Tempting Tricks (Tempting Nights #2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

~Annabelle~

W e finish lunch and decide to walk the twelve blocks to my place because it’s just too nice out not to enjoy some of the day. What would have normally taken us thirty minutes, takes over an hour, Kane investigating every nook and cranny along the way. I don’t mind. Patrick keeps my fingers caged securely in his, his dominant nature making me feel safe and possessed in the best of possible ways.

When we reach my place, there’s an unexpected battle of wills when Kane discovers Nyla and chases her throughout the apartment. Kane finally gives up when Nyla escapes to the top of my dresser, knocking over several perfume bottles in the process, height her new best friend. She hisses when I go over and try to soothe her, clearly not impressed with my visitors .

“Well, this could be a problem.” Trick chuckles, scratching his chin after the entire chaotic scene is over. He’s got Kane securely gathered in his lap, panting like he just ran the marathon.

“Ya think?” I chide back. I point at the cat and lift my arms in the air. “I mean, holy shit. What am I supposed to do with that ball of fury right there?”

He frowns, nodding. “Especially if we end up living together.”

Whoa! Did he just say what I think he said? My head whips in his direction as I digest the meaning of his words. Something I hadn’t even gotten far enough in my thinking to consider yet. “Um, yeah, I think we’re a little way off before we have to worry about that.”

His brows arch up in surprise. He slides the puppy off his lap onto the couch and moves to come stand in front of me. “I didn’t mean tomorrow, Belle, but I guess I thought we were on the same page.”

“We are.” I place my hand flat on his chest. It falls right over his hoop, and I inwardly curse my body when heat surges through my veins. I continue, stammering. “But, I mean, we’ve only spent two nights together. I thought we were still in the getting to know you phase. I didn’t think we were at a stage where we have to worry about our pets cohabitating.”

His eyes bore down into mine, the edges dark as they narrow. He’s silent for a moment then scoffs, shaking his head as he walks back to the couch. “Whatever. If that’s what you think .”

My mouth gapes open, my mind spinning at his reaction. “ You’re kidding, right?” I stomp over, jamming my hands on my hips as I stand over him.

He glares right back up at me, practically snarling at me. “Whatever makes you comfortable, Belle.”

“What is your god damn problem?” I raise my hands as I ask the question. “You seriously didn’t think we were going to be moving in together after two weeks?”

He stands abruptly, towering over me, his jaw clenched as he speaks. “I honestly hadn’t even thought about it until the pets from hell scene just unfolded. But seeing how strong your reaction is to even the suggestion of it says everything I need to know about how you feel.”

“Patrick,” I start, my hands landing on my hips again. “It’s been two weeks. Two . You really want to talk about this now? Already?”

His chin rocks back and forth as his jaw clenches, his nostrils flaring as he breaths down at me. “Nine weeks,” he drawls out in a hot breath. “Seventy-one days. That’s how long I’ve known you, how long I’ve known you were different. Seventy-one days since I walked into your office, and my heart fucking stopped in my chest at the sight of you.”

What? I stare at him, unable to find any words at his revelation. I know he said he’d fallen for me, but I had no idea how long he had been feeling that much for me. I’m literally dumbstruck, my head trying to rationalize what he’s saying to me.

He steps to the side, away from me, his hand raking through his hair. “You know how I feel, Belle.” He reaches down to pick Kane off the couch, turning to me. “Figure out what you want.”

He strides to the door, pulling it open, the fact that he’s leaving finally triggering a reaction from me. “Patrick, wait!” I scurry toward him.

He looks over his shoulder at me, his face stoic. “I’ve been waiting my whole god damn life for you, and I didn’t even know it.” His lips press firmly together as a second ticks by. “I’m done waiting.” He breaks my gaze then storms out.

I flinch as the door slams shut, my hand stretched out to him, but it’s too late. What in the hell just happened? I lower my arm, still staring at the door, my feet planted in place, not sure what I should do. Give him space? Go after him? Scream in frustration? We went from zero to sixty in five minutes flat.

I jump when the cat rubs against my leg. At least, one of us is happy that Patrick left. I push her away with my foot, scowling down at her. “Thanks a lot, you little trouble-maker.” That’s right, I’m blaming the cat for what just happened. It certainly isn’t my fault. Or is it? I walk absently over to a chair and sink into in, replaying the entire event in my head. Did I overreact? Did he?

