I didn’t want to pick on Creed or have more issues, but maybe he needed to know. “We went in times when traffic wasn’t bad and it wasn’t far. This is heavy traffic and—you have to be more gentle with me.” I swallowed loudly, knowing that was about more than riding in cars.
I was pretty sure he did too.
He leaned into me, his forehead against mine. “It’s notcrassthat you brought up your past, Aurora. Your example isn’t the same because—it’s not the same. Please, look at me.”
I let out a slow breath and did as he wanted.
“You were a captive and abused, beauty. I’m not jealous or—I want tokill him. I’m so full of fucking rage every fucking time I hear his name that it’s hard tofocus. I want to—I dream of shredding him with my claws. Just digging out his organs and leaving him ribbons of flesh. And I really don’t want to spend our date thinking about killing your ex-husband.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, reaching up and cupping his cheek.
“Wait—huh?” He blinked at me for several moments. “I was ready to get smacked. I’m lost.”
It was hard not to chuckle at his adorable confusion. “Let’s get to the restaurant safely and I’ll explain on the way.”
He let out a harsh breath. “You’re so the boss of me. My lion is like growling to get going and listen to our mate. He thinks you’re saying you’re hungry.”
“I adore your lion too,” I teased, glad when he took my hand again after he pulled back into traffic. I let out a slow breath and gathered my thoughts. “Thank you for caring for me that much that you’re so angry for what I suffered. It’s deep and visceral, not superficial or empathetic. Thank you.”
“Okay then,” he accepted, sounding a bit confused still. He’d probably spent so much time getting in trouble for being over the top or his temper, so this was a switch he wasn’t prepared for.
Such was life.
We arrived and everything was fine until the host saw the reservation and then focused back on Creed and made a comment about us being there on a coupon.
“So you reject gifts and bonuses?” I said as I moved in front of the man with a scowl. “I believe your industry accepts tips all of the time as payment. You clearly refuse them with your opinions, yes?” I nodded behind him to Creed. “This was a gift, a bonus from his boss for all of his extra work, you snooty little brat. Now do your job.”
“I could if you move out of the way, ma’am,” he bit out, glancing around at the people all watching us now.
I snorted and moved out of the way, making a show of how much space was there with my slight frame. I gestured for him to go ahead and lead the way.
“Yeah, nice you turn me on right at the start and I have to behave,” Creed whispered in my ear as he took my arm. “Thanks for defending me.”
“There are ignorant people who simply need to be taught reality,” I told him firmly. “A gift isn’t a coupon. Plus, restaurants run promotions all of the time to drive in business. If the staff looks down on those people, it really defeats the purpose and management should be told.” I smiled when the host flinched.
Creed growled quietly when the host tried to pull out my chair and smooth things over. He handled it and then snatched the menus, giving me one.
“I thought it was very nice of your boss to appreciate you and give you this nice experience,” I said firmly. “Gifts are meant to be enjoyed and appreciated, never torn down.”
“Your moral compass makes me so jealous,” he complimented as he opened his menu. He kept my gaze when I opened my mouth. “The world was different then, Aurora. You were trying to put bandages over gaping wounds of life and injustice. You did it wrong. That’s vastly different from the hurt and pain I caused—others cause every day.”
I focused on the menu and swallowed loudly. “Don’t give my sins a pass.”
“I’m not. You know you did wrong. You pay for them every day and do better. All I want is for you to stop punishing yourself—stop tearing yourself down as not worth forgiving or more.”
“I will try,” I whispered, glad when he let it go.
Dinner was lovely and the manager came over on his own to apologize for the host. He made a point to say the restaurant made such arrangements all of the time. They appreciated their reputation that a night out there was a good bonus that bosses should give. He said dessert was on him and wouldn’t charge the card on file, thanking us for understanding.
“You know why the host did it, right?” Creed asked when dessert came.
“Idiots have… Bugs up their asses? I believe that’s what’s said here,” I offered.
“Yes, they do,” he chuckled, a twinkle in his eyes. He always had that when I used crass language or tried to use newer English phrases that I didn’t always understand. He thought it was cute of me, which was good? “He wants you.” He nodded when I did a double take. “I smelled the desire and then jealousy when he saw me. He wanted to knock me down a peg.”
“People are petty,” I replied, not sure what else to say. I thought about it as I tried the chocolate cake and moaned. I realized that I’d eaten almost all of it when I hurried to offer the rest to Creed.
He seemed to snap out of his thoughts and cleared his throat. “I’m good. You’re really enjoying it.”
