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“I don’t want you stressing about anything. I’ll take care of everything.”
As nice as it would be to hand over everything to him, that wasn’t the way life worked.
With a sigh, she rubbed at her temples.
Brick grabbed some painkillers from the cabinet then handed her two pills before giving her another drink of water. Leaning her head back against the wall, she closed her eyes.
“You’re upset because I breached your privacy, aren’t you?”
Her eyes shot open. His jaw was clenched. “I told you that you’d be upset in the morning. But I couldn’t leave you alone. You have to understand, I wouldn’t have come into your rooms unless I was worried about your safety. Do you hate me?”
Hate him? Was he serious?
“I know you must feel like I broke your trust. Both last night when I claimed you in front of everyone and this morning, when you found me here in your bedroom. But I swear, Juliet, I didn’t mean to—”
This time, she used her lips to shut him out. She shoved herself forward and pressed her mouth to his. He froze in shock. Then she realized that she’d just puked her guts out with that mouth and drew back just as quickly, putting her hand over her mouth.
Crap. Well, if it wasn’t bad enough that he’d seen her drunk, discovered she had a playroom and a crib for a bed, oh, and she’d probably sucked on her pacifier. Although a memory tugged at her, where she sucked on his fingers. But that had to be wrong. Because even she wouldn’t do something that embarrassing.
“Okay, so does that mean you’re not so upset with me that you want me to leave?”
She shook her head, growing increasingly frustrated with herself.
“Hey, easy. Shh. It’s okay,” he soothed her, and she suddenly realized she was making weird noises. She stopped immediately and he stood. “I’m going to find your whiteboard.”
She grabbed his hand. It was boiling up inside her. The need to set it free was overwhelming. She tugged at him.
“I’ll only be a second, Duchess. But I don’t think we can continue this conversation without some help. I need to know what’s on your mind.”
She knew exactly what was on her mind. She tugged at him again, even though she knew she wasn’t strong enough to keep him there if he actually wanted to move.
Crouching, he cupped her chin. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
She grabbed his hand and drew it down. Turning it over, she used her finger to write out a word.
M.I.N.E.
He sucked in a breath. “Mine? You’re asking if you’re mine? You mean last night’s declaration wasn’t enough to reassure you? Juliet, you’re mine. If you still want me, that is.”
There was still doubt in his gaze and she hated that. She was also making a hash of this. That bubble in her stomach was about to explode. Sweat broke out on her skin. He watched her worriedly. “Are you going to be sick again?”
Was she strong enough to survive him if she opened up and he rejected her?
No.
Could she live with herself if she let him go without trying?
Shaking her head, she got onto her knees just as an alarm on his phone blasted.
“Fuck.” He jumped to his feet and raced into the bedroom to grab his phone. “What? Who? Yes, she’s up here. How did he get in? All right.”
She stood on shaky legs and moved towards the doorway.
“There’s someone coming down the drive. They had the code to the gate, but we don’t know that it’s a friend. Elias will meet him at the door, I’m going to back him up. You’re to stay in here. Until I get you. Understand me? Do. Not. Move.”
The look on his face was furious intent and she nodded shakily. She hadn’t thought about what might happen if Reuben wasn’t just being overprotective. That Brick would actually be in danger if someone came for her.
Suddenly, it became harder to breathe.
