Page 1 of Gift Wrapped

Chapter One

Lake Roman

“I’mdone,”Isay,exasperated at the entire situation.

“What do you mean, you’re done?” Chad asks with a frown.

His big ass is lounging on my soft caramel leather couch in front of the tv.

Do you know that moment when you realize you have been wasting your time? That nothing you do is ever going to fix or change the situation and you just have to cut your losses? Yeah, this is that moment.

“I mean,” I say slowly, trying to make sure that he takes in every single word that comes out of my mouth. “I am done with this relationship.”

I am brutally aware that this is a shitty time of the year to do this. It’s only eight days before Christmas and I am ending our relationship and kicking him out of my apartment. And maybe if I could stand his smug face for a minute longer, I would wait until after the new year.

He laughs, never looking away from the screen. “Babe, be serious.”

This is the attitude that makes me not care about the time of the year or anything else. I simply want this over.

“I am serious.” I glare, trying to keep a grip on the last bit of my control.

“So, you are just going to throw away the last eighteen months? I thought you were happy.” he looks skeptical, finally facing me.

I growl low in the back of my throat. “You’re an idiot.”

“Lake, listen,” he starts in a patronizing tone, but I cut him off.

“No! It’s time for you to listen to me.” I pace the length of the lounge, taking deep breaths to steady myself.

I always get like this in these kinds of situations. Like a caged tiger, my mother used to say. He isn’t listening to a word I have been saying for the last hour, only hearing what he wants, and it is driving my temper to its peak.

Taking a deep breath, I try again.

“I’m not happy. I haven’t been for a while now, but I kept on trying to fix us. I was sure we could be happy if I just put in more effort, but it’s not working. But I am tired of being the only person in this failing relationship that is doing anything.”

“What are you saying?”

He has a grin spread across his lips; the same one he has used to get out of fights before. He is trying to seduce me, but it won’t work this time. My temper snaps and the words leave me before I consider the consequences.

“Get the fuck out!” I roar.

A split second later, Chad has me pressed against the front door. His claws are already extended, the black bear beneath already pushing to the surface. The pressure on my throat is harsh and I can’t draw in a breath.

“You really don’t want to piss me off Lake. Remember who and what I am.”

The tips of his sharp claws dig into my skin before releasing. The coppery smell of blood quickly permeates the air around us.

Yeah, yeah. I know. Don’t date outside your species and all that, but I simply couldn’t resist him. The man is massive, built like a mountain. Long black hair, black eyes, thick thighs, and massive hands. The first time I saw him live on stage playing his bass guitar, my ovaries basically exploded.

So yes, I let my pussy lead my decisions.

Obviously, it wasn’t the best choice.

Sadly, Chad is not what I thought he would turn out to be. He is lazy and indecisive. I’ve been taking care of him, our rent, and everything else for the bigger part of our eighteen-month relationship.

And don’t even get me started on the sex. Urgh. The man is selfish with a capital S. As long as he is getting what he wants; he doesn’t give a shit. I have been responsible for my own orgasms for the past six months.

For the millionth time, I wonder how the hell we ended up here. Things were great at the beginning and I can’t figure out where we went wrong, but that doesn’t matter now. All I want is to get it over with.

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