Page 19 of Perfect Stalker

My hand shoots out, catching her wrist. “No, you’re not.”

She tries to pull away. “Let me go.”

“Never.” I draw her closer, my grip firm but gentle. “Stephen’s back in Atlanta. Clearly, he still wants you as much as he hates you for sending him away—though his own actions did that.”

The color drains from her face. “What?”

“He wants revenge. On you, on me—for ruining his plans last time.” I release her wrist but stay close. “It isn’t safe out there for you, but even if it were...” I trace a finger along her jawline. “I’d never let you go now.”

“You can’t just decide that,” she protests, though she doesn’t move away from my touch.

“I already have.” I cup her face in my hands. “You’re mine to protect, Jenny. Mine to keep safe. Mine to...” I pause, letting the implications hang in the air between us while moving closer, almost touching her lips with mine.

Her breath catches as she pulls back. “I don’t want this.”

“Don’t you?” I stroke my thumb across her cheek. “Your body says otherwise,kotik. The way you leaned into my touch, how your pulse accelerated just now…”

“That’s just...” She swallows hard. “Physical attraction doesn’t equal consent.”

“True.” I drop my hands, scooting back to give her space. “I won’t force you to stay. The door isn’t locked, but before you go, ask yourself this—where will you run? Who will protect you when Stephen comes for you again?”

I see the conflict in her eyes. Finally, she speaks, her shoulders slumping in a posture of defeat that irritates me despite me wanting her to stay. “I don’t know what to say. This is too much.”

I shift forward to put a hand on her knee. “I know it’s overwhelming,kotik, but now you understand why I did what I did. Why I couldn’t let you go.”

She shakes her head slowly. “Understanding doesn’t equal acceptance, Ivan. You’ve still violated my trust and my privacy. How can I ever feel safe around you knowing what you’re capable of, even if you’re offering me somewhere safe from Stephen?”

Her words wound me, but I refuse to back down or let that show. “Because despite everything, I’m the one person who will always put your safety above all else. Even above my own life.”

Jenny stands abruptly, pacing the room again. “That’s the problem, Ivan. You’re so focused on protecting me that you’ve forgotten to respect me as a person. My choices, my autonomy...they matter.”

I rise as well, following her movements with my gaze. “You’re right. I’ve made mistakes, but I’m willing to change, to do better. Just give me a chance, Jenny.”

She stops, turning to face me. Her expression reveals myriad emotions I can’t quite decipher. “I don’t know if I can. This is all so...complicated. I need time to process everything.”

I step closer to Jenny, my voice softening while I try to reassure her. “I understand your fear,kotik. I may be dangerous, but unlike the men from your past, I would never harm you.”

My gaze drifts to the window, and I gesture across the street. “Look at your apartment. Think about the broken door, and Stephen’s break-in. That’s the immediate threat you’re facing.”

She flinches and turns away. The set of her shoulders reveals the conflict warring within her—fear of Stephen’s escalating violence battling with her unease around me. “I...” She hesitates, wrapping her arms around herself. “I don’t know what to do.”

I place a gentle hand on her shoulder, coaxing her to turn back to me “Stay here tonight. In the guest room. You’ll be safe, I promise.”

She looks up at me, uncertainty clear in her eyes. “Just for tonight?”

I nod. “Just for tonight. Tomorrow, we can figure out our next steps.” I’m lying as I say that, but I embrace it. I need her to stay, so I know she’s safe, and I don’t want to lock her up to make it happen—but I won’t let her leave. Not tonight. Not ever if I can convince her to stay.

Jenny takes a deep breath, her shoulders sagging slightly. “Okay. One night.”

Relief washes over me, but I keep my expression neutral. “Thank you for trusting me, even if it’s just a little.”

I lead her to the guest room, pushing open the door to reveal a spacious, elegantly appointed space. “Everything you need should be in here. Towels, toiletries, and even some clothes that might fit you.”

Jenny eyes the room warily. “You planned for this.”

“I like to be prepared. Get some rest,kotik. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

As I turn to leave, Jenny’s voice stops me. “Ivan?”

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