Page 3 of Broken

I leaned back in my chair. “I can’t stop you. I won’t stop you. However, I would hope you would allow me to put one of my men with you for security.”

Her face fell. “Absolutely not. You said I wasn’t in danger now. I need to be me for a minute.”

“I understand that. But it would be for my own peace of mind. Please, Kara.”

“Fine.”

I passed her an envelope. “Inside you’ll find your bank account information. It’s enough to live off until you figure out what you want. The key is for a small condo at River North right in the city. And here’s a phone. It has all the important numbers you need already programmed in.”

Her mouth fell open while holding the key. “How did you…? I can’t accept that. Those condos go for almost a million dollars.”

I chuckled, not knowing how she knew that. “More like two million to be exact. And I insist. It’s secure and safe. And it’s inside a building that has a doorman and everything you need. Don’t argue with me on this. It’s the one condition I have to have.”

She looked back down at the key. “I didn’t expect any of this when I said I wanted to leave.”

I forced a smile, letting her know it was okay. “You can take as many of the clothes as you want with you. It’s all yours.”

She met my gaze and searched my eyes for something, but I wasn’t sure what.

“Why are being so nice?”

“When I got you back, I told you that you could come and go as you pleased. And if you don’t want to be with me, then I won’t stop you. I won’t make you stay. I want you to stay because you want to. Not because I make you. Just consider the debt paid. You don’t owe me a thing.”

Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I really don’t know what to say.”

“I just want you to find your way back to me.” When she stood, I followed her lead. Closing the distance between us, she wrapped her arms around my neck to hug me.

She let me hold onto her for a little longer than normal. God, I didn’t want to let her go. I didn’t want to lose her forever. At the same time, I knew she needed this to heal. And if it was meant to be, she would come back to me.

I moved my lips to kiss her; she opened her mouth to let my tongue tangle with hers. Was this a goodbye kiss? I sure hoped it wasn’t. I hoped it was goodbye for now. If we were gonna do this, I had to be gentle and go as slow as she needed.

Hoisting her up, she wrapped her legs around my waist. While her lips remained on mine, I walked us over to my bedroom, the one I punished her for being in. Twisting the knob with one hand, I moved toward the bed and planted her on it softly. I stopped kissing her and looked into her eyes. It was as if she was telling me this was okay.

“I need this, Damon,” she reassured me.

I moved my lips to her neck and began planting soft kisses down her body, undressing her as I went. Her skin prickled at my touch as I continued moving down. She moaned and wiggled under my weight. I stopped to kiss the inside of each thigh.

“Yes, Damon. I need you inside me.”

I removed my pants and moved back up her body. Her wish was my command. I smirked while kissing her lips and moved inside of her. Her legs were spread wide as she moved her hips to match my rhythm.

We both needed the release. I was overcome with confusion. What did this mean for us?

After making love to her, she rolled over to face me. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Everything. Please don’t think I’m ungrateful for everything you’ve done for me.”

“If you need anything and I mean anything, you call me. Day or night. I don’t care. Promise me, Kara.”

“I promise.” She barely got the words out before tears fell from her eyes.

I helped her out of bed and held her face in my hands, wiping her tears with the pads of my thumbs. “Don’t cry. We’re good. I promise.”

She nodded her head in appreciation.

Chapter Three

---