“I think you broke him,” Eve whispered to Charlie two hours later.
“I can still hear, you know.” He hadn’t moved in hours. He was replaying the situation over and over in his brain. The sight of Charlie creeping up on a woman with a gun while she was super pregnant wasn’t one that would go away easily.
The Dallas Police had shown up and hauled Crazy Eyes off to prison. She was about to find out just how damn real Texas was, complete with a prison system where she could totally find a new girlfriend since Brie wasn’t interested. She hadn’t been all that interested in Hoover, who had required a change of pants, either. She had been interested when the press had shown up downstairs.
Derek was going to keep McKay-Taggart’s name out of it so they didn’t become the go-to security firm for douchebag reality stars. Lieutenant Brighton had tried to question Ian, but all he’d managed to say was something about asking Charlie since she was freaking Superwoman and his babies in utero could kick ass.
Jesus. He couldn’t breathe.
“Babe, do you want something to eat? I can have Sean bring something over.” Charlie was using a deeply soothing tone on him as she rubbed his shoulders.
“Not hungry.” He might never eat again.
“How about some Scotch?” Charlie offered.
“I know Alex has some eighteen-year-old,” Eve offered. “Or we could go back to my office and sit and talk. You’ve been through something traumatic. You need a safe place to discuss your feelings.”
That got him moving. He wasn’t going to have a flipping session. “I’m fine.”
He stood up and started down the hall but not before he noticed Eve taking a twenty-dollar bill from Charlie, who was shaking her head.
“Told you it would work,” Eve said under her breath. “Now you need to go and fix him. That man is in serious denial.”
He wasn’t in denial. He knew damn well there was absolutely nothing he could do. He strode down the hallway. It was utterly out of his control. He hated this. He wasn’t in control of fucking anything anymore.
Adam started to walk out of his office and shrank right back in when he saw the look on Ian’s face. At least one person was still afraid of him.
He needed more fear from his employees. He should begin routine beatings. Yes, that would make him feel better. He could randomly beat the shit out of people, and then he would have the illusion of control.
Because it was all an illusion.
He’d just sat down in his chair when she came through the door, closed it quietly, and locked it behind her.
What was that about?
“Ian, I know you’re mad.”
“I’m not mad.” He couldn’t be mad. She was ridiculously pregnant and that meant he couldn’t get mad. He couldn’t take charge. He couldn’t do fucking anything. He was supposed to be “supportive” and calm, even when she did stupid things like take down a killer with a choke hold.
“Yes, you are furious and I don’t really understand how you aren’t yelling at me. Come on, babe. It would make you feel so much better. Do you want me to get the paddle out? It’s been a while since you gave me a good long spanking. We could both use it.”
Yes, he could so use a nice session where he took out all of his frustrations on her gorgeous backside. But again, she was pregnant. “I think you’re right. I’ll have some Scotch and chill out here. It’s not a problem, though I’m sure Alex is pissed I didn’t draw this out.”
She reached out a hand, and when he thought she would lower herself into his lap, her knees found the carpet and she knelt down beside him. “You always have had an instinct for finding crazy eyes.”
“Baby, that can’t be comfortable. Let me help you up.”
“No, I want to be here. I’m fine. You have got to stop treating me like I’m made of glass. I’m fine. You’re the one who’s fragile right now.”
“I am not fragile, Charlie.”
A little glint hit her eyes. “Prove it.”
Frustration raced through him like a freight train. When she got that light in her eyes, he was usually in for a hell of a time. His Charlie could take as much as he could give. Their kinks matched beautifully. He topped and she loved to be topped.
If he was honest, he would say his kinks changed for her. He’d been hardcore, dominating women for both discipline and sex. His D/s style had been rigid. Now he was a lovingly indulgent top who spanked his wife more because she liked it than for any real disciplinary reasons.
Though today, he’d definitely wanted to smack her ass for pulling that stunt. She could have been killed. She could have lost the babies. Anything could have happened.
“I’m not going to talk you into punishing me, am I?” Charlie asked, her eyes wide and innocent.
He wanted to, but he didn’t dare. She was so close to delivery. She might think she was superwoman, but she was pregnant with twins and he would be damned if he caused her a single moment’s discomfort until she was fully recovered.