs next to mine. I feel the exact moment she realizes where she is and her memories from yesterday come flooding back. Her body stiffens in my hold, her head turning to glance behind her and find me asleep. She lifts the blanket and scoots her way toward the edge of the bed. Even though I’m irritated that she's planning to escape, I’m enjoying watching her try. I keep my arm loose around her waist, and she slides out from my grasp. In the dark she puts her pants back on and then tiptoes out of the room. Sitting up, I listen while she struggles and swears unable to unlock the front door. After a few minutes, I decide to put her out of her misery.

“It's a seal lock. It can only be opened with my thumb and a code only I know.”

Sam whips around, her hand flying to her chest. Her face is pink and I see her chest rising and falling. “You can’t keep me here!”

My arms fold over my chest. “I can actually,” I remind her, enjoying the way her lips curl and she stomps up the stairs to me.

“That’s kidnapping.” Her voice is low, seeping in confusion.

“I’m keeping you safe. We have a lot to talk about. Emotions are high right now. Let's have breakfast and we can talk.”

I take her hand in mine and lead her to the kitchen, helping her into the same seat she occupied last night. After making some eggs, toast and bacon, I set a plate in front of Sam. Before I can encourage her to eat, she starts feeding herself like normal. I watch fascinated as she cleans her entire plate.