Page 89 of Objection
I let the tears fall and just let go. I didn’t know what else to do. So, I cried until I fell asleep.
The morning light filtered through the curtains far too early, waking me from what should have been restful sleep. But it wasn’t. I had tossed and turned. My dreams had been nothing but fear. Not the fear of the break in or of David showing up the way he had. Not of the pain I endured or the way the gun had felt in my hand as I pulled the trigger. No, my dreams were filled with doubt and the fear that maybe I simply wasn’t what Soren actually wanted. How could I be when he had someone like her?
Perhaps it was time to take Sandra up on her offer. Maybe it was time for me to step away from living here in this home with Soren; to give him the opportunity to have what he really wanted. To have someone he really wanted.
Not me.
But her.
27
Soren
“So,that’s Ms. Adams, is it?” Sam quipped as I watched Sandra lead Posey into the house. I sighed heavily, trying to mull over everything that had happened in the last several hours. What a fucking night.
“Yes, it is.”
“Well, it’s no wonder, then,” she murmured with a smirk.
“What do you mean?” I rubbed my hand over the back of my neck, the fatigue and stress of the day weighing down on me.
“It’s no wonder why you’ve been so conflicted and off,” she laughed. When I looked at her in complete confusion, she continued. “You’re in love with her.”
“Sam, I’m not having this conversation again,” I brushed her off, making my way into the house. She followed, as I figured she would.
“You may think you’re not having this conversation, but you are going to regardless of what you want. Soren, I’m serious. It’s time to talk this out,” she pushed.
“I’m not going to sit here and argue with you in my home where I just had a break in, my submissive was attacked, we were both injured, and a man was killed. Jesus, Sam! Time and place!” I whisper-yelled at her, not wanting to disturb Posey with all of this.
She rolled her eyes, tugging me into my office and closing the door.
“Then maybe we should just talk like civilized people and not bicker like children. Ren, I need you to listen to me, really, truly listen this time,” she said, pushing me down into my office chair and sitting on the edge of the desk.
“Why are you so relentless, Sam?” I rested my head against the back of my chair, wanting only to get to Posey, and if possible, wrap her in my arms and fall blissfully asleep.
“Why are you so obstinate? I’m not being bratty. I’m being serious. Ren, you and I have known each other for going on fifteen years. I know that romance is not in the cards for you, according to you. But what I want to know is why? Why can’t you be open to love?” Her impassioned questions only aggravated me further.
“You know why, Sam.” I made to stand back up, but she stopped me with a hand to my shoulder.
“But I really don’t. I know that you had someone you loved before. Laurel. And I know that you don't have her anymore. I know that she is the reason you give up any time feelings come into play. But I don’t know what happened. Tell me. Or if you won’t tell me, tell someone. But tell someone who also knows about Posey because she is a big part of this conversation whether you’re willing to admit it or not.” Sam crossed her arms in front of her chest, showing just how stubborn she was going to be regarding this.
“Fine,” I threw my hands up, exasperated as I ran my fingers through my hair and winced as the stitches in my side tugged a little. “You want to know about Laurel, I’ll tell you. But not tonight. Tonight, I need to check on Posey. I need to make sure she is okay. And then I need to sleep. Can you lay off now?”
“Fine. But I’m serious, Ren. Before you lose that woman, you need to be honest with her, and honest with yourself.” Sam stood up, tugging me to my feet and wrapped me up in a hug. Sam may have been my submissive off and on for years, but she was a friend, and one of the closest ones I had.
“Hey,” I whispered against her hair as we hugged. “Thank you for ignoring my text and coming over anyway.”
“Well, duh,” she chuckled.
I walked her out of the house, watching as she headed back home. Now, to check on Posey and get that woman into my arms, where she was safe, as fast as possible. The door to her room was left open. Good, if she had tried to sleep there, I would have demanded that she moved. I would begin work on renovating the room on Monday, but for now it was just good that she wasn’t in there.
I found her down the hall in the small guest bedroom. I cracked the door open, finding Posey curled up in the bed and Sandra on a chair beside her, holding her hand while Posey slept.
“How is she?” I asked, keeping my voice quiet so as not to wake her.
“She’s exhausted. Overwhelmed.” Sandra answered. I could hear the worry and exhaustion in her own voice. I couldn’t blame her. Sandra had been an incredible friend to Posey over the years.
“You’re welcome to go home, Sandra. Thank you so much. I can sit with her for the rest of the night.” I didn’t want her to feel obligated to stay. Plus, the need to have Posey in my arms was getting overwhelming.
