“The point is that I’m not going anywhere. And neither, my girl, are you.” He grimaced. “Did that sound stalkerish? It did, didn’t it?”
“Don’t,” she whispered.
He raised his eyebrows.
“Don’t censor yourself because of what he did. Because I know you’re nothing like him. I know that for a long time I was messed up around men because of him. But I know most men are good. I know that even though you say I’m not leaving, that’s not because you intend to lock me up in your basement.”
“That’s right.” He nodded. “Because I don’t have a basement.”
“Ed!” She expected him to smile, but he just gave her a serious look.
“I’m not some psycho killer or stalker, but don’t underestimate my need for you, Georgie-girl. You are mine.”
They stared at each other for a long moment. She was breathing heavily, as though she’d run a marathon. He was the first to blink. “Fuck, I’m supposed to be reducing your stress levels, not adding to them. Georgie—”
“No.”
He raised a brow. “No?”
“No, that doesn’t stress me out. Your possessiveness, it’s part of the reason I feel safe around you. I guess . . . I guess I need to know that you’re all in. So I can try to be all in.” She licked her lips.
“I get it. There’s nothing you need to hide from me.”
“Not even my Little,” she whispered. It wasn’t a question. More of a revelation. She really didn’t have to hide anymore.
“Never hide her.”
“I’m still a bit nervous.”
“Full disclosure?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Me too.”
She had to smile. She was certain that he wasn’t. But it was nice of him to try and put her at ease.
“While I’ve been to clubs and played, I’ve never had a relationship with a Little. And I’ve never been with anyone as important as you are. So yeah, I’m nervous.”
“You’re important to me too,” she whispered. “What if I decide to go back to work?” Her heart skipped a beat at the thought and not in a good way. She felt anxiety bubbling in her stomach and had to work hard not to let it show.
She obviously failed because he immediately sat and drew her into his arms. She buried her face in his chest and he ran his hand up and down her back.
“Easy, my girl. Deep slow breaths. Now, I’m not going to tell you what to do.”
She snorted.
He let out a short laugh. “Yeah, well, let’s amend that. I’m not going to tell you what to do when it comes to your career. You decide to go back, then I’ll support you. And we’ll make us work. But if it’s going to be detrimental to your health, well, we might need to make some tough decisions. Because I want you living a nice, long, healthy life. By my side.”
That’s what she wanted too.
“I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t an agent.”
“Right now, you’re still recovering from being in the hospital. We need to help you relax. Whatever happens later, we’ll work it out together. But we don’t give up on us, promise?” He held up his finger. She had to giggle. Here was this big, burly guy holding up his small pinky finger.
“Pinky promise.”
“You realize you can’t break a pinky promise,” he said to her sternly. “It comes with grave consequences if you do.”