Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Jameson wished it could be him too. He’d thought about this, agonized over it. He didn’t want to be the firm one with her when they were on such precarious ground. Especially as he hadn’t really explained about his ex or talked about their relationship yet. And this could ruin it all. But Ian and Jack needed to be her safe space more than he needed her to like him.
It would hurt so bloody much, but he had to do what was best for the three of them.
“She also needs a safe harbor. That’s you and Jack. She can rant at me if she needs to. But she has to be able to turn to you if she needs a soft place to land.”
“No, that’s Jack. That’s always been Jack.”
“Yeah, but Jack needs help at the moment too. He’s not sleeping. He’s spiraling, and you and I both see it.”
Ian nodded reluctantly. “I don’t know what to do about him.”
“Yeah, there’s something I should tell you.” Jameson probably should have talked to Ian first before he’d done what he had. Fuck. Especially as they were still on guard against whoever took her.
“What?”
“I might have made him a sandwich and slipped a sleeping pill in it. I gave it to him while she was napping and dragged him into his room once he was unconscious. Asshole weighs a ton.”
“You did what?” Ian gaped at him.
“I should have told you first. Fuck. Sorry. It was kind of spur of the moment. He wouldn’t leave her side and I know he’d never let me get firm with her.”
“He wants to give her everything.” Instead of looking upset, relief filled Ian’s face. And Jameson remembered what it was like to work as a team.
To do this together.
Maggie looked up as Jameson walked in, carrying a tray of food. There was a strange look on his face, but she ignored that.
She was getting good at ignoring stuff. She glanced behind him. He never came by himself. Ian or Jack were always with him.
But he shut the door behind him and her eyes went to his, her breath stilling in her lungs.
“Bollocks,” he muttered. Hearing him swear in that posh-sounding accent would usually make her smile.
But she didn’t smile much anymore.
“I’m sorry, Shortcake. I’ll open it.”
“It’s okay,” she rasped. “Just surprised me.”
He called her Shortcake. He hadn’t done that in a while.
After studying her for a moment, he nodded and walked over to place the tray on a side table. “Time for lunch.”
“I’m not hungry,” she said automatically.
“I’ve no doubt you’ve lost your appetite, but you need to eat. And drink.”
She gazed over his shoulder. Where were Jack and Ian?
“Maggie, I would like your eyes on me.”
The firm tone had her gaze shifting back to his. Something changed inside her. No one had spoken to her this way since she’d been dropped off at the gate three days ago. Everyone tip-toed around her.
Although she wasn’t sure that anyone had ever used that tone with her.
And you like it, don’t you?
No. She didn’t want to feel anything.
“That’s better. Good girl.”
“Don’t do that,” she whispered.
He raised his eyebrows. “Do what?”
“Try to Top me. I haven’t consented.”
He sucked in a breath and she knew she’d rattled him.
“You’re right. You haven’t and I have no right. But I want to do it anyway. And you know why?”
She shook her head. This was even more surprising. Jameson didn’t seem like someone who strayed from the rules.
Jack, yes.
Jameson, no.
“Because all of you are falling apart, you need someone to hold you all together.”
Ahh, she got it now.
“So it’s for Jack and Ian. They need your help. You’re a good friend.” She gave him a tremulous smile. At least, she thought she did. She was still feeling quite numb.
Numb was good. She didn’t have to think or feel.
“No, I’m bloody not. I abandoned them. Gave up on them. But they never gave up on me. So I won’t do that to them now. Or ever again.”
Must be nice to have such loyalty.
A brief pang of sadness filtered through the barrier she had up. But she pushed it away.
She wanted to be numb.
“You should be looking after them, then,” she said. “Not wasting your time on me.”
“That’s one.”
“One what?” she whispered.
“One punishment. I saw your notebook. I’ll be putting that in.”
A stirring of anger.
Push it aside.
It was harder this time, though.
“You don’t have the right to punish me. Consent, remember?”
“As your doctor, if I believe you can’t make good decisions about your own care and health, I can take over. I can make those decisions for you.”
That wasn’t true, was it?
He sighed, looking upset. “Precious girl, I don’t want you to hate me. That’s the last thing I want. But you need help. And no one else is willing to push you. So I’m going to have to. Even if it ruins any chance of you wanting to be with me. I need to do something. I can’t just sit in this house and watch you fade away.”