Explicit Instruction (39 page)

Flick reconsidered her actions in c
oercing Rushe into sex that day. Perhaps the time would’ve been better spent talking. Now it appeared there wasn’t time, so she went to her bedroom, pulled the suitcase from under her bed, and heaved it to the mattress.

While she packed her belongings, the men continued to talk. Their serious expressions were the only hint of the mood
, because she couldn’t hear the specifics of their hushed whispers. Putting the last of her jewellery into her case, she left the space to retrieve her things from the bathroom. When she came out again, Jansen was gone.

‘Where did he go?’

‘He’s got to get back to Serendipity,’ Rushe said.

Flick went to the bedroom and dumped the last of the things into the case and zipped it up. Retrieving her jacket
from its hanger in the closet, she stuck her arms into the sleeves.

‘I can protect you,’ Rushe said
, filling the space in the shelves that acted as an entryway for the bedroom.

‘I know that.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘I mean... I work alone, but there are people I trust. If you want to stay here... I can provide you with the best security money can buy.’

‘I wouldn’t think you’d feel the need to have security surrounding us every time we went on a date.’ His fixed expression didn’t change
, but clarity found her. ‘You mean me. You mean if you leave me here.’

‘It’s your last chance
, Flick. If we walk out that door... if you come into my world... it’s not gonna be a nine to five, Kitten. If normality’s what you’re looking for—‘

‘Your world is an a
dventure. Normality has never worked for me.’

‘I want you to know
, there’s a choice. If you’re not sure about this, I’ll walk away now.’

‘You would walk away from me?’ she asked. ‘You love me.’

‘Yeah, I do,’ he said. ‘But...’

‘You’re scared,’ she said
, and he did falter then. ‘Every time you’ve known what’s best for me, or thought you knew what was best, you acted to ensure that was the path I was on. You pushed me away after the shack. You threw me onto my parents’ doorstep, but... if I stay here alone I could get hurt.’

‘If you walk out that door with me I can’t guarantee you won’t be.’

‘I know,’ Flick said, hauling her suitcase to the floor, and lugging it with her on her journey to him. ‘Being with you thrills me, Rushe.’ Propping the case against the shelf, she took his hand. ‘I have to know how this story ends. I can’t be away from you, Rushe. Even when you’ve forced us apart, we always end up back together. I need you, Rushe, and you need me too, even if you resent me for it.’

‘I don’t resent you,’ he said. ‘I love you.’

‘You’ve never given me a choice about together or apart. You trust me. You respect me. We’re equals now. You’re giving me the choice, because you can’t proclaim what’s best, for either of us. I won’t abandon you, just as you won’t abandon me. You said it yourself; we’re an extension of each other.’

‘You ignored my instruction on that first
night; you’ve ignored me since,’ Rushe said. ‘I’m not giving you any instruction now. You’ve seen what I can face. What my world can involve. I’ll always love you, and I’ll always protect you to the best of my ability. But this is it, Kitten, your choice.’

‘Are you being a good Samaritan?’ Flick asked
, letting herself smile.

‘No, just an honest one... Our future won’t always be pretty, so I still say you want to keep walking... far away from me.’

‘Actually,’ she said, skirting around him, and pulling the handle of her suitcase up. ‘I don’t.’

‘Kitten,’ he warned.

Flick went to the door, and after unlocking it, she deliberately left the key on a side table. ‘We have a new life to get to... heel!’

On her order
, his eyebrow sloped up. ‘You’re gonna pay for that one,’ he said, but complied. Reaching around her to open the apartment door, Rushe took the suitcase from her grip.

‘You tell me to “stay” like I’m a dog.’

‘You’re my bitch; I thought we were clear on that.’

‘Punish me later?’

‘Count on it,’ he said, smacking her rear, and sending her out of the apartment, and into whatever lay ahead.

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