Nyla’s Prologue

I watched as Heinrich's face turned to stone, and I ached to take what I said back but I couldn't. My safe word was the only thing I knew would stop him, but what I didn't know was how he would react.

Shocked, broken, and hurt. I knew those reactions and emotions because they were mine too. What had I just done?

He loosened his grip on my wrist and it took everything in me to watch the expression on his face. I knew what this meant, we were done. The tears spilled and I didn't hide my hurt, not this time.

Heinrich's hand went from my wrist to my face as he stood there searching, and I couldn't take those cool gray eyes boring into me any longer. I finally gathered the strength to step away, but before I could his lightning reflexes caught me, and he placed the sweetest kiss to my forehead.

Then his eyes fell to mine as he held my gaze, before reaching into his designer suit jacket, and retrieved a black velvet box. He took my hand in his and placed the box into mine closing my hand around the box, and a kiss to my closed hand. Heinrich walked away and retreated to his town car, and I damn near broke. The plea was there in his eyes and my tears pleaded for him to never let me go.

When the door to the town car closed I shuddered with it, as if he was shutting a part of me out. I was shocked at myself and shocked at his reaction. I imagined using my safe word and he would disobey me, but he was true to his word. When I use that word everything stops.

I rubbed my fingers over the black velvet as my heart broke for everything I had just lost. There was no sound as I opened the box, and the tears poured as my eyes became fixated on the shiny metal that gleamed from the streetlights.

"A key?" The words I spoke were barely audible as I stood there and let the tears flow.

"Nyla is everything alright?"

Sullivan spoke but I couldn't, my voice was gone with Heinrich in the Chicago traffic. My vision blurred as I continued to stroke the now warm steel under my fingers. What does this mean? I thought to myself as the tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Nyla what happened, did he hurt you?" Sullivan spoke as he stroked the tears that continued to fall.

"He-" My mouth quivered as I tried to fight the tears, but the tears always win.

I closed my eyes and brought the key closer to my heart, and I felt the warmth of Sullivan's arms as they pulled me into an embrace. His scent filled my nostrils and I silently cried into his chest.

"Let's get you upstairs." Sullivan spoke before leading me through the lobby of my building.

While on the elevator he kept me close and his reflection surrounded me through the mirrors of the elevator. Everywhere I turned was him. Sullivan was here, and I was with him crying for my lover. For the man I fell in love with, and who I think was trying to tell me he felt the same way. The chime from the elevator broke my trance and I exited in robotic fashion.

Once at the door Sullivan lifted me bridal style and carried me. Out of pure instinct I wrapped my arms around myself, and my head fell to his chest. I was too exhausted emotionally to fight him and my heart was so heavy.

"Do you want to shower before bed?" He said as he gazed down at me, and I shook my head like a child refusing to eat her vegetables.

I didn't want the shower that Heinrich and I shared; I didn't even want to sleep in my bed tonight. Everything just brought Heinrich back into my thoughts. Sullivan took my hand to his mouth and placed a kiss on top of the engagement ring that was on my finger. The ring wasn't extravagant, but it weighed down on me in a way I didn't think was possible.