TWELVE: Trust

1:18AM

Cam back bumped into the door. There wasn't anywhere to go. Her fingers went limp on the doorknob as the buzzing in her ear went from a low hum to a roar.

No.

No.

She shook her head. The horror must have been plain on her face, because he stood his ground, his chin lifted until she saw a spark of the arrogance that haunted her memories. Pride and anger warred in his face. "What, you think I like being in love with two women?"

She couldn't do anything but keep on shaking her head. He was wrong. He didn't know what he was saying. He was still living off the memories of those nights that were too emotion packed. All the heightened awareness was because of the adrenaline and the forced closeness. It wasn't real. There hadn't been enough time to know the real her.

He shoved his hands into his hair and stepped forward. "Cam," he said softly as his hand cupped her face.

Her throat was beyond dry, but her body wanted that touch--craved that touch. She leaned into his hand for a moment, relishing the only warmth she'd felt in too long to remember. "You don't love me, you love the idea of me. Someone to protect--it's not love. You love your wife and your kids. Those people are the important ones."

"Why do you think this kills me? I do love them, but the moment I saw you on my steps in that storm it was over for me, Cam. Sometimes it only takes a moment."

She shook her head, the room blurring. "No," she said again.

"It's all right, Sweetheart. It's given freely. There's no strings here, but you had to know it. You see, I couldn't not protect you. You're mine, and I protect what's mine."

She closed her eyes against the words. Lucas wanted to own her too. The words blurred and all she could pick out was the fear. She slid down, cradling her knees. No way out. She slid her fingers into her hair, tucking herself into her knees.

"Oh, baby." His voice was so soft. "C'mon, let me get you into bed. We don't have to talk about it anymore, I promise." She held on tighter and when he gently untangled her fingers from her hair, she let him pick her up off the floor. He settled next to her, pulling her close until she curled around and rested her head on his lap. With his fingers smoothing and soothing along the back of her neck, she wallowed in the comfort and didn't let herself think about the difference between love and ownership.

Not now.