Page 58 of Forbidden Bond

I cross my arms over my chest. “It’s not like it’s anything you haven’t seen before. Besides, you undressed me.”

“Because I didn’t want you to sleep with the smell of whiskey on your clothes.”

“Solid excuse. But there’s no way of knowing that you didn’t take advantage of me in my inebriated state.”

“Doubtful. I like my men sober,” she says, repeating words I once said to her.

That makes me chuckle. “Sure you do. You also like men that are painfully oblivious to your true intentions while you fuck them.”

Her breath catches and her expression falls. The sight almost makes me feel guilty. Almost.

“I’m going to go put some clothes on.”

I head into my room. When I return, she’s still seated on the couch. Her jaw is clenched and her hands are in her lap.

“I’m going to assume you sought me out yesterday because you had something to say,” I begin, taking a seat. “I’m listening.”

Her eyes narrow onto mine. “You have a right to be upset but you don’t have to be a jerk.”

“You’ll find I excel at being a jerk, Katherine.”

“You don’t have to be a jerk to me,” she retorts. There’s something vulnerable in her expression. Something that gives me pause. “I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry. I never should have done what I did. I was in a bad place and I wanted to lash out. And you were the first person I thought of.”

My hand goes up to my jaw. “Why? Why was I the first person you thought of?”

She ponders that question for a moment. Something flickers in her eyes before she shrugs. “Because you were the only person? It’s not like I have a lot of people that could be in such a situation with me,” she says coyly.

That’s a lie.

“Say it plainly, princess. I was the only person readily available to sleep with you. Is that right?”

She swallows softly before nodding. “Yes.”

I lean back into the chair. “In case you weren’t aware, that does not make me feel better. You’re not being honest, Katherine. I can count on one hand the number of times you’ve been honest with me.”

“I-I don’t know how,” she says sincerely.

I can see it in her eyes. Katherine has built so many walls around herself. And a part of me really wants to find out why. Maybe if I knew the root cause of the problem, it would help me understand her better.

And more than anything, that’s what I want.

“Okay,” I finally say.

She looks at me in confusion, “Okay?”

“Yes, okay. I accept your apology. You could have thrown in some chocolates to sweeten the deal, but it’s alright. You’re forgiven.”

“How benevolent of you,” she says dryly.

I shrug, getting to my feet. “Just one rule, princess. If you ever want to sleep with me again, it had better be because you want to, with every fiber of your being. And not because you’re being influenced by your father or anyone else.”

Her eyes are on mine, firm and steady. “Deal.”

* * *

Twenty minutes later, I’m driving Katherine home because she’s worried about her friend. On the way, she asks me how things are at the repair shop.

“I hired someone to replace you a few days ago. She’s pretty good at her job. Annoys me a lot less than you do.”

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