Living in Shadow (Living In…) by Jackie Ashenden

Author:Jackie Ashenden
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Older heroine, Contemporary, interracial, Erotic Romance, bdsm, new zealand
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2014-08-11T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“You’re early this morning.”

Eleanor glanced up from the report she was writing for the dean. James was standing in the doorway of her office, leaning against the frame.

She gave him a smile. “Yeah. I’ve got a busy day today.”

“I’m doing a coffee run. Want one?”

“Sure.” And then a thought struck her. “Wait. I’ll go get it if you want.”

“Okay. Cappuccino, two sugars.”

Eleanor reached into her bag for her purse then got out of her chair, coming around the desk to the doorway. And realized he was watching her, frowning. She stopped and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“I don’t know. You look…good. Happy. Something nice happen over the weekend?” His gaze dropped to the side of her neck and she knew what he was looking at. The bruise Luc had left there from Friday night.

“Yes,” she said. “It did.” Though nice seemed too empty a word to use for what had happened between her and Luc. “So cappuccino?” She lifted a brow.

James nodded and mercifully didn’t ask any questions, which was good, because she didn’t want to answer them.

Friday night hadn’t been nice. It had been a key in a lock. The opening of a cage she’d been trapped in, allowing her to step outside for the first time in years. And she was still feeling the effects of that, even two days later.

She went off down the corridor in the direction of the café, humming a tune in her head, satisfaction seeping down into her bones.

Of course she had an ulterior motive for the coffee buying. She was hoping she might run into Luc. Probably a stupid move since they’d both agreed to only one night and that couldn’t change. But that didn’t stop the tight coil of anticipation from settling in her stomach as she emerged from the hallway and into the law school foyer where the café was situated.

She’d left him early Saturday morning, before he was awake. Dressing quickly and letting herself out of the apartment. She’d felt shitty for leaving without even a goodbye or a thank-you for what he’d given her, but she knew if she stayed she’d probably end up in his bed the rest of the damn day.

And that couldn’t happen. They’d said one night and that’s all it could be. Better to leave while she could.

But she thought about it all weekend. And felt crappy enough about leaving that she almost sent him a text apologizing. But then he didn’t call or text her either, so maybe he felt the same. Maybe it was over and done with for him too. Out of sight, out of mind, et cetera.

The thought was way more disappointing than it should have been.

Eleanor idly scanned the crowd of students outside the café doors. If she saw him she’d apologize for her walkout. And yeah, thank him for giving her back a little piece of herself. Maybe buy him a coffee or something.

He’d probably never know what he’d done for her, how big a step it had been for her to even allow him to tie her wrists.

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