similar situation unfold and reacted. Come on. It’s textbook. You can do better than that.”
“Yes, I can.” She studied him, and the way he held himself stiff, as if warding off an attack. “I agree with your theory. It is textbook, and you’ve admitted it, tried to fix your limitations, and move on. I admire you for that, Stone. But there’s something you haven’t told me yet. Haven’t told anyone, I think.”
He glared. “Look, I gave you everything I got. If that’s not enough blood for you to play with, excuse me while I go tap another vein.”
“Who else were you trying to protect when your father pushed your mother down the stairs?”
He jerked as if she’d shot him. Raw, ugly emotions crossed over his features, dragging him to a dark place Arilyn knew she couldn’t follow him. She could only try to get him back.
“No one.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Fuck this.” He scraped back the chair and got to his feet. “I think this session is officially over. I’ve done what you wanted, and I deserve for you to sign those goddamn forms so I can get back to work and my real life.”
She tried not to flinch at the open anger pouring from him in choppy waves. “This is your real life,” she said calmly. “There’s a bigger trigger going on, and until we find it, you’re not going to be able to get past it.”
“The only other trigger is in your imagination. Now that you taught me to breathe properly, I should be fine.” He yanked his cap down low over his eyes. “I’m outta here. Do what you want.”
“Stone?”
“What?”
“I’ll be home if you want to talk.”
He didn’t answer. The door slammed behind him, and Arilyn sank into the chair, wondering if she’d pushed too hard. Wondering if she had lost him forever.
WHO THE HELL DID she think she was?
Rage pumped through his muscles. At first, the end of the anger counseling sessions caused a strange mix of confusion. Sure, he wanted it the hell over with, but he’d become used to seeing her every day.
He’d pulled back these past few days. Worked extra. Met the guys for a few rounds of billiards. What scared him the most?
He missed her. And Patrick. And that damn wicked witch neighbor he was beginning to like. He missed her cooking, and the general chaos, and the way she pulled him in tight at night, her body completely surrendering to every dark, dirty thing he wanted to do to her and with her.
He waited for her to whine, or complain about him not coming over. He readied himself to battle for his freedom and guys’ night out. But she never said a word. Just supported him in whatever decision he made, said she’d miss him, and let him go.
The woman frustrated the hell out of him.
But this? This was too much. Poking around in his head again under the guise of therapist. If she wanted to know about his past, all she had to do was ask. He’d never hidden anything from her, even the shit he preferred to keep locked up nice and tight.
Who else were you protecting?
A shiver bumped through him. Screw it. He was gonna meet the guys, have a few beers, and go home. He’d take an early shift in the morning and keep his head straight. Then maybe he’d call her to sort out what the hell they were doing.
Stone played pool. He looked for Patrick, who wasn’t there, and settled in with his coworkers. They bashed each other in good fun, drank, and had a decent time. He ignored the clawing emptiness in his gut and decided he was hungry. When they pushed a plate of fried shit over to him, he thought he heard her voice whispering in his ear to please eat something grilled, since it was a lot healthier.
He lost it.
“I gotta go.” He stood, said his good-byes, and headed out. The November air was chilly and brisk, but he zipped up his jacket and decided the walk would be good for him to clear his head. With each step closer to her house, the anger built. He hadn’t asked for a permanent relationship with a woman who’d drive him crazy. He liked to keep things simple, but she didn’t know what simple was. He needed to confront her tonight and remind her that their relationship was about sex. Just sex.