“It’s practically dinner,” he said.
“You know what I meant.”
Cory hummed and turned his hand, smashing the towering sandwich down into something better able to fit into his mouth. I watched him take a bite, the way his eyes rolled back when he chewed like it was the first time he’d tasted food in days.
I was such a prick.
I pushed away from the counter and went into the kitchen to get him water, which I clanked down in front of him rather unceremoniously.
“When was the last time you had something that wasn’t whiskey?” I asked.
“I don’t need a dom, Reese.”
“Neither do I,” I snapped, immediately regretting the tone. I angled myself away from him, scrubbing a hand down my face and taking a steadying breath before sitting back down.
“I know you don’t,” he said quietly, taking a drink of the water.
“I want one, though,” I mumbled. “Or at least, I wantyou.”
Cory didn’t acknowledge what I said, taking another bite of his sandwich, chewing and swallowing, and then having another drink of water instead.
“I want you too,” he finally whispered, shoving the half-eaten sandwich aside.
“You need to eat more.”
He worked his jaw back and forth, expression petulant, but he didn’t argue when I slid the plate back into his hands.
“I’m sorry for storming out,” I said, and he pushed the plate away again. I shoved it back toward him, brow raised, daring him to defy me another time. He cursed and picked up the sandwich.
“I’m sorry for storming out,” I repeated. “I acted immaturely and disrespectfully. You can punish me for it later if?—”
“Punish you?” He dropped the sandwich, and I leveled a glare at him.
“Eat, Cory.”
“Why would I punish you?” He picked up the sandwich again. “I’m the one who should be punished.”
“I think the past three days were punishment enough. Now finish your sandwich and the water.”
Cory rolled his eyes at me, but took a bite, muttering a garbled, “Yes, Sir.”
“I should have stayed,” I said after he finished half the sandwich and all of the water. “I acted…immaturely, but I’d just come from lunch with Morgan and I?—”
“You wanted to talk about our future,” he said before I could.
“Yes.”
“And you saw what you saw and thought there wasn’t one.”
I didn’t say anything else while Cory finished eating. I’d made decent work on my own sandwich, but it was a meaty beast. The fact he’d gotten through the entirety of his on whatever fucked-up kind of stomach he had was a testament to his fortitude.
“I would have been mad with me too,” he said.
“Your friend must think I’m an idiot.”
“My friend thinks everyone is an idiot.”
I huffed, flashing a quick smile before it fell flat.
