Page 110 of Whistleblower

“I’m sorry,” I apologize in a muffle, my embarrassment rising to my cheeks seeing as we’re definitely not talking about the wine. “I really tried.”

“Why? I don’t need that to be content.”

“But I think I do,” I whisper.

“Eden.” Linc hunches over so his face is level with mine and it takes everything in me not to look away from his ghostly blue eyes. “It’s time to be honest. You don’t have to be a masochist in the bedroom to prove you’re strong.” He strokes my forehead and traces my wet cheek. “What you went through… You must’ve been so scared.”

I glower at him as he sings my insecurities out loud, but I’m finally honest nonetheless. “Terrified.”

“Why are you so embarrassed of that?”

“I’m not embarrassed, Linc. I’m a prisoner. Don’t you understand that? Before Empress, I was a very normal woman. Normal. I didn’t check for the exit signs when I first entered a building. I hate guns, and now for some reason, I see them daily. I am trapped by my fear. I thought this was a fresh new beginning and yet, I’m right back where I was a year ago. Actually worse. Before it was threats, now we’ve escalated to attacks.”

“Bambi—”

“See? Exactly,” I grumble. Linc tilts his head like he’s confused. “Bambi is a baby deer who is skittish, and clumsy. He watched his mom die and his home burn down. He constantly had to run away or be rescued. It’s by far the most depressing Disney movie.”

Linc’s mouth opens and closes like he’s struggling with what to say next. “I haven’t seen enough Disney movies to refute that.”

“I’ve done the research. Trust me.”

Setting the stool aside, Linc fetches a towel and holds it out to me. After helping me out of the tub, he wraps me up tightly and rubs my shoulders.

“Do you know what being scared means?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“Being scared means you still have a conscience. And before I met you—I never got scared. I was apathetic about my own life. Live or die, I didn’t care. But when you were in danger, I was scared.” Linc holds me at arm’s length so I can see the seriousness in his eyes. “I was fucking terrified.”

Hanging my head, I see my tears splashing on the floor. So much for my rule of no one seeing me cry.

“Eden, you think fear is a weakness, but I see it as beautiful. Being scared lets me know that now I have something worth living for.”

I burrow into his chest, letting him hold me as I weep. When my knees begin to buckle, he scoops me up and carries me into the bedroom, tucking me in, towel and all. He lies down behind me and holds me close so I can feel his breath on my neck.

“What made you feel better?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

Spinning in his arms, I wrestle against the prison of the sheets so I can face him. I plant a quick kiss on his lips.

Linc’s hair looks a little longer than normal. His face is clean-shaven, but he needs a haircut. If he continues the way he’s been going, he’ll look like Tarzan before he lets me out of his sight and goes to a salon. It dawns on me that this amazing, protective, beautiful man who only thinks he’s a monster, is so devoted to me, that if I don’t find a way to put Empress in the past, it’ll trap both of us.

“When you were scared, what made it okay?” I ask.

“I had to see you were okay with my own eyes. Once I held you, I felt much better.”

“So, once you faced your fear, you felt better?”

“Something like that,” he murmurs into the back of my neck. “Now, get some rest, Eden.” I feel him shuffling behind me.

“Where are you going?”

“To order us some real food, and maybe get you a bag of ice to sit on.” He very lightly pats my ass.

“Hey, Linc,” I call after him, causing him to turn at the door. “I know you’re new to this boyfriend thing, but you should know, you’re doing a wonderful job.”

He blows me a kiss at the door which is bizarre coming from a man who could snap your neck with minimal effort.

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