Page 25 of Taking Adalisa

Nope.

“You don’t have to go back on it if you don’t want to. No one will make you,” Matthias tells me. “I won’t force you to do that.”

He takes several steps before stopping and running his hand up and down my back.

“Keys,” he mumbles.

They are in my hands, but I don’t want to let him go to try and give them to him. It would require me to leave some part of his body, and I’m not ready for that.

“It’s okay,” he tells me. “Take your time.”

I clench my jaw, inhaling deeply, before I make myself open my hand and give him the keys. It doesn’t take him long to get into my apartment and set me on my bed.

“I’m going to get you some water. I want you to sit here and get comfortable with the blanket wrapped around you,” he gently says.

I hold my breath as I let go of him, watching him walk away into my kitchen.

My mind starts reeling about everything. Matthias has my phone number. Matthias got me out of the elevator faster than I thought I was going to get out of there. He came for me when I needed him. I shouldn’t want that. I shouldn’t be happy he did that.

“Here’s that glass of water,” Matthias announces, walking back into the room. “Are you okay?”

I look at him, not knowing what to say. He hands me the glass, and I just look at it. How am I supposed to answer that question?

“Adalisa.” He sits next to me. “Are you okay?”

“Am I okay?” I repeat his question. “Am I okay?”

His face is blank, but his eyes have worry flowing through them. “Yes, Adalisa. Are you all right?”

I shrug, looking down at the water in my hands. “No, I’m not okay. Nothing about today has been okay!”

Matthias stays silent, and I take that as my cue to continue speaking.

“The sex was amazing. You taking me out to breakfast was not how I planned it to go, and not really what I wanted. You buying me breakfast and having it delivered wasn’t either. You shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t want this,” I quickly grit out. “You need to go. You need to leave my apartment right now!”

I place the water down on the nightstand and turn to Matthias.

“Get out. I don’t want you here anymore,” I point toward the door. “Get out of my fucking apartment.”

He rises from my bed and cups my face. I try to get out of it, but his grip tightens, keeping me in place.

“If you go out, make sure you wear the bracelet. It will protect you,” he reminds me.

“Protect me?” I laugh. “How will a tiny bracelet protect me? Everyone has one of these.”

It’s a simple bracelet; anyone on the street could have one of these. How does he expect something like that to protect me?

“Trust me, it will,” he replies. “You know I’m a dangerous man; I have enemies. My boss has enemies. Wear the bracelet when you go out. Promise me.”

I yank my face out of his touch and glare at him. “I’m not promising you anything. Now, get out of my apartment.”

He sighs and stands to his full height, giving me a pointed look before he walks out of my room. I hold my breath and wait to hear my front door open and close. My shoulders sag as I hear it does, letting go of the breath and picking up the glass of water. Bringing it up to my lips, I pause right before drinking and pull away.

Has he drugged it? I didn’t see him make it or hear him pour the water.

I don’t know Matthias at all and he was just in my apartment… again. I was so out of it, and he could have done anything. Did he place cameras in my apartment? I shake my head. He wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do that. Unless I was really out of it and lost track of time.

I place the cup down and fall back onto my bed, taking a deep, steadying breath. Too much is going on, and I can’t fully comprehend everything. Will I ever be able to when it comes to Matthias?

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