Page 39 of Everest

"It meant something, babe. You know it." I confront her with the truth. "Now, why are you stripping?" My voice is softer, but no less commanding, as I return to my previous question.

London snatches her coffee from the nightstand, wrapping both hands around the mug like a shield. Her eyes drop, and fora second, I think she won't answer, that she'll completely shut down and push me away.

But then she whispers, "I had to."

Silence settles between us.

It's thick and heavy.

"Why?" I press her.

London doesn't look at me. She stares into her coffee like it holds all the answers she is scared to give.

"Talk to me, babe."

"I can't while that's…" she points at my dick, "… staring at me."

London looks up at me, and my lip twitches as she glares.

Yielding to the moment and hoping she will open up to me, I sit beside her on the edge of the bed and drape the sheet over my lap.

After several seconds, London sighs. "I'm doing it for my mom," she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with emotion. "She has Alzheimer's, and it's an aggressive form that has taken away so much of her in a short time. I had to make the difficult decision to put her in an assisted living facility because it became too challenging to care for her on my own. The costs are staggering…” She sighs. “Much more than I can comfortably manage with my current income at the firm." She takes a moment, her shoulders trembling slightly under the weight of her words, but she forces herself to straighten up. "I needed a simple solution."

I drag a hand down my face. "You should've told me."

London lets out a bitter and shaky laugh. "Told you? I don't belong to you, Kallum. You don't belong to me. So why would I tell you anything?"

Her words sting more than I care to admit, but I ignore the burning sensation deep in my chest they leave behind. "You've beenminelonger than you care to admit, and you are part of theKings' family. You have a whole damn support system behind you, but you're too damn stubborn to see it."

"My problems aren't my friends’ problems. And I sure as hell don't expect them, or you, to come in and fix my life," London fires back, her voice cracking with indignation. "What would you have done if you'd known? Would you really hand over thousands a month for my mom to get the care she so desperately deserves?"

"I'd pay that and then some without a second thought!"

London's eyes blaze with intensity. "Why? My mom is nothing to you!" I feel the heat of her anger radiating from her body.

"But she means everything to you, babe, and that's all that matters," I retort, frustration consuming me, unable to control the growl that escapes my throat. I stand. "You're not goin' back and takin' your clothes off for another man," I say, calm but firm, knowing I'm throwing kerosene on the fire.

London shoots to her feet. "You don't get a say in what I do."

I tower over her, my body humming with the need to fuck that attitude right out of her. "The fuck I don't."

London glares at me. "Fuck you, Kallum. I. Do.Not. Belong. To. You." She pushes against my chest, but I don't budge. I won't let her push me away. She wants to fight, wants to rage, but beneath it all, she is breaking, and I'll be damned if she does it alone.

Without a word, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her tight against me. At first, her body is stiff, locked down, and defiant. She pushes harder, fists pressing against my chest, but I don't let go.

I hold her.

Silent.

Steady.

Solid.

I feel it—the moment she gives in.

Her shoulders slump, and a shudder rips through her body. London presses her head against my chest, and her hands cling to my skin like she hates herself for needing me. The first sob is small and muffled.

The sound cracks me wide open.

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