I utter them out loud.
I keep my gaze glued to Mackenzie while she sleeps in my bed. She looks peaceful. She always does while she’s sleeping, but when she’s awake, it’s like watching a storm. It’s there in her eyes, the chaos she no doubt feels inside. I want to take it away, but I can’t. It’s not like she’d let me anyway.
Last night was the first time in a very long time that things between us felt like they used to, but I’m not sure if I liked it or hated it. This wasn’t a part of the plan. The plan was to keep her safe. I could handle her hating me, but I couldn’t if she wasn’t alive to do it.
I am certain Zach and Vincent are working together, and I don’t trust them. Everyone is now a suspect. And even though I want to, I don’t trust Mackenzie either. It is easy to see through her lies now. I don’t know how I missed it before. I know she has no intention of leaving the cards where they lie. She is still angry, still hurt, which is a combination for disaster where she is concerned.
I watched her earlier as she left the resort and got into a random car. I couldn’t see who was driving, but I could make an educated guess. She is still enlisting his help, looking for ways to hurt me and the rest of the guys. Can’t say we don’t deserve it.
I know she thinks I’m a selfish bastard for bringing her here to gain back her freedom, but little does she know, she doesn’t need me for that. The second her parents signed that over to me, she was free. I am just making sure no one else has the opportunity to take advantage of her. Sort of like I am doing. I am a hypocrite, but I am a man intent on getting what I want. And I want Mackenzie.
Last night proved that to me loud and clear. Pierre has been a business partner of mine for a while. Back in France, he wanted help getting his business off the ground, and he came to me. We’ve been good friends ever since. He opened The Sanctuary here in the States, a safe space for the rich and elite to enjoy themselves. Every few months, he has these soirees like the one last night. I do my best to attend most of them as not to disrespect him or our business relationship.
I think a part of me wanted to scare Mackenzie with the events of last night. I wanted her to run for the hills to make my decision easier. I knew getting involved with her again was a mistake, but I couldn’t stop myself. She was like breathing—vital. I couldn’t not be near her.
I was pleasantly surprised that she was aroused watching the show. I had an entirely new plan for her. I wanted to test her limits, but mostly, I wanted to test my limits.
Could I sit back and watch as someone touched her? Brought her pleasure? If I could, I knew I’d be able to survive without her. If not? It proved what I already knew. I wasn’t done with her, and the chances were, I never would be. She’s somehow woven her way into me, threaded her being with mine.
I thought having Sheri there as a buffer would make it easier. It was two women touching each other—most men’s dreams come to life. Only, every time Sheri touched Mackenzie and kissed her, I had to physically hold myself back. That was my girl’s body she was touching. I wanted to be the one making her moan like that and bringing her to orgasm. I knew then if I couldn’t even stand Sheri being near her, bringing her to orgasm, then I wouldn’t be able to handle anyone else.
It was settled last night. She is mine. Even if she doesn’t want to be. She can fight me tooth and fucking nail, but she’ll always be mine, and deep down, she knows it.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and with one last look at Mackenzie, I excuse myself into my office. I settle back into the chair, pressing the phone to my ear.
“What is it?”
“It’s done,” Dan says, getting straight to the point. “Everything is moved. The house is fully furnished. You sure about this?”
No, I’m not, but I don’t have any other choice. I’m trying to right my past