“Ugh!” I yell, shooting up, then stomping over to my phone. I need a second opinion. I find my phone and text for back-up, telling Krystal and Holly we need an emergency wine-infused meeting at my place. They respond almost immediately, both of them letting me know they’ll be here in an hour.

Sure enough, an hour later, both girls show up on my doorstep, jumbo bottles of wine in hand, coming to my rescue. Ten minutes later, we’re situated comfortably in my living room, glasses in hand, and I tell them everything. I tell them about the ball, coming back to my apartment, the blow-job—‘cause yes, we’re girls and we share stuff like that. I also tell them about the marks on his back and how he likes pain, a lot of pain, and how much that scares me because I know it’s not something I can do to him.

I explain to them my mini-epiphany about my dad’s suicide and how what Patrick does at the club actually provides him some kind of salvation from the pain that my father couldn’t or wasn’t able to find. I tell them about going to him at his place, the exceptional sex, the date he took me on, and the even better sex. Right up until this afternoon when I may have screwed everything up when he mentioned us moving in together.

“Do you love him?” Holly asks, never one to mince words.

“I don’t know.” I take a big gulp of my wine, needing to catch up with the girls since I’ve been yammering on for the past fifteen minutes. “I like him. A lot.”

“That’s it?” Holly declares, not satisfied. “You like him a lot?”

“I mean, Jesus, the sex is incredible.” I look up at them both, giggling, my cheeks flaming as I admit the next truth. “I want to climb him like a tree every damn second I’m with him, and you both know that I’ve never even liked sex that much.”

“That’s ‘cause you obviously weren’t doing it right,” Holly states, raising her glass in the air to confirm her wisdom.

“Or because, now, you’re doing it with the right person,” Krystal concludes, bringing me right back to my problem.

“I like him, you guys,” I groan. “I really like him.” I give them a pleading look. “But I mean, technically, we’ve been dating, if you can even call it that, two weeks. Can you even fall in love in two weeks? Decide you want to be with someone in two weeks?”

Holly and Krystal simultaneously nod and speak in unison, “Yes.”

Krystal speaks first. “There’s no time limit to how long it should take someone to fall in love, Belle. You of all people should know that there aren’t any hard and fast rules around how emotions work. For some people, it’s two days, some two months, some two years. Stop letting your brain do all your thinking for you, and for once, just follow your heart.”

Holly purses her lips up in a smile, nodding. “Yep, what she said.”

“But, you guys, he’s kind of a mess.”

Holly cocks her head, her brow quirked high. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black, girl? I mean, you’re not exactly the poster child for your typical, happy-go-lucky kind of girl either.”

“I’m happy!” I defend.

They both stare back at me then shake their heads. “Um, no. Coming home every night to this,” Krystal waves her hand in a circle around the room, “your cat and a bottle of wine, after talking to depressed soldiers all day? Add not dating or getting laid for a year, and that is not what I describe as happy.”

“ Ten months !” I bang my fist on the arm of the chair I’m sitting in, then I break into a wide grin. “Actually, it’s only been like,” I look up at the clock on my wall, “six hours.”

We all start laughing, breaking the tension that had been building in the room. When we calm down, I take a sip of my wine and shrug. “Did I totally mess things up? ”

“No,” Holly soothes. “It’s a lot in a really short amount of time.”

“Just give him some time to understand your point of view and to cool down a little,” Krystal chimes in. “He said he loves you.” She gives me a small smile. “If he really does, he’s not going to give up that easily.”

“Is it weird that I already miss him?” I curl one side of my mouth down.

“You love him,” Holly declares.

“Holly!” I admonish.

“You’re not denying it,” she teases me back.

I hide my smile behind my glass as I take another chug of my wine, unable to admit out loud that she’s right. I have fallen in love with him—maybe as long ago as my first meeting with him, which would explain why I never treated him the same as I did my other patients. Because he isn’t the same. I just could never admit it to myself, because I always felt I had to follow the rules of logic instead of the rules of the heart.

I excuse myself, claiming I have to go pee, and sneak my phone into the bathroom with me. I’ve never even called him before. How strange is that? But I do have his number stored in my contacts, in case I ever needed to change or cancel an appointment. I bring it up, and chickening out, send a text instead.

-I know what I want. xo Belle

I sit in the bathroom for a full five minutes waiting for a response, but nothing comes. My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach as I wonder if, after everything, maybe he doesn’t want me after all.