Page 44 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny
In entirely different circumstances, Rick would be only too happy to allow her to submit to him.
But not now. Not in this.
He wanted her to feel safe enough to be herself. To speak without fearing retribution. To see his strength as a comfort, not as a threat.
An entirely selfish desire, but then again, he was a selfish male.
“I’m not entirely sure what to say,” she began, jaw set as she stared past him. “I’m sorry for how my father acted. It was entirely inappropriate of him to behave as he did. And I’m sorry if my reaction in any way offended you or impacted Eva’s birthday. I can assure you that was not my intention.”
Christ, she was polite to a fault when she was scared. A survival tactic, no doubt, but one Rick found himself resenting. She was awolf. She didn’t need to bow or scrape or try to placate him.
“I’m not angry with you,” Rick said, “and Eva had a wonderful birthday. That isn’t the problem.”
Rosalia swallowed, eye twitching.
It seemed like he wasn’t the only one struggling to keep his emotions in check.
God, this would be so much simpler if she simply trusted him.
“What is the problem, then?”
He exhaled. “Well, your father, for one, but that can wait. Why did you tell me you were fine in the kitchen?”
She stared at him in shock, a small furrow between her brows, “Excuse me?”
“You told me you were fine. That your father’s words were nothing. You were lying.”
He had meant it as an observation, but it came out closer to an accusation, and Rosalia responded in kind.
Her fists trembled as she breathed in and out, nostrils flaring. “I wasn’t lying. Iwasfine. Iamfine.”
“You don’t have to lie to me, Rosalia.”
“I’m notlying,” she said, her voice rising, “what do you want me to say? That I was upset? Angry? Ashamed? Because I was. Any idiot can see that. But I can deal with it. Ihavebeen dealing with it. And I’mfine.”
His teeth ground together. Why did she have to be so damn stubborn? “Your father insulted my wife inmyhouse. Atmydaughter’s birthday. It falls tometo deal with it. Not you.”
Two pink spots appeared on her cheeks. “I said I was sorry for my father’s actions, I regret if he insulted you, but he is notyoursto deal with. I’m not some…some helplessthingthat you own!”
Rick reared back. “When the hell did I ever say Iownedyou?”
“Just now!” she practically spat. “Your house, your wife, yourproperty.”
“That’s notowningyou, Rosalia, that’sprotectingyou. Protecting what’smine.”
“I’m not yours!”
“That’s not what I meant!” he yelled, stepping forwards. He half expected her to flinch, to shy away from him, and already felt the first licks of shame at his loss of control.
But she didn’t.
She bristled, standing tall, taking a step of her own towards him. “Then what do you mean?” she hissed. “Because trust me, I’m well acquainted withalpha maleswho believe that females are nothing more than pretty things for them to play with and look after. Males who think they’re so noble for offering their protection, even when it isn’twantedorneeded.”
“Don’t compare me to the pathetic whelps that make up your home pack,” Rick snarled. “It’s not my fault that you were raised among males who see you as lesser. And if you’d onlyletme, I wouldshow youthat that’s not who I am. And I’dprotectyou from those same males who throw their strength about.”
“I never asked for your protection!”
“But it doesn’t make you weak to need it!” he shouted, throwing his hands up in the air.
