Page 111 of Corrupted Heart

So much for domestic bliss.

A couple of hours later, we’re like two strangers ignoring each other in the house. Kratos is on the second floor, pounding the shit out of something with a hammer. He’s been there since my bathtub freakout.

I still don’t have the courage to have that conversation with him. But I eventually at least work up the nerve to go up there to join him.

He looks to be framing a wall, pounding nails into pieces of two-by-four with a grim look on his face. He’s in grubby jeans that fit him way too well, and a white t-shirt pulled tight over the broad muscles of his back.

When he takes a break and lays the hammer down, I walk up softly behind him. Kratos flinches a little when I wrap my arms around his middle from behind.

“Fuck.”

He spins around brusquely, half pushing me away from him as his brow furrows. I grin up into his face.

“Did I scare you?”

He’s silent for a moment, his eyes stabbing down into mine.

“No.”

He turns around again, seemingly ignoring the way I’m still hugging onto him as he reaches for his hammer again.

“Hey, one sec.”

I stop his hand with mine on his arm. When he turns around again, I lick my lips as I look up into his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “I mean, before…the tub…”

He looks at me blankly.

“Okay.”

Okay?

I shrug it away. I look up into his eyes, feeling my pulse race as I gather up my nerve, grip the front of his t-shirt, and attempt to pull him down as I stand up on tiptoes to kiss his mouth.

I don’t make it.

Before I can kiss him, Kratos shakes his head and quietly pushes me back from him.

My brow furrows.

“Um, okay?”

He shrugs again, looking away.

“Look, I’m sorry about before,” I venture. “You just startled me.”

“No kidding.”

My brows knit even deeper.

“Okay, did I do something wrong?”

He looks at me blankly, no emotion on his face, his eyes unblinking.

“No.”

“Then what the fuck?”

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