Elder Merrick just grunted quietly as I calmly shut the door, locking it, before turning to stare at him. He stood arms crossed, muscles bulging they were so tight, and with nostrils flared. “Mr. Stellar,” he was speaking very slowly, appearing to try to keep his cool, “as in the illegal gaming owner the Prodigies have been winning big at so recently?”
I blinked. “They’ve been going recently?” His jaw only clenched further, but I shook my head in amazement. “Those four are unbelievable. They knew I had something big planned for him, so they never took me back.” I tossed the envelope of cash on the coffee table. “God, they’re still protecting me.”
A slow inhale and exhale, then he cracked his neck, muttering, “He shouldn’t be hard to kill if he tries to blackmail me, I guess.” He cracked his neck the other way. “In fact, it may be a little fun.”
Oh, whoo-whee. That was some look. I almost felt like whispering in Mr. Stellar’s ear to give him a head start. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to face off against what I saw flittering through his eyes right now. And then, I froze as he started stalking, prowling, toward me, his eyes instantly glowing, and I knew I saw his wolf peeking out as he, kind of, hovered over me, stating very slowly, “The next time you feel the need to grab a fucking weapon before opening the door,” he bent, putting his face in front of mine, glaring, “how about you think to wake me?”
I clicked the safety back on, letting my arm relax by my side. “Cain, I really can take care of myself.”
Instant growl. From wolf and man. “Two is always better than one. Next time, fucking wake me.” And my jaw dropped, and I went completely still when he did…something…complicated with his hands, and suddenly, my own gun was in his, pointed a few inches averted from my head, I guess for safeties sake, as he continued glaring. “Do you understand me, honey?”
I mumbled the first thing I thought of. “Honey?”
He froze with his eyes still narrowed and glowing on mine, but an instant later, he nodded once curtly, his voice a deep rumble. “Honey.” His head cocked, his wolf’s action. “Now, answer my question.”
Still stunned by the endearment, again, I mumbled stupidly, “That was amazing. Can you teach me how you did that?”
He growled quietly in clear impatient wrath. “Honey?”
Oh, yeah. I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll wake you.”
Clipped words. “Thank you.” He walked away, the sheet slapping at his legs as he put my gun away, stating over his shoulder, still clearly irritated, “And, yes, I’ll show you sometime.” The drawer closed with a loud click. “But, why would I even need to when you can so clearly take care of yourself without me?”
My eyes widened a bit as I watched him stalk—prowl—into the bedroom, realizing he was not only furious with me…but I had hurt his feelings when I hadn’t called on him for help…and possibly hurt his ego in the process, a bit unbelieving. “Oh, good grief,” I muttered under my breath, running a hand over my face, realizing this was going to be our first “discussion”. He and I had never fought, and I didn’t think this would turn into one, but it was definitely going to take a few strong words. So, I moved into the bedroom, inhaling heavily, and turned off the overhead light he had turned on, leaving my robe on as I slipped into bed beside him. He was lying on his stomach, arms under his pillow, already staring—glaring. “Alright,” I licked my lips, pulling the blanket over me, “I get who you are. I get the position you hold. I get that you will always want to protect.” I met his gaze softly. “But, I’m not weak, Cain. I’m not sweet or innocent in life. I’ve had a hard life growing up, and it’s taught me to be strong. I’m a fighter, a criminal bitch, at heart.” His hand snaked out, placing his fingers over my lips, stopping me from saying anymore.
Navy blue eyes never left mine as he dropped his fingers a bit, running them softly along my jaw in a soothing gesture, even though I could tell he was still angry. “I know your life’s been hard, since you were telling the truth about asshole foster parents.” He shrugged a shoulder, voice still cool. “But, what your dark past has done is build a wall.
“You should have woken me the moment you saw who it was. Sometimes, there are instances in life you need to know how to deal alone, but in this situation, you didn’t have to. I’m not saying you’re weak,” he paused, brows raising slightly, “remember, I felt your power, and saw your will, so I definitely know you’re not.” When I just shrugged it off, his brows raised a bit more, but he didn’t press at my humble response. “Anyway, I’m not saying you’re weak or sweet or innocent, but, Sadie, being a criminal bitch can’t always save you. You should have woken me. In the future, if anything like this happens again, I want you to come to me for help. I’m not weak or sweet or innocent, either, and if I need to give you my damn credentials on how many kills I have, I will if it’ll help convince you I’m more than capable of helping in a tough situation if I’m here.” He paused, his brows slamming together. “Or even, if I’m not here. I think we’ve reached a point where you can call me anytime you need help.”
I didn’t think it possible, but my heart kind of…hurt…melting for him in that moment as he plainly pulled back his own feelings to talk sensibly…to make sure I was safe. I rested my hand on his cheek, caressing his stubbly chin softly. “Cain,” I peered back and forth between his eyes, telling him honestly, “you’re a good man.”
That made him scowl further, but his fingers didn’t stop their soft play, gliding down my neck. “I’m trying to convince you I can help, and all you say is I’m a good man?”
“Mmm-hmm.” I kissed the tip of his nose lightly. “And you convinced me. Your debate valid in reasoning and fact. All of what you said is true. All of which I already know. It just may take a bit for me to break out of the mold, so you’ll just have to have patience.”
“I’ll take it,” Cain growled, pulling me halfway under him, making me squeal in contented laughter. He stared down at me, brushing hair off my forehead with gentle fingers. “Are you planning to finish the game you started with Mr. Stellar?”
“Nope,” my lips popped with the word, “I’m right where I want to be.” If I was stuck in this life, in this time, I was exactly where I wanted to be.
A slow tilt of his lips, the sweetest smile I had ever seen. “You don’t say,” more tilting of his lips, “that’s incredibly fortunate, seeing as I’m exactly where I want to be, too.”
“Oh,” I said with extra oomph, my eyes wide, “now that is fortunate.” I grinned, kissing him quickly before letting my head fall back to the pillow. “I’m still so happy you left that note.”
“Me, too,” he said softly, a deep rumble, his gaze running over my face before his lips gently landed on mine, kissing me lightly, murmuring against my lips, “Honey.”
I groaned in contentment. “I like that…darling.” His lips curved against mine, a large grin, and on a sigh, I kissed him back leisurely.