Page 17 of His Little Spitfire

I’m going to have to face Eliza again. She’ll be pissed with the way I left her. I’d rather her be mad than horrified because of my state.

Despite the throb of my nose, I swipe it hard enough to leave my shirt stained red. Not broken, but it’ll be sore.

Sighing under my breath, I linger for as long as I can before I’m forced to face my lingering problem.

* * *

When I return to the room, Eliza is curled up on the bed, covered by the blanket. I’m honestly surprised I don’t have to go hunt her down. She’s run before, I wouldn’t put it past her to try again.

In truth, I don’t have a reason to keep going after her now. She’s signed the paper. It’s all but official now. I don’t have to watch over her anymore. There’s nothing that can stop this from happening.

She doesn’t move, even when I close the door with athud. I’d think she was dead if it weren’t for the slow movement of her stomach as she breathes. Not slow enough to be unconscious. No, she’s awake.

Blinking, I turn away and make my way toward my bathroom. Smelling like blood, I need to scrub my skin clean before I consider crawling into my bed.

I don’t look at my appearance in the mirror, not wanting to see the man looking back. A weak man with flaws will be there waiting for me.

After twisting knobs and making the water a punishing heat, I jump in the shower long enough to clean my body. I don’t touch my cock, not wanting to risk letting it grow hard. I lost myself before because I had led with my cock. Not this time.

Once I’m out of the shower, I stare at the bed and listen to the whispered lure of joining her.

Silly thoughts of pulling her to my chest and waking her up to my cock cross my mind like I’m an in-love fool aching to get another taste. Guess I can’t avoid the thoughts after all.

No. I don’t need this. Don’t need her.

So, why am I moving toward the bed then, like she’s tugging me forward, like I’m on a goddamn leash? She wouldn’t even have to yank. No, I’d be as obedient as a German Shepard.

Shaking my head at the thought, I move to my side of the bed and yank the covers back. Ignoring her as best as one can, I lay down and beg my body to relax. Despite getting my ass kicked, and taking a hot shower, my muscles are tight. I shut off the lamp, hoping the night will take me away from all my problems.

The gap between us is large and empty. Laying on my back, my eyes close, but the exhaustion I feel doesn’t let me slip away into a restful sleep. Instead, I’m opening my eyes once more and staring into the darkness.

I hear her breathing; it’s uneven and fast. She’s still not sleeping.

Neither of us speaks, not once while the seconds pass by. What is there even to say?

I love you? As if.

Suddenly, I catch the softest sound of a sniffle that makes my exhaustion dissolve into a sudden alertness. I hold my breath long enough to make my lungs burn to see if I’d misheard. But no, I hear it again. A wet sniffle.

Eliza iscrying. My stubborn woman, the one who has been all threats and confidence, reduced to tears.

Even worse,I’mthe one who caused them. I know it deep inside my core, and the heat that burns at my chest is immediate.

Like warning alarms are ringing in my ears, I’m left turning my head to look at her.

For once, I don’t have a fucking clue of what to say. With Eliza, that’s no surprise. I don’t know what to do most of the time when it comes to her.

“Stop staring at me,” she snaps after a minute, just feeling my eyes on her. Even with her back to me, she just knows.

“You’re upset.” I know I sound as stupid as I feel. “Why?”

“You left after stealing something kind of important,” she hisses under her breath, “any woman would be upset. This means nothing. I’m fine.”

Her virginity. Something she could’ve been saving for a better man. I swept in like a tornado and took it without permission. All this time I’ve spent away from her, I left her in this state.

I was so caught up with all these new feelings that I didn’t think about how she felt.

I’m a grade-A bastard. Fuck, and now she’s crying. Tears have been spilled because she feels like I abandoned her.

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