Chapter 7 Do You Trust Me?

• Gina's P.O.V
• “When will I see you again?” Nathan asked as he parked in front of my office. He had insisted on waiting for me to get ready and driving me himself.
• For a man whose presence commanded fear and respect he could be surprisingly sweet.
• “That depends on you, Mr. North.”
• He smirked.
• “Then I’ll see you soon, Miss Thornton.”
• I waved him goodbye and turned toward the office entrance but I suddenly stopped in my tracks when I saw William waiting there.
• Was he waiting for me?
• To revel in the harm he had done?
• “You’re late,” he said curtly.
• I met his gaze but didn’t respond. The ache in my stomach still lingered reminding me of last night?
• I passed out…
• He was the cause…
• I hated how terrible I felt and how good he looked in contrast. My head still hurt and here he was, looking smug in a custom made suit that probably cost more than half of all my belongings put together.
• “You were supposed to make the corrections on the document for the partners.” he shot at me. His eyebrow raised to signal anger but I couldn't care less.
• “I’ll do it now.”
• “It’s already been done,” he snapped. Then, tossing his card at me, added, “Take my card and get me a cup of coffee.”
• I stared him down, holding in the anger brewing in my mind. “Okay, sir.”
• Annoyance was all I felt as I walked to the coffee shop. I hated how he made me feel… small, dismissible and invisible.
• I returned with his coffee after some minutes of contemplating spitting in his drink. I didn't do it but if I had, he would've deserved it.
• I didn’t bother knocking before pushing the door open. He barely glanced up. His eyes glued to the screen of his system. He never liked the office, why was he suddenly always so focused?
• “Where’s the second one?” His voice reminded me of the coffee in my hand.
• “You only asked for one.”
• “I’m expecting a guest.”
• I gave him a confused look.
• “How was I supposed to know that?”
• “Maybe if you’d shown up on time instead of screwing Nathan, you’d have read the schedule.”
• I froze at his words. My heart skipped. The audacity of him…
• I walked closer and dropped the coffee on his table with a force I wasn't expecting.
• “You’re despicable,” I muttered under my breath. I knew he'd hear it, he had alpha's blood in him which made his wolf abilities stronger including his hearing.
• “What?” he asked, baffled at my choice of words. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
• Why was he acting like he didn't do anything wrong?
• “I always knew you were selfish,” I said quietly. “But after last night… I think you’re something much worse.”
• He looked genuinely confused, he closed his computer and studied my expression, his eyebrow raised in question.
• “What are you talking about?”
• “Don’t play dumb.”
• “If this is some sort of…”
• “This,” I interrupted, lifting my shirt just enough to show the bruises. His expression shifted instantly, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. He went pale for a second and then anger and worry clouded his gaze, he stood up in a hurry and was in front of me before I could process his movements.
• “Who did this to you?” His voice had a tone that hinted that he was ready to beat up the culprit.
• But he was the culprit.
• He was the one who did this to me.
• Tears gathered in my eyes and I immediately turned away. I didn't want him to see me cry. I didn't want to cry but the thought of what he was doing last night. Maybe it wasn't just the pain that hurt. It was the fact that he had been in my bed three nights ago and yesterday he was already with someone else.
• Did that night mean nothing to him?
• I felt him take a step closer and my body tensed as his hand landed on my shoulder.
• “Did Nathan do this to you?”
• I wiped my tears away.
• “No.” I turned to face him, my voice trembling. “You did.”
• His lips parted to speak but no words left them.
• He stared at me trying to comprehend my words.
• Did he really not know what he did?
• Realization suddenly washed over his face like a cold wave.
• “Shit!” He cussed, his hand flew to his hair, combing through his long hair with frustration.
• I folded my hands above my chest. I felt weak but I didn't want him to see that.
• “You rejected me… denied me in front of your family. But this?” I shook my head. “This is the one thing I’m not sure I can forgive.”
• I turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand, stopping me in my tracks.
• “I didn’t know,” he said. “I thought it was just a myth”
• I searched his eyes for something to make me believe him, he looked genuine but somehow I still didn't believe him.
• “You don't think I did it intentionally, do you?”
• I shook my head and pulled my hand from his hold.
• “I don't know what to think. Frankly, I don't know who you are anymore.”
• He let go of my hand and walked to his desk. Picking up the office phone, he dialed a number and pressed the phone to his ear.
• “Cancel the meeting and all others for today.” he dropped the phone and returned to my side. I didn't even know why I waited for him.
• “Come with me.” he told me, stretching his hand to me.
• “No.”
• “Gina , now’s not the time to be stubborn.”
