Madness by Allyson Young

angry with him. He had put that together after thinking about it during their hours apart, and he thought he understood why. But it didn’t explain why she was so scared. Last night had probably been overwhelming for her but had been immensely freeing and insightful, too, for both of them. He could not have mistaken her response to him, and he could give her everything she needed sexually. But he wanted to give her more. He wanted to become her best friend, her confidante. He wanted everything for himself that he hoped to give her. They had forever to pursue this. She would be sharing with him in the next while, no matter how she resisted. He had been wrong once about her best interest, and he wasn’t about to compound his error. When Olivia’s sobs quieted and her tears ceased to soak his shirt, Cameron mopped her face and held the tissues for her to blow her nose and spoke to her, quietly, but firmly.
    “Olivia, honey, you need to tell me what’s going on. I can’t fix it unless you do.”
    He waited for her to respond, but she said nothing. Cameron was at a loss. Should he give her time or push her? Every instinct was screaming for him to insist that she tell him.
    “I can take the choice away, Livy, if that would help. If that’s what you need.”
    Olivia jerked upright in his arms, her beautiful face still stained with tears, her nose red and her eyes puffy.
    “What do you mean by that?” Her voice, although thick with emotion, was cold. “I don’t owe you anything. I don’t have to tell you anything.”
    Cameron sighed. His girl had fallen back into that reserved, safe style of relating to him. Withholding.
    “You do, sweetheart. You are mine, Olivia, and everything about you is my business.”

    68
     
    He was unprepared for her immediate reaction. She slipped through his arms to the floor and rolled away, coming to her feet in one fluid motion of naked grace. The bathroom door closed and locked behind her before he could get up from the chair. Cameron smiled and stretched. He spent several moments thinking warm thoughts of their future. Olivia was full of contradictions and he was going to spend the rest of their lives exploring them. She couldn’t stay in the bathroom forever, and when she came out, she would discover that her things were packed and residing in his suite. He’d leave her the robe to wear when she made the journey there herself. Except a large man was stepping into the room and speaking into a radio in his hand.
    “The intruder is still here. I’ll wait for backup.” Cameron snapped out of his daydream. The little wench had called security, and he was in shit. He opened his mouth to explain and then realized that the broken chain on the door spoke volumes, and the fact that the room’s occupant was apparently hiding in the bathroom didn’t make things look too good for him either. He was going to paddle her ass for this and have her on her knees immediately thereafter. He chose to say nothing and waited patiently.
    He then obeyed the arriving patrolman’s dictum that he stand up and take the position. The search didn’t bother him, but the handcuffs were another matter. He liked handcuffs, albeit the fur-lined kind, and it was never him who wore them. He hoped the process at the police station didn’t take too long. Olivia would make things up to him regardless.
     
     
     
    69

Chapter Seven
    As soon as the noise diminished outside the bathroom door, Olivia cracked it open. Cameron must have gone peaceably because everything looked much the same.
    “Hello?”
    Olivia flinched and then realized the deep male voice must belong to hotel staff.
    “I need my robe,” she called out. A big hand clutching that object came into view, followed by a large arm. She snatched it and retreated back into the bathroom, pushing the door shut. She pulled the fabric over her and took a couple of deep breaths before going out to face whoever it was.
    “Thank you,” she began, “I appreciate