Page 14 of Ferocious Nightmare

He gave me a crooked smirk, all traces of the troubled man gone. “Already acting the jealous wife? Don't tell me you missed me.” He didn't move towards me and I silently cursed the pact we'd made. "I thought you'd be too busy shopping and spending my money."

"You asshole," I seethed. "I've barely bought anything."

“That's not what my credit card statement says."

"Checking in on me? Maybe you've missed me too.”

"Maybe I just want to make sure you don't spend all my money." His tone was indifferent but he was smiling.

I stared, surprised. He was teasing me.

His eyes glanced at my arms covering my chest. "I'm not going to attack you, if that's what you're thinking."

I shook my head. “I’m just cold."

He clicked his tongue, then reached out, grabbing my arm to pull me into the water with him. It was warm and soothing, and even hotter now that I was standing next to him.

Closing my eyes and pushing my hair out of my face, I let the water wash over me, relaxing. When I opened my eyes again, he'd taken a few steps away from me. Once again, keeping the distance between us.

“Why did you come in here, Aster?"

I didn't speak at first, trying to figure out how to frame what I wanted to say. How could I ask him if he was okay without making him look weak?

"What is it?” he barked, “Just say it."

"I want to know if you're okay," I blurted out and, at the blank look on his face, I stepped towards him.

At the movement, his expression closed off so I stilled, wishing I could touch him right now. Assure him that I had his back. That everything would be okay, if only we worked together.

"I’m perfectly fine," he answered, “just trying to get clean." His lips twisted upwards, "Are you here to tempt me into getting what you want, little nightmare?" For the first time since I opened the shower door, his eyes tracked downward, lazily looking me over. "Because if that's your intent, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Even though his words were telling me to go, his eyes, and his dick standing at attention, were telling me to stay.

I covered my breasts again, but this time for a different reason, forcing him to meet my eyes. "I'm serious, Coulter. I came in here to ask if you're okay.”

"Why would you ask me that?"

"Because you seemed…” I sighed, “You seemed hurt."

"When?"

"Earlier. When you came into the room."

He rushed forward, his hand going to my throat as he shoved me back against the wall, his eyes angry. "And how would you know that?" His face morphed into someone I didn't recognize, angry and seething, "Did they get to you? Are you spying on me?"

"Coulter," his hand began to close around my throat, but I gripped his wrist, stopping him, "What are you talking about?"

"Why were you pretending to be asleep?"

"And why were you sneaking around our room, coming in after I fell asleep and leaving before I woke?”

"I need to know, Aster," his eyes searched mine. They were so cold, so dead, I hated it. Hated this between us. "Did someone approach you? Ask you to report back on me?"

“How is that possible, when every waking moment I'm with Dante?”

"He told me that he gave you back your phone yesterday. Maybe someone reached out to you on that."

"And maybe this whole time you've been out fucking other girls."

His eyes darkened. "I haven't touched anyone else."

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