“It was only that once.”
“Are you goading me?” He walked me in a circle, glass crunching beneath his shoes, and backed me up to the fridge. “Quit doing things that bring out my temper. You donotwant to meet my tiger.” The alcohol on his breath turned my stomach. “How am I supposed to trust you if you won’t behave? You keep disrespecting me, and I’m working more hours than ever. We’ve barely had sex in months, and I’m all wound up. Goddammit!” He let go, his long hair falling in front of his eyes. “It’s so fucking tedious!”
“I shouldn’t have to ask permission to make a call,” I argued, hoping he would understand. “These were my father’s books. You know how much I loved him.” Tears welled in my eyes as the thought of his loss crushed me, and I stepped forward. “It hasn’t been easy.”
With lightning speed, Noah struck me hard with the back of his hand.
I stumbled to the left and doubled over.
“You’re gonna get rid of all these fucking books,” he snarled. “You’re not the one who calls the shots, and you need to realize when you’re undermyroof, you have to obeymyrules. Your father fucking spoiled you, Cecilia. You don’t even realize how much, and all I’ve wanted to do is help you. If you had been raised in a herd, you would have learned how to follow rules.” He kicked a bottle across the kitchen, and it struck the washer. “I’veneverhad to deal with a woman who stole from me behind my back!”
I winced when he gripped my hair again and shoved me to the floor. Palms flat, I stared at the broken glass and didn’t move an inch.
“Don’t youeverdo anything like this again. Do you hear me?The world doesn’t revolve around you. Now clean up this mess, you lazy fucking cow.” After pushing my head, he stalked off.
The bedroom door slammed.
I peered up to make sure he wasn’t still there and then stood. As I opened the freezer, my nerves rattled. I pulled out the ice tray, puzzled by how an innocuous remark could have set him off so quickly.
It’s the alcohol.
It’s the lying.
It’s me.
Tender kissesto my cheek woke me up.
“Hey, baby.” Noah was sitting on the bed, dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans. His eyes had dark circles beneath them, and he looked remorseful. “I made you breakfast in bed.”
I glanced at the tray on the bedside table. “Where did that come from?”
“I got up early and drove all the way to that diner a town over. It’s been reheating in the oven, but I don’t know how to use that thing.” He lifted a piece of bacon and tapped it against my lips. “Open up.”
After taking a bite, I forced myself to a sitting position and then propped the pillow behind me.
Noah put the bacon back on the plate. While he rubbed my thigh, he soothed me with his gentle touch and his soft cadence. “I’m sorry about last night. All that beer from the bar stayed in my system, and I thought I’d be okay to drink more later on. I guess it hadn’t worn off.” He caressed my tender cheek. “That doesn’t look so bad. Does it hurt?”
I shrugged, not wanting him to know my heart hurt more.
He leaned in and kissed it. “All better.” Noah placed the trayon my lap and proudly presented his burnt bacon and overcooked eggs. “It’s been a while since I shifted. My animal starts to pace inside me, and sometimes his anger comes out unexpectedly. That wasn’t me last night. That was too much alcohol and stress getting to my tiger. I promise that won’t ever happen again.”
He always says that.
“But I need you to trust me, baby. If you have something you want, we need to talk about it.”
“You always shut me down.”
“When have I ever shut you down? Telling youwhysomething is unnecessary is not shutting you down. You’re not remembering those conversations right.” He braced his left hand on the mattress and leaned in front of me. “I don’t always have a choice when it involves money. You know that. Taking money without asking could mean the difference between having electricity or not. Let’s not talk about this anymore. It’s in the past.” Noah stroked my knee with his free hand. “I have a surprise for you.”
I chewed on another bite of bacon, still upset about last night. Now I was feeling guilty on top of it. “What?”
“I made a few calls this morning and rented a building for you.”
My gaze flicked up in surprise.
“I figured after what you said last night, it would be a good idea. Unless you want me to call the junkman.”
“No! No, I want to do this.”
