Page 61 of Becoming His Pet

She couldn’t blame him. No, she wouldn’t. He’d stepped into this pile of shit on accident, she wouldn’t blame him for wanting to scrape it off and get going.

The shower didn’t wash off her negative thoughts but did leave her muscles feeling much more relaxed. After changing back into the T-shirt he gave her, she brushed her hair.

“I made food,” he called from the kitchen.

Her stomach growled in response. All this man wanted was to fuck and eat. Well, he wanted other things too, things she reminded herself she should be repulsed by.

She followed the aroma of hamburgers into the kitchen.

“Cheeseburgers,” he announced and put two plates on the table fully loaded.

“Are those tater tots?” she asked, taking her seat. She hadn’t had one of those since she was a kid.

“Yeah, I don’t really like fries.” He shrugged and took the chair across from her.

“You could have made a salad,” she said, though she would have picked the tots over the lettuce any day of the week.

“I could have made you strip naked and eat from your bowl,” he said with a raised brow.

“I didn’t mean to sound disrespectful. The tots are awesome.” She realized she’d snapped at him. All he was doing was trying to get some real food into her belly and she’d been bitchy.

“What’s bothering you?” he asked, taking a bite of his burger.

“Nothing.”

He sighed. “I thought we were done with this lying.”

“I’m not lying. I’m just—” She popped a tater tot in her mouth, enjoying the crunch and pop of salty goodness. “I’m sorry is all. That you found yourself all wrapped up in this crap.”

A stretch of silence followed. He reached across the table and took her hand in his.

“I didn’t find myself in anything. I made choices. And I don’t regret any of them.” He gave her hand a squeeze and let go.

She searched his face, looking for the lift of his lips, a hidden sign of laughter, but only found sincerity.

“Not even the decisions to cane me? Hunt me?” She still couldn’t believe these things took place or that, given his mood, could happen again.

“Hell, no.” He shook his head and threw a tater tot in his mouth. “Besides your behavior made those decisions, not me.”

“That’s a good way to deflect responsibility, I suppose,” she smirked.

“Are you trying to tell me you hated it that much?”

She looked away from him. If he couldn’t see into her eyes, he couldn’t see how much exactly she didn’t hate what he’d done.

“I don’t know that much about you. What did you do before you became a knight in shining armor?”

His smile faltered. “I was in the marines for a tour. Spent some time overseas. Didn’t re-enlist.” Very matter-of-fact, and exactly what he’d already told her. He probably didn’t want to talk about it.

“Why not? Didn’t like the food?” She grinned.

“Saw all I needed to see.”

“Well, at least you’re not evasive.” She popped the last bit of her burger in her mouth.

“Nothing to talk about.”

“You still keep in touch with anyone?” she asked when he got up from the table and cleared his plate. His back stiffened at her question.

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