Page 33 of Bound To Me

I shut my eyes tight and sighed. “Because I didn’t want to burden you with this.”

As I opened my eyes, Elliott was shaking his head.

“Jacqueline…you will never be a burden,” he said softly. “Don’t you realize how much I care about you?”

I blinked away tears and shook my head. “I care about you so much. That’s why I’m scared. I’m scared that I’m going to lose you and I’m scared of what Michael will do to us,” I admitted as I sat up, my head throbbing.

He gazed at me for a while, seemingly in deep thought. “You will never have to be scared with me. Trust me, Jacqueline.” Hisvoice was low and deep and sent a wave of desire throughout my body.

I nodded. I believed him.

“I’m going to figure out how Michael got your contact information. We’ll go from there.”

I looked down at the ground, confused. I looked back up at him with a wary smile. “How are you going to figure that out?”

Elliott hesitated. “I’m…I have some contacts that can help with that,” he assured me.

I raised my eyebrows. “Oh yeah? Some fellow therapist contacts?”

He laughed and nodded. “Something like that.”

* * *

Elliott went into his office to take some video sessions with his clients. He told me he didn’t want to leave me so he was going to work from home. Luckily, I had the day off so I slept for a few more hours while he worked. I didn’t bother to turn my phone back on; the only person I wanted to talk to was in the next room anyway.

When I woke up, I felt significantly better. Elliott’s voice drifted in from the other room, reminding me that I was safe. My luggage, now tucked in the corner, served as a stark reminder that I was moving in with him. It was surreal—just two weeks ago, I had met the Nice Hot Older Guy on the plane, and now here I was, about to fucking live with him.

He wasn’t just any guy; he wastheguy, or at least, I was convinced he was. But the reality of moving in with him scared me. Things couldn’t always be this perfect, and I feared the moment he’d discover my darker, clingy side. I’d beenmeticulously hiding that part of me, but living together meant it was only a matter of time before it surfaced.

Elliott seemed so put-together—his own house, a stable career. I couldn’t help but question what I had to offer. What if he saw me as nothing more than a hopeless mess? What would I bring to the table?

“Hey.” Elliott walked in, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. “You okay?”

I blinked, trying to think of an answer. “I’m sort of freaking out about staying here. I mean…Iamfreaking out. What if you end up thinking I’m a lunatic and then you’re just stuck with me?”

He paused and then smiled. “I’m well trained to handle lunatics,” he teased.

I smiled but quickly shook my head and raised my shoulders, tense as I stood up. “Seriously. I am definitely like, sort of a lunatic. I’m gonna be needy and need constant validation and I will probably annoy you with how much I stare at you because you’re so fucking gorgeous.”

He started to walk towards me, his gaze tender and reassuring. “I love all of those things about you, Jacqueline.” He placed his hand gently on my cheek, his smile soft and sincere.

My heart sank to my belly. “Even the staring?” I joked quietly, too mesmerized by his eyes and the fact that he said helovedthings about me.

“We can have a nightly staring contest,” he teased back.

“I’d win, for sure,” I quipped.

He smiled and pulled me in for a kiss—a tender, sweet, and loving kiss that made my heart skip a beat. As his lips met mine, a warm wave of bliss enveloped my entire body, melting away all my doubts and fears. His kiss was soft yet full of an indescribable depth. When he finally pulled away, I had to catch my breath, mycheeks flushed and my pulse racing. It was possibly the best kiss I had ever experienced, and I found myself craving more.

“At least let me pay rent.” Of course, I had to ruin the moment.

He seemed to think for a moment, his gaze softening as he looked at me. “I’m not going to take your money,” he said sweetly, his tone reassuring. But I couldn’t let it go that easily.

“Please. I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you, or for me to just… feel guilty about this,” I insisted, shaking my head. “I want to contribute in some way. It’s important to me.”

He licked his lips and glanced out the window, his expression thoughtful. Then he took my hand and guided me to the bed, sitting down and drawing me onto his lap. As he settled me against him, he gently rubbed his hand over my thigh, his touch soothing despite the visible scars. He didn’t even seem to notice them.

“You won’t budge on this, will you?” he asked with a teasing smile, his fingers tracing comforting patterns on my skin.

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