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“I can—”
“But you won’t. It’s been a long day, so why don’t you get ready for bed, and I’ll clean up the kitchen? You know the rules. You cook, I clean.”
On top of it, I was responsible for the mess. I’d been the foolish distraction when the soup had boiled over.
Pushing into places I couldn’t go.
She gave me a little pout. “But it’s my house and you’re my guest.”
“I thought I was your roomie?” Another arch of my brow and more pink to her cheeks.
What I wouldn’t give to know the thoughts in her head that caused it. Had a pretty good idea, though, so I flipped on the faucet and shifted a fraction, trying to block her out and shut down this insanity I was quickly spiraling into.
I didn’t know what the fuck was happening to me.
Thoughts coming unbidden.
Urges slamming me from all sides.
I’d become a master at ignoring it, but over the last twenty-four hours, I’d been spiraling toward disaster.
I could feel her wavering behind me before she finally gave with a muffled, “Fine.”
I didn’t relax until I heard her bedroom door latch behind her.
Not that it helped all that much.
Not when I could hear the faucet run in the bathroom. Not when I could hear the soft thumps of her shuffling around and the clatter of her things.
I focused on washing the dishes, loading them into the dishwasher, spraying down the countertops. Cleaning the kitchen until it was sparkling, the way I used to do Silas’s bedroom whenever I’d lose a bet to him, considering it was often.
A low chuckle climbed my throat as I thought of the way he’d had me pegged. When he’d discovered my soft spot and had started using it against me.
Never malicious. It’d been more of a tease. Proof that I’d always put Elena above anything else.
My jaw clamped as I thought of the way I always had.
Guilt and remorse coming on thick.
This thing that would haunt me for my entire life. A blade driven directly into my contaminated, defiled soul.
A hole that I would never fill.
I put more force into the rag as I scrubbed the island.
“Why does it look like that butcher block just became your mortal enemy?”
I startled at Elena’s playful voice right before it slipped into concern. “You okay over there?”
I looked up to see her standing on the other side of the island.
Dressed in a black pajama set. Long, comfy pants and a tank that had TKO written in pink sequins across her perfect, round tits.
No, I was most definitely not okay.
Because that’s exactly what the sight of her felt like.
A punch to the head. Knocked the fuck out.
