“Don’t answer now. Take some time to think about it.”
“You’d offer this even knowing about Cernunnos?”
“The god has nothing to do with this,” Ethan snarled. “This is between you and me.”
I sighed and sipped my coffee, dragging my eyes away. “And what if I kept dating him?”
“You can marry the sonofabitch if you want,” he snapped. “As long as I have you close by.”
A hard, unamused laugh escaped me. “You don’t mean that.”
“I already told you I always say what I mean when it comes to you.”
We stared at each other, anger brewing hot in my veins. Ethan’s eyes sparkled with the thrill of the challenge. He wanted this to be a fight, wanted to prove me wrong.
“You can’t just build a woman a house and present it to her like a cat dropping a dead mouse at its owner’s feet!”
“Why the hell not?” Ethan growled. “It’s my money, my land, my Keep. I can do whatever the hell I want to.”
I adjusted my tone. “You’re right,” I said. “You can do whatever you want. But what will your people think when the house remains empty?”
To my surprise, Ethan chuckled. “I’m a Lord for a reason, darling. I don’t lose.”
“I’m not a prize to be won.” I set my mug down with a click. “Two days, Ethan. If I don’t see anything concerning, I plan to return home. Once I do, I think it’s best you and your fellow Lords make building the junior council and finding reps to assist you a priority.”
His voice turned soft and deadly. “Are you saying you won’t return to my Keep anymore?”
I smiled sadly. “I’m saying this is a battle I can’t win. Every good general knows when to lay down their arms.”
Ethan blinked. His brow furrowed and he was about to argue when I stood. “Want to show me where I’m sleeping? I’d like to take a nap.”
“You never nap,” Ethan said, frowning up at me.
“Today I do,” I said archly.
Ethan gave me another odd look but stood. “Fine. Follow me.”
“Where’s my suitcase?”
“Already there.”
He brushed past me, his scent wild and untamed. I followed, wishing once again for things to be different between us, for us not to be so acrimonious. Ethan had to know I wouldn’t giveon this one. If I couldn’t have him, that was one thing, but him pushing me to stay with him while never giving me what I really craved was downright cruel.
Neither one of us said a word until he stopped before a small brick house. My lips parted as I stared. The place looked to be a few bedrooms at most. One story, deep red brick with dark green shutters, the place looked like it belonged in the middle of a forest.
The porch was wrap-around style. Made of stained dark wood, it looked warm and homey, and damn him, I could see myself sitting out here with a cup of coffee and a blanket each morning watching the sun rise.
Hot tears pricked the backs of my eyes. Ethan jogged up the steps and unlocked the door. The smell of fresh wood and linseed oil hit me as I walked in behind him.
The walls were painted a dark blue and the wood floor was the color of mahogany. He’d furnished the place, as well. A sectional sofa curved around the room, facing a brick fireplace, crackling with a real wood fire. The coffee table was abstract, all curves and lines with a flat top, stained to match the flooring. I walked over and ran my fingers over the smooth surface.
My breath caught as I did. Ethan’s scent and touch was all over this. I swallowed hard and looked over my shoulder.
“Did you make this?” I croaked.
I’d seen a workshop at the Main Keep house but had never seen anyone working inside.
Ethan’s eyes were somber. He nodded.
