Page 51 of Savage Game
“I would love to stay with you, but I don’t think that would be the right decision.” She swallowed and fought back the tears threatening to spill over. “Part of the reason I stayed with Liam is that I’m dependent on him. If I would stay with you, I would interchange the man I’m relying on.” She pressed her fingers against his mouth, determined to get him to understand. “I don’t fear you’ll ever take advantage of my dependence. I don’t!” She implored him with her gaze “But I want to be able to rely on myself for a change. I need to know I can do it myself. Does that make any sense at all?”
“Yes.” His voice sounded muffled against her hand. She chuckled despite her inner turmoil and tried to pull her hand away. He circled her wrist, held her hand in place, and kissed her fingertips before he lowered her hand to their laps and nodded. “I don’t like to be mentioned in the same sentence with the bastard, but I understand how you feel. At least, I think I do. So, what are you planning to do, kitten?”
She chewed her lip and released it when his gaze dropped to her mouth. “I have a few ideas running through my head. Getting a job, going back to school.” She lifted one shoulder. “I’m not sure, yet. As soon as I make up my mind, I would like to run it past you.”
“That sounds fine to me, and you still have time,” Byron acquiesced. He swallowed. “And what about your husband?”
A shudder ran through her as she sat up a bit straighter. “I won’t go back to him. Even if I have to sleep under a bridge and have to stand in the breadline for the rest of my life.”
Master gripped her face between both of his hands. “That will never happen—not over my dead body.” He crashed their mouths together in a voracious kiss, ending their conversation in an exceedingly pleasant way.
22
Day Twenty-Two
“How are you doing today?” Byron grabbed Charlotte’s wrist as she placed the stack of printed and bundled contracts on his desk. Organized and intelligent, she did most of the preparations these days, and he had yet to find a mistake in her work.
Although she stiffened for a moment, she allowed Byron to guide her around the desk and between his legs. She picked at the cuticle of her right thumb, and he took both her hands in his.
“I should—” She turned her gaze to the filing cabinet, but he tugged on her hands and redirected her attention back to him.
“Answer my question.”
Concentrating on keeping his face impassive, he studied the barrage of emotions flooding over her face and silently waited.
Her shoulders heaved as she expelled air from her lungs. “I guess I was rattled more than I’d thought by Liam’s call yesterday, but I’m fine now.” His expression must have conveyed his annoyance as she added, “No really, I’m fi… I’m good, um, okay. Whatever.”
Her pout was cute, and he wanted to lean forward and kiss her. But talking was more important now than lust or even love. He hummed and waited.
She threw him a scowl. “I haven’t figured out how I’m going to do everything when the month is over, but I’m pleased with my decision to go my own way.”
He stiffened.
“I am aware you don’t like it,” she said before pulling one hand from his grasp and stroking his cheek. “But can’t you see I need to do this? For myself?”
He did. “Yes, kitten, and as I told you yesterday, I understand why you would want it. True, I don’t like it. I love you, baby, and I want to take care of you. That’s going to be hard for me to do if you’re not around.”
Charlotte pursed her lips. “That’s true. But you gave me a phone. It’s not like we can’t talk or—or meet. It’s just…” She trailed off.
He finished for her. “You want to be sure you can stand on your two own feet as an independent woman before you commit to another relationship.”
“Yes. Also, technically, I’m still married to Liam. I don’t want to give his lawyers—you realize he will lawyer up, right—any leverage by claiming I’m an unfaithful slut or something like that.”
Okay, he didn’t like the sound of that.
She softly laughed. “You can stop grinding your teeth. It’s not how I view myself, but Liam will fight, and I’m pretty sure he will fight dirty.”
There was no question that she would be right about that.
He interlaced their fingers. “I agree he will. I don’t think living with me would make a difference, though. He’s too scared of me and what I can do to his business. I can protect you, Kittycat.”
Her eyes softened. “I know you can.”
He sighed and decided to let the topic go. After all, he still had a week left to convince her otherwise. If all else failed and she left, he’d make damn sure she would experience freedom and independence, and it would be a positive experience. “All right,” he replied. “I will let it rest for now. But I expect you to tell me if you change your mind. Okay?”
She nodded. He cupped her cheeks and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Now, tell me.” He narrowed his eyes. “Did Liam’s call bring back any ugly memories?”
