Page 27 of Room One Hundred and Seven: Catch and Claim

Dominic’s eyes widen as he steps back. He’s big enough that if he didn’t want to move, with or without my finger jabbing his chest, he wouldn’t.

His voice is gentle and soft, like he’s talking to a feral animal which isn’t too far off with how I’m feeling, “What’s wrong, little Phoenix?”

“Don’t Phoenix,” my tone is mocking when I repeat their nickname for me, “me.”

Before I can say anything else, I hear Hendrix call out, “Who was at the door?”

When he comes into the entry area and sees me, in all my furious glory, he freezes in place. “You,” I growl before sneering in Dominic’s direction. I step around the golden skinned god who still looks stunned by my anger and step right up to Hendrix. I’m close enough for our toes to touch. “You need to stop following me around and stop fucking with my head.”

The smile Hendrix flashes me is indulgent as fuck. I hate it and I’m tempted to slap it right off his face, his chiseled and handsome face. I’m just not sure if he would enjoy that shit. He did crawl to me after all.

“Don’t smile at me,” I demand, my voice taking on that quality it does when I’m working.

“That voice won’t work on me,” there’s a taunt in his tone, “not now after you’ve given yourself over to me.”

“To us,” Dominic grunts from behind me and I throw a glare at him from over my shoulder.

I whip back to shoot Hendrix with the imaginary lasers coming from my eyes. “You’ve fucking ruined me. I can’t do my damn job anymore. It feels,” I stop abruptly and slash a hand through the air, “no, I’m not even going to finish that sentence. It doesn’t matter how it feels. What matters is that you’ve fucked me up.”

“Oh, little Phoenix,” Wolfe drawls from behind Hendrix, “we didn’t ruin you. We set you free.”

I make a sound of pure fucking outrage that comes from my chest, frustration threatening to bubble over into something ugly, something I’ve never felt before. I want to give into it, to float within that sensation, and wrap it around me. Why shouldn’t I?

Hendrix wraps his arm around my waist and hauls me against his chest. “He’s right,” his voice is deep, like he’s trying to soothe me.

I even feel myself relax slightly, but I straighten my spine and fight against the sensation. I won’t be giving in to them this time. I can’t.

It makes me feel out of control. It makes me feel like I don’t know who I am.

After the last ten years of working for every bit of who I’ve become, giving it all up makes panic well up from the placewhere I lock of my trauma. Who am I once you strip away my job? My armor?

“No,” I snap, “he’s not. It’s my job and now I can’t do it.”

“We haven’t prevented you from doing your job,” Wolfe’s voice is far too reasonable for me right now. “We’ve given you the space you’ve needed.”

“I had to talk them into it,” Hendrix admits. “But I knew you needed a little time and space to process what happened the other night.”

He’s not wrong, but the fact that he puts it so rationally pisses me off even more. While wanting to rage at him, deflection wins. I can’t stop myself from scoffing, “Like I believe that.

His hand grips my hip, reminding me of just how close we are. “We weren’t walking away from you.”

“Never,” Wolfe grunts and Dominic makes a sound of disapproval from behind me.

“This is a problem,” I try to sound resolute, but it’s weak even to my ears.

“Or it’s an opportunity,” Dominic murmurs softly as he presses his front to my back.

Wolfe slips up to my side, his eyes are intent and focused on me. I have to hold myself stiff to prevent the shiver that wants to work its way up my spine. There’s no way I can give them the satisfaction.

“We know what you need,” Hendrix coos. When he leans forward and nips at my neck, it feels like time slows as my anger and frustration starts to ebb. It’s the oddest thing. Comfort andsafety replace those feelings and my shoulders droop. “That’s right,” he whispers against my neck, “let us show you.”

I gasp, “Show me what?”

When Hendrix pulls back, he studies my face. I’m not sure what he’s looking for or what he finds, but being the focus of a man like Hendrix is heady.

“We’re going to take you somewhere,” he starts. My mouth falls open and panic threatens to take over, the edges of my vision dimming slightly. “You will be safe the entire time,” he tells me firmly.

I don’t know what it is, but the certainty in his voice pushes the fear away. He shouldn’t be able to do that for me, but he can. I don’t understand it, but I can’t deny that it’s true.

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