Page 93 of Doubts & Fears

“Answer the fucking question. Is your end goal to make her your sub? Last time I checked, you weren’t into subs, just play partners. Has that changed?” Marcel’s voice had a sharp edge to it.

“I don’t know,” he finally admitted.

A deep sigh resonated across the speaker. “So then, if you don’t know what you want from her, you should stop treating her like she’s your sub. I get you want to keep her safe, but that can easily be done without fucking with her psyche, which you’re all doing.”

“Oh, but being returned to a complete stranger and then possibly forced into a marriage with some fucking asshole she doesn’t know won’t somehow mess with her psyche. Right,Dr. Marcel?” Alek asked. The words dripped with sarcasm, cutting through the air like a razor.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t second-guess how I assess my patients,” Marcel intoned. The exhaustion and anger building were unmistakable.

“Except you crossed a line with her, fuckface.” Alek couldn’t resist one more jab.

“Brother,” I warned. He was pushing it, allowing his feelings for Kinsley to cloud his judgment. Marcel never intentionally crossed lines. He should know better.

“I’m going to let you go before the two of us exchange words that either of us will regret. I’m sorry. I can tell you I’ll be in consultation with a colleague of mine before proceeding with her. I’ll let you know the course of action.”

The heaviness in Marcel’s tone and the resulting tension from the two of them verbally sparring hung around us. His words were tinged with something akin to shame and disappointment.

“The course of action?” Ivan took a deep breath and then murmured, “I told her she could trust you. Don’t make me a liar, Brother.”

“I don’t intend to. And here I thought you guys knew me better than that. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Marcel said, disconnecting from the call.

“Well, that did not go the way I thought it would. Alek, are you okay?” I asked.

“Not really,” he grumbled. His voice had taken on that faraway sound. I had a feeling he was wishing he could take back his words.

“Look, we all know Kinsley has a crazy effect on people. Clearly, Marcel is not immune to it. This is a first for him. We’re all treading a thin line here, but you know Marcel. He didn’t do it on purpose,” Ivan stated.

“We’ve faced challenges before. This isn’t any different. Our bond is too strong to let anything get between it. Alek, why don’t you take a drive and clear your head? I’ll wrap things up here and bring Kinsley home,” I offered.

I hung up with my brothers and then went in search of her, but I hesitated before opening the door. Desperate to calm the sea of emotions swirling inside, I took deep breaths. The minute the door opened, her eyes met mine, and a fleeting moment of connection passed between us. I offered her a soft smile, hoping to convey a semblance of reassurance.

“Ready to head home?”

She gave me a simple nod, and the look on her face had me stepping closer. I could sense the turmoil lingering beneath the surface, and I held her for several minutes, rubbing her back.

I led her out of the office and down the hall. Once the elevator doors slid shut, she drew closer and laid her head against me. It stopped at the underground parking garage, and I took her hand and led her to the car.

Marcus took one look at her, and his eyes met mine. He could sense she was struggling, so he quickly opened the door and helped her in. I studied her on the way home.

It was quiet the entire ride, and once we pulled up, her demeanor changed. She seemed to grow more nervous. I stopped her before we walked up the stairs to the house.

“I know today was difficult, but I want you to know we’re here for you. All of us,” I offered.

“Thank you. Can I go to my room for a while? I’d like to be alone.”

“Of course, malyshka. We’ll see you at dinner.”

She nodded, her lip quivering, and then she walked away. Damn, this girl left me feeling uncertain at every turn. It was disconcerting, given my normal temperament.

Chapter 30

Kinsley

The Carpenter’s Box

Later that night, I couldn’t help but appreciate the guys’ efforts to make things less awkward. As we gathered for dinner, they avoided mentioning my session with Marcel. I stole glances at each of them, and they appeared lost in their own thoughts, their gazes wandering aimlessly.

Meanwhile, my mind was a whirlwind of uncertainty, unsure of how to process everything. At the end of the day, I could only hope that Marcel had been truthful and hadn’t shared everything.

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