Page 8 of Mean One

Chapter 4

The Grouch

I pulleda few stray pine needles from my fur, flicking them across the room as I groaned. Max had begged I cut down a tree for her to decorate, and as much as I hated the idea, I didn’t want to listen to her whine. So, I chopped one down and dragged it all the fucking way back here just for her. The entire mining quarry had transformed overnight, as if Christmas had thrown up, leaving holiday decor scattered across every inch. Multi-colored lights hung from rigid sides of the cave, wrapping around every surface as they warmed the dark, damp tunnels. Red velvet ribbons and hand-cut paper snowflakes were stuck to everything. It made me sick. I fucking hated Christmas after what happened, but I knew it made Max happy, being her favorite holiday. So, I kept my mouth shut and pushed through the trauma for her. Still, I always wondered how she was able to collect so much fucking shit over the years. She was always showing up with stuff, crafty in her own way, sort of just making things happen.

Max’s scent quickly filled the cave as the sound of her footsteps shadowed, followed by the sound of her soft laughter. My body eased at her presence. I had asked her to go back into town and see if she could locate Cindy. It still baffled me that Max’s childhood bully was the very same reporter who was printing such shit about me from my own mother. It was like a weird cosmic joke lining up for the final punchline, one I planned to have Max deliver personally. It was only fitting.

She walked into the room with such grace, smiling as her curls bounced. Her bronze skin filled the room with warmth, those eyes of hers shining like two emeralds in the sun. Between the anticipation of her news and seeing her fucking perfect body strutting around, my cock twitched, slowly hardening as she pranced to my side and bent down, her lips hovering over my ear.

Control yourself. You can’t just keep fucking her night and day.

“I have news for you,” she whispered. My claws dug into the leather arms of my chair as her hot breath danced along my fur, causing it to stand up along the back of my neck.

“What is it?” I breathed. Max slid her hand down my chest, playing with a few strands of my fur. Goddamn tease.

“It looks like Cindy isn’t only writing articles but also works part-time down at that corner bar near the brothel. I saw her last night, speaking with someone. Someone you’d never expect in such a place.” She leaned in closer as her tongue gently traced my ear. My body vibrated as a low snarl built deep in my throat, and she snickered. She knew exactly what she was doing to me.

“Who?” I exhaled. “Who was she meeting?” I swallowed, trying to force my urges back.

“May-Martha.” My entire body tightened the second her name hit my ear.

MAX

“Did you say May-Martha?” his voice whispered the question with no emotion as I observed his face closely. There was an odd shadow cast over his eyes, like a storm brewing in the distance.

“Does that really surprise you? Cindy tortured me as a child.” I kissed his cheek. “She was always a ruthless bitch who took too much pleasure in hurting others. It only makes sense that your little miss May-Martha would befriend her, after what she did to you?—”

The old meanie grabbed me by the throat, yanking my body down towards his as he stared into my eyes, a low and threatening snarl fuming from his chest. I couldn’t help but smile, enjoying his rage. I loved it when he got rough with me and didn’t treat me like some delicate flower.

“I’ve told you,” he squeezed me tighter, “you don’t get to speak of her.” I gasped, trying to breathe as he constricted my airway. He tossed my body aside, and I hit the cold floor, coughing, my throat aching from his grip. His temper always tickled me, the way he tried to act so big and bad when, really, he was just as fluffy on the inside as he was on the outside.

“Why are you always so mean to me when I say her name?” I asked, sitting up. “She’s no one. She doesn’t deserve your thoughts, not after what she did.”

He growled, baring his canines at me.

Go on, show me that temper of yours. It doesn’t scare me. Just a big old teddy bear.

“I’m warning you,” he huffed. “You better watch your mouth, or?—”

“Or what?” My brow raised. “Are you going to hurt me? Kill me?” He squeezed his hands into fists at his side as I rose to my feet. “No, I don’t think so.” I slowly walked to him, gazing into those menacing eyes. My hand trailed up his chest, feeling his chiseled muscles beneath his thick fur as I leaned in close, standing on my tiptoes. “You know why? Because you like me. More than you want to admit. So, if I want to speakherfucking name,” I ran my finger along the underside of his chin, “I will.” He glared back at my smile, grumbling.

That’s right, show me your inner beast. I’m not scared of you.

“You think you’re so safe with me.” He gripped my throat again as I gasped, lifting me off my feet. “But you’re wrong.” He was wrong. I wasn’t scared of him.

My hands gently grabbed his wrists, allowing him to manhandle me.

“Y-you can’t hurt me. You l-love me. You know y-you do.” His brows furrowed as he released me, once again dropping me to the floor.

“That’s where you’re wrong, freckles. The only heart I have is tattooed across my chest.” He lifted his fur, showing the old red heart tattoo. “Thisbelongs to one person, and that’s not you.” He scoffed as he began to turn and walk away.

Lies.

“You can lie to yourself, but don’t lie to me!” I shot after him, grabbing his arm. “I know you love me. I know it!” He lifted me by the neck yet again, slamming me against the cave wall as his nostrils flared. My chest heaved, ignoring the throbbing pain coming from the back of my body. His eyes stared into mine, sparking.

There. The edges of my lips curled as I realized what I was doing to him.

“Go on. Do it.” His claws constricted. “Break me. If you don’t love me like you say, then it’s an easy choice. Do it. Snap my neck and be rid of me.” I ran my tongue along my lips, and his breathing picked up, his arms flexing and bulging with raw strength, fighting his instincts. His thumb ran along my lower lip as he groaned, a low growl grasping the end of his sound. “See? You can’t.” He huffed, leaning closer, his mouth hovering over mine. “You may not say it, but I know, deep in your rotten core, your mean heart beats for me. Same as her.” His body fell rigid as he roughly broke away from me.

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