Catch Me Falling by Elizabeth Sade Page B

Alexa felt like she wanted to throw up. Was Isaac really safe? Why was she feeling that? He was sex, nothing more. There was nothing between them. She couldn’t do that. She wouldn’t do that. “Let’s go inside,” she said, looking at the floor, at the cement porch underneath her bare feet.
    “After you.” He let go of her, of the towel, and she wrapped it closer around her. Then he led her inside.
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    W hen they made it back to the house, Isaac led her back to the staircase that led to her bathroom. “Feel free to shower, change, and I’ll see you downstairs.” He winked, then disappeared out of the bathroom.
    Once he left, she closed and locked the door. With shaking hands, she took her wet suit and then swimsuit off, patting herself dry with a nearby towel.
    She looked herself over in the mirror, her quick, casual look-over. She had gained a bit of weight, looked more normal. Maybe not where she needed to be, but her clothes would fit her better. She got dressed, back in jeans and a blouse. Soon she would run out of shirts he could take off without having to show her shoulders. Then again, he probably wouldn’t notice if she wore the same shirt twice.
    Her stomach felt like it was full of butterflies, like a teenager ready for a first date. It wasn’t a date. It wasn’t anything like a date. So why was she so nervous? The day was almost over. It would be time to go home.
    But she didn’t want to go home. She wanted him to take her again, to have her, possess her – and to keep her. She wanted to be his.
    The realization hit her hard, like a brick over the head. She was feeling things for Isaac. Things she shouldn’t be feeling. Things she couldn’t be feeling. After she had left Damien, she swore off men. They were too much trouble. They were dangerous. Sex was okay. Feelings weren’t.
    She could contain it. Separate herself from the sex. She ached for him. She wanted him. She could have him, for now, as long as she was careful. As long as she didn’t take things too far. She took a deep breath and then headed out of the bathroom.
    She stopped to drop her bag in the foyer, then headed to the kitchen. She paused just inside, staring at the grandmotherly woman dressed in a bright pink apron who was chopping vegetables. “I'm sorry,” Alexa said, not quite sure why she was apologizing but apologizing nonetheless.
    The woman looked up at her, smiled. “Not a problem,” she said. “You must be Ms. Matthews.”
    “Alexa, please.” This wasn’t work, she didn’t need to be called by her last name. “Are you the housekeeper?” She searched her memory. “Ellie, right?”
    “Yes.” She smiled at Alexa, her wrinkled face warm and inviting, then turned her attention went back to the vegetables she was chopping up.
    Alexa looked passed her, saw that the dishes had already been done. Her spirits fell. Not that she particularly liked doing the dishes, but she wouldn’t turn down more time with Isaac.
    “You look like a nice young lady,” Ellie said, yanking Alexa out of her thoughts.
    Alexa blinked. Was that a compliment? Did Isaac bring a lot of women to the house? She didn’t want to think about that. “Thank you?” she said cautiously.
    “Ellie, don't scare her off,” Isaac's voice sounded faintly amused as he came up behind Alexa and slid an arm around her middle, pulling her backwards against him.
    She jerked forward, an instinctual reaction, and broke out of his grip. She spun and covered her face with a hand, horrified. He had been so good to her, and she had – she had done that. “I’m sorry,” she said automatically, hating even more that she had done that in front of Ellie. What if he got angry? What if he was embarrassed?
    “Are you okay?” He didn’t sound angry. He didn’t sound anything. It made her more nervous that he could shut himself off like that.
    She forced herself to take a deep breath. “I don’t startle well.”
    “I’m going to take your hand, okay?” He