Chapter Nineteen
AFTER a shower and a change of sheets, Sean emerged to find Thorpe waiting for him.
“Can we talk?” the big Dom asked solemnly.
His heart stuttered. “Sure.”
“Not where Callie can hear us. Outside.”
Where they’d freeze their asses off? It had to be serious, and Sean feared he knew where this was headed.
Single file, they walked through the galley, where he paused to kiss Callie gently on the forehead. “We’re going to step out here for a minute, lovely. We’ll be right back.”
She frowned, her dark brows dipping with obvious concern. “All right.”
“Why don’t you wait in the bedroom? You look tired. Get comfortable.” He tried to smile. “Take half the bed. You always do anyway.”
“Hey!” she protested.
Forcing a laugh, he herded the other man outside, noticing that Thorpe said nothing to Callie. He barely looked at her.
The moment the door shut behind them, Thorpe walked to the railing at the bow, then turned back to him as if preparing to launch a speech he’d rehearsed in his head.
Sean lost his temper.
“Don’t you dare say it,” he snarled. “One reason I brought us here was to spend time together, so you could see how perfect this is. I’ve given you access to every part of the woman I love, even some I’ve never taken. I fucking trusted you not to break her heart.”
Thorpe’s face closed up even more. “I didn’t lie about the fact that I will never be what she needs. The danger is going to come. Hopefully, she makes it out unscathed. Then you’ll take care of her. You have the capacity to love her and—”
“You’re being a total chickenshit. That woman loves you. She would lay down her life for you. Tonight, she trusted you with everything she’s got. Did you not understand that?”
“No, I got it. Damn it, what do you want from me, to admit that I’m fucking broken? Fine. I am.” Thorpe grabbed his arm and snarled in his face. “I will not spend months or years tearing her down while I try to get my shit together. It’s not going to happen. I’m doing her a favor.”
Sean snorted. “Don’t kid yourself. If you leave, you’re going to kill her. And you’re going to destroy yourself in the process. When you wake up a bitter, lonely man, I’m going to hold her tighter and tell her how much I love her. You’ll only deserve every ounce of your misery.”
He’d had it. No way he could look at Thorpe anymore—someone he’d considered . . . if not a friend, then a partner in Callie’s completion—and not feel betrayed. Yes, the stupid lug had said he wasn’t staying, but Sean had refused to believe that someone could love Callie as much as he did and still leave.
With a glare and a jerk of his arm from Thorpe’s grip, Sean turned to head back to the galley.
“Wait.” Thorpe’s voice shook.
Sean didn’t turn back to him. He didn’t care anymore. “We’re done. As soon as she’s safe, I expect you to fuck off.”
“And I will,” he swore. “Just . . . let me have the rest of tonight with her.”
That made Sean whirl around, jaw dropped. “Are you out of your mind? There’s no way—”
“I won’t touch her.” Thorpe held up both hands, fingers splayed. “But she deserves an explanation. I’ve never told anyone what I’d like to share with her. I can’t give her what she really needs, but I owe her this much.” He swallowed hard, holding back a wealth of regret. “Please.”
Sean wanted to punch Thorpe, make him hurt and bleed and welcome a painful death. He came so damn close. The only thing that stopped him was Callie. She’d be mad, damn her big heart. And she’d need Thorpe’s explanation for closure. She wouldn’t be able to move on without it.
“I really hate you right now.”
Thorpe looked up at the sky, whether for divine intervention or to ward off tears Sean didn’t know. Nor did he give a shit.
“It can’t be more than I hate myself.”
He sounded so defeated. If he was anyone else in any other circumstance, Sean would feel sorry for him. But . . .
“You know what she’s been through in the last nine years.” His tone sounded every bit like the accusation it was.
“I watched it for the last four. If I were the right man for her, I would have scooped her up back in Dallas, and you would never have had a shot. So don’t tell me what she’s endured.” Thorpe drew in a shuddering breath. “I am never going to convince you that I’m doing what’s best for her and to not hate me. And I’m deeply sorry. She’s your submissive. I won’t trespass any more than this. Do I have your permission to explain?”
Sean huffed in short, furious breaths. He struggled to put Callie’s needs above his pride. It chafed him in every way possible to let Thorpe even talk to her now. “You don’t need a whole night alone in the bedroom with her.”
Thorpe shrugged. “Maybe I don’t in order to get the words out. That’s just so I can hold her and convey all I can’t tell her.”
“You’ve got an hour. Then she’s all mine.” He stormed back into the galley, slamming the door behind him.
Already, Callie looked like she knew she was about to get bad news that would shatter her heart. Sean swore he’d do whatever he must to pick up the pieces and make her whole.
“I need to talk to you.” Thorpe reached his big hand out to her, his damp hair still slicked back, his cheeks lean with a fresh shave. Despite his grim expression, he was so achingly handsome.
Callie knew where this was going. She couldn’t help but overhear his conversation with Sean from the other side of the door. The minute Thorpe’s intention had become clear, a hollow sorrow had assailed her. Tears worked up from her chest, crowding her until she couldn’t keep a blank face. Still, she tried like hell to press them down. All the while, she stared at his hand, wondering . . . if she didn’t take it, would he still break her heart?
Finally, he approached her softly and slipped his hand in hers. “Come with me.”
She dug in her heels. “You’re going to leave me.”
“I’m going to save you,” he swore as he tugged gently on her arm.
“No!”
“Will you please just listen to what I have to say?”
For once he wasn’t ordering her. He wasn’t using that Dom voice to demand her obedience. She wished he would, but no. Instead, his voice cracked. He sounded like he was falling apart.
Callie had no way to refuse him.
Stunned and disintegrating on the inside, she allowed him to lead her to the spare bedroom where the old computer rested. Her head raced, trying to think of a way to keep him from leaving. The pain of his departure was already pelting her all over and spreading debilitating agony. He’d been her constant for four years. Losing him was like losing a piece of herself.
Thorpe closed the door behind them, then led her to the bed, sitting down and dragging her into his lap.
“Don’t do this,” she begged. “Why can’t you love me at least a little?”
It sounded pathetic the moment the words left her mouth, and she hated her weakness. The woman behind Callie Ward and every other alias had been tough, never allowing anyone to penetrate her armor, much less hurt her. Where was that woman now?
Gone. Deeply in love. Mired in loss.
“I wish it were that simple,” he said with such aching regret. “I’m sorry.”
Callie leapt from his lap and to her feet. She’d let herself fall in love twice, once with a man who couldn’t love her back. Somehow, she had to pull herself together, gather her strength, and not beg Thorpe again.
“So that’s it. You’re leaving?”
“As soon as you’re safe, yes. If it all works out, by tomorrow this time, you’ll be free to be Callindra Howe again.”