• “I’m not being stubborn. I’m just asking to be left alone.”
• “Please.” He held out his hand again. “Let me try to make this right.”
• I stared at his hand for a minute. Taking it seemed like I was saying I had forgiven him. I was ready to refuse his help but one misguided look at his face and I found my hands joining his.
• Maybe I was dumb or maybe the mate's connection was messing with my head again but somehow, I had joined my hands with William and let him lead me into his car and drive me to his house.
• It felt like I finally came out of the trance as we stood in front of his front door.
• “What are we doing here?” I asked as he opened the front door.
• “Do you trust me?” He asked calmly. His sudden nice demeanor was confusing the hell out of me. I knew it was because he felt guilty..
• “I don’t,” I muttered under my breath but still I followed him inside anyway.
• I sat stiffly on the couch. He disappeared into another room and returned a moment later, carrying a small container and without his jacket, he had traded his shirt and jacket for a tank top. I swallowed hard as his muscles flexed as he moved.
• I was a sucker for his arms. I could stare at them all day but not today.
• Today I was angry.
• I looked away.
• “I bought this ointment in France. It works wonders for bruises.” He explained and showed me the little jar.
• “You’re a fast healer, why would you need it?”
• “And that's why it's never been used. You’ll be the first.”
• “Oh, what an honor. You hurt me, and now I get to be your lab rat.” I said with a sarcastic smile.
• “Don’t be like that”
• “Like what?”
• He walked towards me, dropping one knee to the ground in front of me.
• “I didn’t know I was hurting you last night.”
• “Yeah, sure.” I rolled my eyes at him. Deep down even if I didn't want to admit it. I knew he was telling the truth. The William I knew and grew up with was not a monster.
• “I mean it” he continued “I would never hurt you on purpose.”
• I didn’t respond and I didn't look at him because whether he intended to or not, the truth was he already had and I wasn’t just talking about last night.
• Silence engulfed the living room as William peeled open the ointment.
• “Take off your shirt,”
• I blinked. “What?”
• He let himself sit on the ground and folded his hands on top his knees.
• “I need to apply the ointment.”
• “I can do it myself.”
• “Stop being difficult. It’s not like we haven’t…”
• “Don’t finish that sentence” I pointed a finger at him.
• “Whatever happened between us is behind me. I’ve buried it.”
• He leaned closer, his muscles bulged as his hands clasps and unclasped.
• “If that’s true, then letting me apply some ointment shouldn’t be so hard.”
• It was just ointment. Nothing else.
• Without another word, I peeled off my shirt and sat back against the couch. My skin tensed a little at the coolness of the air. I regretted it the moment I did it.
• William’s eyes lingered.
• He wasn’t subtle about it—his gaze roamed over me, slowly, reverently, like he was seeing me for the first time. Not with lust. With something deeper. Something that made my breath catch.
• He didn't care that I noticed. He looked at me as though he not only liked what he saw but he somehow owned it.
• My chest rose and fell, and I crossed my arms instinctively, trying to shield myself. But it was too late. He had already seen me, really seen me.
• Seen how uncomfortable I was.
• His jaw tightened, and he looked away for just a second, as though trying to compose himself.
• I swallowed hard, but I didn’t cover myself again. I wasn’t sure if it was defiance, trust, or something in between.
• He knelt in front of me, dipping his fingers into the balm. His hands trembled slightly.
• “This might sting a bit,” he murmured.
• At his first touch, I winced.
• “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
• His voice was low, heavy with guilt. He moved slowly, tracing the ointment along the bruises on my stomach. His fingers were gentle, gliding over my skin with a kind of care that made my throat tighten.
• I kept my eyes closed, but I could feel the heat of his gaze again. The way his breath hitched. The tension between us was thick, hot, electric, and dangerous.
• When I finally opened my eyes, he was already watching me.
• Our eyes locked, and for a moment, neither of us moved. His hand rested just above my waist, still, warm, lingering.
• I turned my head, breaking the moment.
• “That should help,” he said, his voice husky as he closed the tin.
• “Thanks,” I whispered, barely trusting myself to speak.
• But he didn’t move away. Not right away.
• He reached for me again this time, his fingers lifting my chin gently, coaxing me to meet his gaze once more.
• “Look at me, Gina . Don’t avoid me.”
• “Willia…” I started, voice cracking.
• But then the door flew open.
• “What the fuck is going on here?” Stella’s voice cut through the room like a blade.
• Pan
• ic jolted through me. I scrambled for my shirt and threw it on as quickly as I could. William stood abruptly, but his body blocked me instinctively, as if he could protect me from the explosion that was about to erupt.