Page 63 of Hers to Call
“Why, because I’m some fragile woman you have to treat like porcelain?” Lord, who had taken over her? What were the words leaving her mouth? Why was she challenging this man, knowing they were in this room alone?
“Why the hell are you coming at me for treating you better than the asshole you left? Would you rather I yell at you, force you to do what I want?” He took a step closer.
Stubbornness and anger kept her feet glued to their spot. She would not back down from him. “I would rather you treat me like a normal woman. Yes, I had this horrible thing happen to me, but you can’t spend the rest of our life censoring yourself and your bear. It’s not sustainable.”
He stared at her for several breaths, his hands gripped at his side. “Have your ass home this evening. Don’t make me come looking for you.”
He stormed from the room and all the air left her body. She slumped to the floor, her heart damn near galloping up her throat. She pressed a hand to her chest. She’d done it. She’d stood up to him, and she’d seen none of the signs David had exhibited before he hit her. After a few moments to calm herself, she smiled. His last statement should’ve been taken as a threat. She could lie and say she wasn’t turned on by it, but what was the point?
She chewed on that a bit as she stood to resume getting dressed. Simon was impatient with her, but, honestly how much time had he really given her to think about their relationship? A week, two? He needed to learn patience, alpha or no. He had to realize that mating would not come easy to her. Not like it did with the bears. They knew who their mates were as soon as they met them. She didn’t have those instincts. Besides, she wasn’t eager to get back into another situation where she’d lose herself. She didn’t want the things David had done to follow her the rest of her life and ruin the chance she had to make something with Simon.
She growled into the empty room. She would be home as her mate ordered and that was that. How much longer would she lie to herself and deny them? She sighed and changed her shirt, determined to carry on with her plans. She needed to make her appointment with Jerica, then she would talk to Simon later.
***
Hours later, Simon was roaming around in his skin. He’d worked all day after leaving the hotel, or let Gavin tell it, he’d been sulking all day. His beta had had enough of his pouting and told him to take off. So Simon had spent the rest of the afternoon in his skin, playing in the lake, walking around and he was finally tired enough to go home and maybe sleep.
Maybe.
He wasn’t angry with Calita, he couldn’t be. She was right about the way he treated her. He’d had good intentions, but in trying to make her feel secure, he’d somehow made a misstep. The whole time he wandered in his skin, he’d mulled over their conversation. Were his parting words to her too much? Would they scare her off? He understood that she would have a harder time trusting, with what she’d gone through. Would she run to Jerrica and get an apartment? Damn it, he thought they had made better progress. He huffed out an impatient breath.
He’d overreacted to seeing the brochures. He would even begrudgingly admit to letting the talk around town get into his head. They knew Calita hadn’t taken his bite, so speculation as to why was running rampant through Bear Ridge. Now that he thought about it, it was foolish the way he’d demanded her answer. He needed to call her and apologize.
First he’d take another dip in the lake. He paused when he reached the clearing, his nose high. He sped his steps, rushing to that familiar scent. He skidded in the dirt as he reached the picnic tables. Calita was sitting on top of a table, reading a book, dusk falling rapidly into night around her. She looked up as he got closer, a smile lighting her face. Hope started to bloom within his chest. His bear rushed to her and she set the book aside and reached her hands out for him. He chuffed as he slid his massive head between her legs. She rubbed his head as he butted against her stomach.
“Hi,” she whispered.
He allowed his bear a few minutes with her, Calita’s touch soothing them both. He changed forms, his nude body standing over their mate. Cali’s eyes went bright with lust.
“What are you doing here?”
“Where else would I be, Simon? Did you not order me home this evening?” Her soft question had optimism rising.
“You didn’t find an apartment?”
“I wasn’t looking for apartments. I was looking for a spot to open a bakery.”
“Really?” She’d shocked him again. “But the brochures.”
“Yes, I had considered an apartment at one time. Jerica gave them to me a couple of weeks ago, even though she didn’t think it would be necessary.”
He held his breath. “And are they necessary?”
She stared at him for interminable moments. Moments that had his heart thumping. She took a deep breath.
“No, I don’t think I’ll need them.”
He swooped down and kissed her. “What’s changed since this morning?”
“Nothing,” she said.
His heart plummeted.
She cupped his cheek. “I’m still scared of this relationship, and although it feels hasty, I’m willing to take that chance.”
“But this morning—”
“This morning, you barged in and barely let me explain myself.”
