“I think I probably had a bill or something in my handbag, it was full of junk.”
“Did you call the police?”
“Derrick did.”
“Derrick was there? Why would you call Derrick instead of me?”
“I didn’t call Derrick. The alarm company did.”
“Why would the alarm company call Derrick?” he asked.
“Because he put in the alarm.”
“Derrick? Derrick put in that alarm? Why?”
“He took me home from the club one night and was concerned about where I lived. He insisted on putting the alarm in.”
Alex frowned.
“When was this?”
She sighed. “Does it matter? It was just before he met Jacey. He was just being a good friend.”
“You should have called me the minute you realized what had happened. You could have been in danger and you didn’t even do me the courtesy of a phone call. I am your Dom, how am I supposed to protect you if you don’t tell me what is going on?”
Uh oh. His voice had gone all soft. Not good. Not good at all. But what did he expect? They didn’t have a real relationship.
“I wasn’t in any danger. They were long gone by the time I got there.”
“Doesn’t matter. Someone broke into your apartment. Thank God you’re no longer living there. You should have called me. You needed me and I wasn’t there.”
She tilted her head on one side, studying him. “But I didn’t need you.”
Alex flinched and she felt a stab of guilt. It wasn’t entirely true. While she could handle things herself, she had needed him. She’d needed someone to tell her that everything would be okay, to hold her tight and be there for her when she had a nightmare.
“Alex, you wanted a relationship with no emotional entanglements and that’s what I’m trying to give you. I didn’t need your help the other day so I didn’t call you. You were working; I didn’t want to bother you. I handled it.”
“With Derrick.”
“He’s a friend.”
“And I’m not.”
Tara sat, fatigue pulling at her. “I like you, Alex.” More than she should. “But you made it very clear what you wanted from me. Sex and submission. You want fun. Dealing with the mess those bastards left wasn’t fun. I didn’t need my Dom there.” I needed a boyfriend.
“Not good enough. Obviously I did not make myself clear after the mugging. While we have a contract, you will tell me the minute anything like this happens again. If you are in trouble, if you are in danger, if you hurt yourself, your first call will be to me, understand?”
She could tell there was no budging him. “I understand.”
“I’ll write it into the damn contract in the morning and send you a copy.”
“Sure.” She gave him a fake smile. “I look forward to it.”
“Into the bedroom. Now.”
***
“Please let me come, Sir. Please.”