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“Time to what?”
“Decide what I’m going to do.”
He runs his tongue over his top teeth and puts his hands on his hips. “If you expect me to sit back and let you go, you can think again.”
“Henry…”
“I want you, and I’m going to have you if it’s the last thing I do.”
“Stop it,” I snap, trying not to look at his bulging biceps. “I didn’t promise you anything when we went to bed.”
“You said you were mine.”
“That didn’t count.”
His eyes blaze. “Yeah, you tell yourself that.”
Oh God, I’ve made a terrible mistake.
I’ve sometimes wondered how Henry fits into his group of friends. He’s not as driven as Alex, or as smart as James with his two degrees, or as innovative as Tyson. He is personable and reliable—you know if you ask Henry to do something, it’ll be done, in half the time you expected, and in an organized and efficient fashion. He’s head of HR at the company because he’s great with people, able to put them at ease. But I suppose I’ve always thought of him as… I don’t know, passive, I guess.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. He’s not hesitant, indifferent, or obedient. He’s quiet, single-minded, and determined. And that’s just on the outside. I’m pretty sure that on the inside his thoughts and emotions are crashing into each other like particles in a hadron collider.
“Henry,” I plead, “please don’t make this difficult for me.”
He lifts his eyebrows. “Did you think I’d let you walk out of this door and run back into his arms?”
“This isn’t Fatal Attraction! What are you going to do? Boil my rabbit in a pot?”
We glare at each other. He’s never angry, and his obvious fury makes my eyes prick with tears. “Don’t be cross with me,” I whisper.
At that, his expression softens, and to my surprise he comes forward and puts his arms around me. I stand stiffly for a moment, then rest my cheek on his shoulder, and let him hug me.
“I’m not cross with you,” he says. “Never with you. I’m angry at the situation. Cam’s not the only one who’s been damaged by this.”
His words shock me. I’ve never considered that what happened to Cam has damaged me, too. After all, it didn’t happen to me, right? And it’s not as if he’s ever gone into detail. I couldn’t have coped with that. I’ve just had to deal with the fallout, like coping with radiation poisoning long after the bomb has detonated.
But of course, Henry’s right. The effect it’s had on Cam, and trying to heal him through years of trauma, has had a huge impact on me.
His arms are warm, and he smells so good. I want to undress, to go back to bed with him, and stay there all day.
I move back. “I have to go.”
I walk to the door. When I turn back, he’s still standing there, hands in his pockets.
“I’ll see you later, at the office?” he says.
I nod, open the door, and leave.
Outside, it’s a beautiful summer’s day. I don’t look up at the blue sky and bright sunshine, though. I hurry along the pavement, heading for the apartment, lost in my own world. I want a shower, hot as I can bear it, and a cup of coffee, so strong you can stand the spoon up in it. And then I want to sit on the balcony and think.
On the way, my phone buzzes with a text. I take it out and see Henry’s name, and my heart leaps.
I burn for you. I need you. I love you. Just so you know.
I stop walking, my body heating all the way through. Jesus, Henry! I press the heel of my hand to my forehead, closing my eyes for a moment. I can’t cope with this. I need to get home.
I walk fast, not seeing anything around me. When I reach the apartment, I take the elevator up, go along to the door, and let myself in.
