Be With Me

by Gabrielle Sands

“The door was locked for a reason. We’re busy. Get out.” His voice was so cold that Kassandra visibly recoiled. She sputtered. “I-I didn’t realize⁠—” He stepped forward, crowding her. “A word of advice? Look somewhere else for your assistant. Given the astronomical rate I’m paying Mia, I doubt you can afford her.”

“Well, then,” Erik said lightly, “I’ll just have to see you unmasked some other time. Could I get your number?” “Not if you value your ability to breathe without a respirator.” A shiver tumbled down my spine at that familiar deep voice. There was no mistaking it.

“I’m bad for you, baby. So fucking bad.”

I took her hands in mine and ran my thumbs across her knuckles. “I love you.” The words scorched their way out of me. “I love you like I’ve never loved anything in my goddamn life. It’s terrifying. It’s relentless. You’ve gotten under my skin and into my soul, and you didn’t even try. Somewhere along the way, I stopped being mine and became yours.”