Page 36 of Coming Home

“It was.” A harsh laugh burst from his lips. “But I was so fucking in love with you that I didn’t care. Any bit of you was better than nothing at all.”

She raised her hand to comfort him but crossed her arms over her chest instead. The desire to soothe was shadowed by the anger flashing in his eyes.

“Natalie, I love you. And, I think if you gave us a chance, you’d love me, too,” he said, turning his stare back to her.

The glimpse of possessive impatience flaring in his gaze sent a chill up her spine.

“I…I don’t love you, and I don’t think I ever will. I’m sorry, Duncan. It’s not fair to either of us to drag this out. I am so sorry. I had no idea you felt like this, and if I had, I would have never?—”

“Sure,” he hissed. “I was never good enough for you, was I? Just a farm kid who thought he was lucky enough to date the princess.”

She flinched. “I’m not a princess. It’s not like that. You were…are good enough. I just?—”

“Damn right, I’m good enough,” he sneered through clenched teeth.

“Stop fucking interrupting me,” she snapped, pushing away from the wall to walk away. “I’m not doing this with you. I’m sorry I hurt you, but?—”

“But what?” He grabbed her upper arm, fingers biting into her bare skin, and dragged her back to him.

“You’re hurting me!” She yanked, but his hand tightened in a bruising grip.

“Is the little Owens princess done with me? Well, I’m not done with you. I won’t be dismissed. I’m not that lovesick boy I was in high school. I’m a man. Maybe that’s the problem. You’re still a little girl,” he snarled. “No wonder people don’t take you seriously.”

Like a gut punch, his words slammed into her, almost knocking the wind out of her.

She jerked her arm away. “Fuck you, Duncan.”

His serpentine smirk went slack as a force hurled him into the brick wall. Jolted backward, she gasped. Her chest puffed in and out with rapid gulps. Her eyes were wide.

“You don’t fucking talk to her like that,” Noah growled, gripping the fabric of Duncan’s collared shirt as he held him firm against the wall.

Duncan twisted his head to Nat. “Looks like your knight in faded blue jeans is here, princess.”

Jerking Duncan forward, Noah then slammed him back against the wall. “You don’t look at her. You don’t speak to her. You don’t fucking think about her.”

A shuddering wince darkened Duncan’s features. “Let me go,” he ordered, squirming to extricate himself.

The normally calm ocean of Noah’s eyes raged like a hurricane. Muscles in his corded arms flexed. The grip was so tight that the knuckles of his tanned hands paled. The charming, dimpled smile morphed into a clenched, bared-teeth snarl. It was like a wolf ready to rip out the throat of his prey.

It had always been hard for her to picture the carefree Noah of her childhood as a Marine. To envision him in the heat of battle, aiming a gun, intent on taking a life. Even when defending his fellow Marines. The furious, glazed look in his eyes confirmed that Noah could, if pushed, do harm.

“Noah.” She placed a calming hand on his arm. “I’m okay. Let him go.”

The rigidity of his muscles relaxed beneath her touch. The breakneck speed of his breath slowed. His grip loosened. Noah released Duncan and stepped back but positioned himself in front of Nat like a loyal soldier.

“I could press charges,” Duncan said, smoothing down his rumpled shirt.

“So could I.” She narrowed her eyes, shaded in steely fierceness.

“He shoved me into a wall,” he scoffed, gesturing to Noah.

“You grabbed me.” She pointed to her bicep, red splotches left behind from his hand. “I wonder how your DA boss would like to hear that one of his Assistant DAs was charged with assault,especiallyon a princess.” Venom dripped from her words.

“I didn’t…” He blanched, his eyes dropping to her arm. The realization of what he’d done splashed over his features. “I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry. Natalie…”

Noah growled, silencing him.

Nat placed a hand on Noah’s arm. The snarl in his throat quieted under her touch, but his stare remained focused on Duncan.

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