Free Heartless: Episode #3 by J. Sterling

hard for me to admit being scared of things. It makes me feel weak, and I don’t like that. A woman in my position doesn’t get to where she is by being weak. But falling in love with you makes me feel that way. It makes me feel vulnerable.”
    “You’re falling in love with me?” My heart sped up as if I were running a marathon, beating in double-time against my chest and pounding so loud in my ears. I suddenly felt as if I were the girl in this relationship.
    “I’m falling for you so hard and so fast,” she declared.
    “You’re not alone in that. Please don’t think that you’re the only one feeling that way. At least that should give you some comfort, right?” I wanted to calm her fears, hating the fact that anything about me scared her at all.
    She agreed with a nod. “It does make me feel better, but I’m still scared, and I hate it.”
    “So, we’ll get through it. Be scared. I’ll be here to make sure there’s nothing to be scared of. I’m not going to let you fail. I’m not going to let you fall. You’re going to keep being the incredible business woman that you are, and I’m going to be by your side for it all. I mean, I’ll be by your side from San Francisco, but still.” I laughed as her eyes watered.
    “Barbara was right.”
    “Oh, yeah?” I scooted my body close to hers. “What about?”
    “She said that we were both lucky to have found each other and that some people were worth unpacking baggage for.”
    “Babe, I’ll buy you more suitcases and storage units for all your baggage. I don’t even care. I want all of you and everything that comes with it.”

14.
    ELIZABETH
     
    How the hell I ever deserved to find someone as amazing as Daniel was beyond me, but right now, in my living room, I didn’t care about the whys of it all. I was too thrilled being in the nows of it.
    “So, you forgive me?” In order to move on, I knew I needed to acknowledge that I had been wrong.
    “Of course I forgive you. It might not always be easy, but I know it’s going to be worth it.” He sounded so damn confident.
    “You’re always so sure of yourself.”
    “I believe in us. But promise me something, going forward.”
    “What’s that?”
    “That you won’t shut me out. I will chase you every single time you run from me, but one of these days, you have to stop wanting to run. I want you to want to stop running.”
    How was it that this man, so new to my life, seemed to know me so well?
    “I want to stop running. I do. It’s just easier for me, but it’s not fair to you. I know I have to start thinking about your feelings now, too.”
    “Yes, you do. I’m very sensitive in case you haven’t noticed.” He pursed his lips together and made a silly face.
    “Oh, yeah,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Promise me that you won’t get tired of dealing with my shit?”
    “I probably will,” he said with a yawn.
    “Great,” I said, only half-joking.
    He reached for me and pulled my head into his lap. “I might get tired of your shit, but you could always make it up to me with a blow job.”
    “I heard those cure everything.” I stared up at his handsome face.
    “Speaking of”—he wiggled his eyebrows—“tell me about that fantasy.”
    I shot up from his lap and jumped to my feet. “How about I show you?” I teased as I started stripping off my clothes. Kicking off my heels, I took three more steps before letting my skirt fall to the floor. I stepped out of it, and took a few more steps as I unbuttoned my blouse, seductively, one button at a time. I dropped it in my bedroom, quickly followed by my bra.
    Glancing behind me, I watched as Daniel picked up my discarded items before dropping them in one pile on my floor. I stepped out of my thong and turned on the shower.
    “Please tell me this was worth getting in trouble over,” he said with a sly grin.
    “I’ll let you know after the shower.” I moved inside and watched as he undressed, adding his clothes to mine on the