Page 40 of The Dragon's Captured Heart
Chapter Twenty-One
Madison
The instant he came through the door, I knew the answer to the question on my lips.
“Giving you the runaround again?”
Callum’s sigh told it all. “Yep. Said they need more time to locate them in the archives. I told them I could go in there and do it myself, but they said—”
“That’s against procedure,” I finished.
“Yep.” He clenched his fists until the knuckles turned white. “They’re stalling.”
It was the third time Callum had gone looking for the written reports about the death of his mate, and I knew it was starting to irritate him that they still weren’t ready. Now that he knew Noa had been murdered, his patience was running out. He wanted to begin digging into it. Unfortunately, as we’d discussed, it madethe most sense to review the reportsbeforequestioning the guards.
“On purpose? Really?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Probably not. I’m just mad at them.”
“It’s understandable,” I said, trying to verbally validate his frustration while resisting the natural temptation to use touch to make him feel seen. I was trying to keep my distance after my conversation with Laura the day before.
He grunted.
“It’s probably very low on their list since it was two years ago, but still, they should get their asses moving.”
Callum looked at me, nodding slowly then more vigorously. “Exactly!” He smacked a fist into his other palm. “Yes, that’s exactly right. They need to get their asses moving.”
I smiled. It was interesting to see Callum so motivated. It was a big change from the person he’d been at first. I liked this side of him, even if he was forced to sit idle until others got their act to go. He had a drive again.
“Stop pacing,” I said. “It’s not going to help.”
“Too much energy. I need to burn some of it off.”
“Hit the gym?” I suggested.
“Already did.” He paused and looked over at me.
For a moment, I thought he was about to suggest something else, but then he smiled and hurried to his room.
“What are you up to?” I asked, trying to cover my relief that he hadn’t suggested what I thought he’d been about to.
Or was that just where your brain went?
I pushed the thought aside as Callum returned with a bundle of clothing in his hands. Now was not the time to go down that line of intrusive thoughts.
“Here,” he said, eagerly shoving the clothing at me.
“You already bought me clothes,” I pointed out, gesturing at the t-shirt and leggings. “I don’t need more … Okay, I mean, I’m not going to say no, but I feel bad about you buying me more clothes.”
“These are different. Go put them on.” He smiled from ear to ear, eyes wide and practically dancing.
“Why?”
“Justgo,” he said, taking me by the shoulders with both his massive hands and propelling me toward my bedroom.
A tiny shiver ran from my neck down my spine, jumping from vertebra to vertebra as it went, all because of how easily he took control.
All at once, I was eager to go because I needed to put some space between us to catch my breath. I’d let him get too close. Touch needed to be avoided until I could figure things out.
