“But what do you do with them? Just look at them?”
I shook my head, and then she gasped, slapping my chest.
“Are you hurting defenceless animals, Nate? You go hunting with these things?”
I caught her hand as she tried to slap me again.
“God no. I go target shooting at very safe shooting ranges, Glory. It’s all very heavily regulated, and I follow the rules to the damn letter. I swear.”
She chewed on her cheek. “So you don’t hurt people with them? Or animals?”
I shook my head again, reluctantly releasing her hand now the fire was dissipating right before me, and that shadow version of her was returning.
“I… I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
I lifted her chin, waiting ‘til those stormy eyes met mine.
“You can hand me my ass any time you like, okay? I actually enjoy it. Wait, no, that sounded weird. I made it weird. What I meant to say is that I liked seeing you all fired up, but I don’t mean it like I deliberately do it or anything, just that-”
“Jesus, Henley, breathe!” Ice called from the sofa, proving that the fuckers could still hear us, and weren’t even trying not to. I waved a middle finger in his general direction, but kept my eyes on Glory’s.
“I don’t harm anyone, Glory. Not people. Not animals. Hell, I even catch spiders and release them. I’m a fucking wuss, but don’t tell them, because I really want to be patched in.”
“Patched in?”
“Yeah, get rid of this damn prospect cut, and be a full member.”
“Then he can make you his old lady,” Torch called out, and she froze again. For fuck’s sake.
Her eyes narrowed at me, as her chin lifted out of my grasp, and she folded her arms over her chest. Fuck, yes. The sass is back. Give me all the fire.
“Old lady?”
“Ignore Torch, he’s a fucking moron.”
“I heard that.”
It was no good trying to have this fucking chat here, was it?
“Old… old lady means wife, like… like they are. Nate, I… I’m not ready for… I might never be…”
Jesus. I caught her hand and led her up the stairs and into the kitchen, firmly closing the door behind us.
“Glory,Ididn’t say it, they did. I’m not trying to pressure you into anything, I promise.”
Her eyes dipped, and she moved over to the kitchen counter, tracing her fingers over it, her silence really starting to fucking kill me.
“I promise, Glory. I’m not trying to get in your pants or anything.”
Her shoulders sagged a little, and she nodded.
“I get it. I do. I’m damaged. I’m so damaged that no man will want me now.”
What the fuck? I crossed the room and rested a palm over hers, stilling those agitated fingers.
“You’re not. They will. You just need time, and why the hell wouldn’t you deserve the time to heal? I’m not pressuring you. Nobody is.”
I literally heard her swallow as she tugged her hand lightly, and I released it, because what the fuck else could I do? Force her to let me touch her? I’d be no better than him. My fingers clenched into a fist without conscious thought, and she backed up a few steps, wary eyes back on mine at last.
