Page 184 of Forced Vows

But is it because of the blood alliance and my healthy uterus, or because I matter? And how are these needy thoughts making it through the haze of rage in my brain?

I know they say love is the strongest emotion, but stronger than my fury?

"Where's Pusheen?" I ask angrily while he tries to come up with a reason for acting like an asshole.

Yes, I said it. Jerk isn't strong enough for my feelings about his actions.

"I didn't see her stuff in the bedroom."

"She has her own room, which she seems to like a lot more than you like yours," he tries to joke.

"Don't." I shake my head. "This is not funny, Miceli. Why didn't you talk to me?"

"Your uncle told Sev about the Jed situation while I was in Boston. My brother and I were already worried about your safety. He ordered me to bring you under our protection."

"What part of protection is taking me out to a very public restaurant?" I demand, not buying his explanation for a minute.

"We had a security force of twelve of my best men around us, including two snipers, watching rooftops and windows."

I can't process that. Or this…this closet filled with my clothes. My cat having her own room. None of it.

"I want Pusheen in my room."

"Our room."

My only answer is a glare.

"I'll move her stuff while you're in the shower, but she might appreciate having her own space."

"We'll get another cat bed so she can decide," I push out between clenched teeth.

"Good idea."

Ignoring his approval, which I do not need, I grab one of his shirts. It's a silk tuxedo shirt and probably cost as much as the dress he tore getting off me earlier.

"I'm taking a shower. Stay out of the bathroom."

He steps out of my way and I march past him, careful so our bodies don't touch. He raises his arm, like he's going to stop me.

"Don't touch me."

"Fuck, Róise, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Telling me my uncle knew before I did was deliberate."

"No! It was…" He stares at me like his words are as trapped as mine were a minute ago. "A mistake."

The two words sound like they came through ground glass to get past his vocal cords.

"What was? Telling my uncle first or telling me he knew first?" This time I want clarification.

"Both. I meant to talk to you before we fucked, but I couldn't tell you at dinner. I couldn't explain the reasons where I could be overheard."

"You could have talked to me on the drive back." Unless he didn't trust his own driver and bodyguard to hear the discussion.

"No, I couldn't." The passion that's always an undercurrent between us flares in his dark gaze. "I told you, it took every ounce of my self-control not to fuck you in the SUV."

"I'm pretty sure the argument we would have had would have cooled your jets."

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