Page 16 of Brighter than the Boss
I splayed my hand on my chest. "I'm wounded."
"Oh, shut up, you are not!" She laughed again and it was like my nightly glass of Macallan...smooth, strong, and it left a burn deep down. I stilled, enjoying the feeling and the sound of her laugh. I'd thought for a moment that I'd contaminated her. That I'd doused the happiness that radiated from her, just like I'd feared.
She was right. The glass was half full and I needed just one more sip.
7
Sunny
"Holy schnitzel?" He stood against the door, his huge body still an imposing image in my small apartment, yet his eyes held a trace of humor that pulled at me. That made me think there was something good in this dark, angry man that I hadn't seen before. I didn't understand him one bit, but I wanted to. Desperately.
I shrugged. "Yeah, you know, it's an Americanized version of a German phrase."
He tilted his head. "Really? I didn't know that."
He was still ten feet away, his arms at his side, not attempting to close the distance. Maybe if we ignored the kiss, or kisses plural, we'd be okay. Still awkward with awareness, but at least under control.
I shook my head slow, my gaze still locked with his. "No. I made that up."
His eyes lit up a second before the upward tilt of his lips gave him away. "Are you teasing me, Sunshine?"
My head was still moving side to side, at odds with my answer. "Yes, I'm most definitely teasing you."
He took one step forward and stopped, hands still at his sides, but fisted. The gleam was still in his dark eyes, but the half smile was gone. My heart kicked up again, sensing the change in his demeanor. "You think that's smart, babe?"
I stilled my head, suddenly feeling like a bobblehead doll. "Yes. I do," I answered quickly.
"Wanna rethink that?" His jaw was tight, the very air around him crackling with his intensity.
Lost yet again, wondering where I went wrong in the conversation, I scrunched up my face. "No, I don't need to rethink it. What are you going to do? Hit me for teasing you? That's ridiculous." A nervous laugh tumbled out before I could censor it with a cough.
I blinked, which was just enough time for Cain to lunge across the space and loom over me again. I stumbled back a step, but he reached out and grabbed my arms, pulling me back in. His hold was tight, not enough to bruise, only to hold me still whether I wanted to or not.
His eyes were flashing, the carefree light I'd seen in them just minutes earlier completely gone, replaced by a rage that didn't make sense.
"There are people in this world you shouldn't trust, Sunny. People you shouldn't tease because they'll hurt you. Get it through your head that not everyone is like you." He wasn't shouting though the loud rumble of his voice made me want to cover my ears just the same.
The pounding of my heart wasn't because I wasn't afraid of him. I was afraidforhim. A flash of understanding jolted through my body, ending as an ache between my ribs. What kind of life must he have lived up to this point to react in this way? What kind of man can dish out the insults, the barbs, the teasing, yet can't take it?
I tossed my hair out of my eyes, wishing I had my hands free to flail around. "You insulted me first! You teased me. Maybe instead of warning me, you should try to take the teasing in stride. Maybe you should stop trying to be scary and just laugh at what was clearly me just trying to get along with you."
He continued to glare at me throughout my tirade, everything about him rigid. His eyes flashed, like his intention was to send me up in flames from his stare alone. His face looked like it was made of granite, the side of his jaw flexing over and over. The hands on my arms didn't let go, making me wonder if maybe I would have bruises tomorrow.
All signs pointed to this being a bad situation. I didn't really know this guy and I probably shouldn't have invited him into my home. Now he was angry at me for no apparent reason. I should be scared. I should be looking for ways to diffuse the situation, or at the very least, remove his hands from my person. I knew from our demonstration with Shasta today that I could easily escape him using the Jiu Jitsu I had ingrained in me.
And yet...
I wasn't scared. And I didn't want to escape him. So I stood there, toe to toe, glare to glare, breathing the same air, and waited him out.
He finally opened his mouth and lashed me with his words. "Life is not all puppy dogs and smiles and trite little phrases, Sunny. People go through shit in their lives and it changes them. Warps them. Shows them that thinking positive isn't going to do shit. So when you show up with your sparkles and smiles and fucking annoying positivity, they're going to take out their anger on you. So I'll say it again: you should be more careful."
I narrowed my eyes. "Let's cut the crap, Cain. Are you saying thatyouare warped? Thatyou'vegone through some 'shit,' as you say? Don't hide behind what other people might do. If you're talking about you, then let's talk about you. Do I annoy you? Do you want to hurt me?"
I was daring him and I knew I probably shouldn't poke the bear, but I really did trust that he wouldn't hurt me. His talk of danger and bad people was just some crap that he actually believed in his head, not based in reality. I just knew it.
He yanked his hands away from my arms as if the idea of touching me was suddenly repulsive. The sneer made his face ugly, his words matching.
"You have no idea the shit I've been through, Sunshine, or what kind of man it's made me today. Make fun of it all you want, just stay away from me. You'd be smart to take my advice. Kick me out and don't look back. I guarantee you I'm no good for you."
