Page 74 of Owned

The only thing that had been keeping me from going completely batshit crazy had been Rowan’s suggestion the day before, the fantasy I’d told her about. It had been lurking in the back of my mind for a couple of weeks now, but I hadn’t wanted to push her, or let the thought of it distract me from what was going on with Charlotte. So Rowan bringing it up herself had caught me by surprise.

I knew she viewed it as a challenge rather than something she wanted, but she’d been quite certain about it. I’d checked in again with her the night before and her blue eyes had been clear and very direct when she’d said that yes, she wanted to do this for me.

I didn’t much care for the idea of her leaving the loft to go to Arcadia, but that was the most logical and safest venue outside of my place. Cal would make sure everything was organized properly and his security would be second to none. There wasn’t much of a risk involved with Rowan’s safety, which obviously was my priority. She’d no doubt enjoy getting out of the loft too.

You shouldn’t be holding her so tightly.

I knew that, but right now I didn’t have a choice, not with the threat of Charlotte hanging over us. It also wasn’t lost on me that perhaps indulging in my sexual fantasy now wasn’t the best timing in the world, and that it could wait. But I needed something to quell the constantly hungry beast inside me, and maybe claiming her in front of an audience would do it.

“Yeah, it’s organized,” Cal said. “Short notice, but I think attendance will be good. There was a lot of interest.” He gave a short laugh. “I probably need to organize more of them.”

“Ten will be into it,” I said, knowing already that it wasn’t Cal’s thing, not with Isabel. “He likes a public scene.”

“Good point. He might want to come and bring Zara. You okay with him being there?”

“Sure,” I said, because I was fine with it. More than fine. Ten was a judgy sort, no matter what he said, and I had a point to prove. Rowan’s participation would put his doubts to rest. “He can do some reconnaissance, show Zara what it’s all about. She might like it.”

“Okay,” Cal said briskly. “You and Rowan come a bit earlier so we can get everything set up and you can view the room.”

I confirmed the time, hit the end button, then called Rowan.

“Atlas,” she said on answering, and I was pleased with the breathlessness in her voice.

“You still okay with tonight, beauty?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Good, because I’ve just confirmed everything with Cal. We’ll get there a bit earlier so we can check the room.”

“Um, would you mind if I got there before you?” she asked. “Perhaps if I could meet you there?”

“No,” I said automatically, every muscle in my body tensing. “Absolutely fucking not.” There was a silence and I knew she wasn’t happy with that, but I didn’t say anything more. It was a flat out no and she should understand why.

“You’re being ridiculous,” she said, sounding annoyed.

“Your safety and the safety of my baby are not ridiculous and I don’t give a fucking damn if they are anyway.”

“Our baby,” she said warningly. “Not just yours.”

“Rowan, I’m not arguing with you about this. I said no and that’s final. You come with me and or not at all.”

This time the silence at the other end of the phone was seething. “You’re going to have to loosen the grip you have on me at some point,” she said at last. “I’m not an object. I’m a person and if you hold me too hard, I’m going to suffocate.”

Some part of me, some part way down deep was telling me that history was going to repeat itself if I wasn’t careful, that if I held on too hard I’d kill what I was trying so hard to protect, but I ignored it.

Maybe this was all about myself and my fear for her safety, but it wasn’t the same as my mother and father. Rowan was stronger than Mom had ever been and I wasn’t my father. I wasn’t.

“We’ll talk about this later,” I said. “When I come back home once I’m done here.”

“You know,” she said tartly. “This is not putting me in the mood for a public sex show.”

I gritted my teeth. “I’ll put you in the mood. Don’t worry.”

There was another silence.

Then she ended the call.

27

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