Page 51 of Seize Me

Wiggling toward the far side of the bed, I glared at Tony as he narrowed his eyes and snarled.

“What the hell were you trying to do that made you fall?”

“What in the hell areyoudoing here in the middle of the day?”

“I’m asking the questions now,” he warned, crawling onto the bed like a panther stalking its prey.

“Julianna’s at the hospital.She’s having the baby.”

“I.Know.I cancelled the rest of my appointments to pick you up sowecould go to the hospital.”

“Oh,” I frowned.“Well, that’s why Trevor and Savannah are here…they’re taking me.”

“Really?”he challenged sarcastically.“Were you planning on telling me about this little excursion you’d arranged?”

I hadn’t.Not until now.“I…guess so.I mean with the excitement of the baby coming, I would have sent you a text at some point.”

“Youguess?So, in other words, you didn’t really think about letting me know, did you?”

“Well, no.You were at work.I wasn’t going to bother you,” I explained.“Wait a minute.Since when do I need your permission?You’re not my Master.You’re not my Dom.You’re—”

“I’m your protector,” Tony roared.

“Since when?”I barked, bristling defensively.

Tony’s jaw clenched as he rose to his knees and scooted off the bed.Anger drained from his face and something more frightening took its place…hurt.He scrubbed a hand through his hair before his guarded gaze settled on me.

“Since I spent two days and nights glued to the side of your hospital bed and another four after you woke up.You can’t tell me you don’t feel a strong connection between us.You think I’m nothing more than a friend?Open your damn eyes.You mean a hell of a lot more to me than just a friend, Leagh.And for fuck’s sake, stop topping from the bottom.”

Tony drilled me with an unhappy stare.Guilt for disregarding his feelings—obviously, the same ones I’d tried to ignore since the day of George’s funeral—and rebuffing Tony’s claim as protector crushed me.Not only had I spent weeks trying to deny my attraction to him, I’d gone so far as to invent excuses—some valid, but most not—why anything more than friendship with the man was destined to fail.

As if the reality fairy hadn’t smacked the wand of clarity upside my head enough, I realized if I wanted a relationship with Tony bad enough I’d stop trying to hide and put forth some effort.He’d been under no obligation to care for me, yet he rearranged his entire life to do just that.And he’d never so much as asked for a thank-you in return.I could no longer ignore the fact that Tony had situated himself smack dab in the middle of my heart and my life.It was time for me to take off the blinders and roll the dice.

“Tony, I’m—”

“Let’s finish getting your clothes on and head to the hospital,” he instructed as he forced a tight smile.As if sensing my unease, he winked.“We don’t want to be the last to hear how Mika passed out during delivery now, do we?”

A palpable tension hung in the air as we rode in silence.No matter how hard I arranged an apology in my head, it fell short of erasing the callous way I’d challenged him.With his attention focused on the road, Tony wordlessly slid his hand into mine.A tiny smile curled on the corners of his mouth.

“Stop fretting.There’s no pressure or time limit for us to figure this out, sweetheart.Day at a time, remember?”

A lump formed in my throat as my gaze dropped to our entwined fingers.I marveled at the easy way his thumb strummed the inside of my wrist.Tony had a way of calming me and lifting my burdens.He made me feel like a joy in his life and not an obligation.

“I’m sorry.”The two words paled to what I felt inside, but it was the best I could do.

“I don’t want you to be sorry, angel.What I want is for you to let me in.”

“I just need a little more time.”

“I know.It’s just…I’ve been waiting for you a long time now.”Tony quickly glanced at me and gently squeezed my fingers before turning his attention back to the traffic on the road.“But lucky for you, I’m a very patient man.”

I swallowed tightly as I stared at his profile.Why are you asking him for more time?Haven’t you wasted enough time?Tony’s the first man to offer you a healthy relationship.What in the hell are you waiting for?My inner voice urged me to take the plunge, but a part of me wondered if I was truly ready.Suddenly, Tony’s words echoed in my brain.“There’s no pressure or time limit for us to figure this out.Day at a time, remember?”Deciding that’s what I needed to do, I exhaled a soft little sigh, ready to let it play out and see where it took us.

Once at the hospital, Tony snagged a wheelchair.He zigzagged down the halls like a maniac, popping wheelies as I held on for dear life, laughing like a loon.Turning the corner to the labor and delivery waiting room, Tony slid the wheelchair sideways, aligning me next to an empty chair.Our friends from the club watched his zany antics with wide eyes and broad smiles.

“When is that baby going to get here?”Tony grinned.

“Still waiting, Sir,” Trevor grumbled.“Honestly, how long does it take to pop one of those little suckers out?”

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