Page 130 of Unravelling The Beast

"Do you really believe I didn't have all this bullshit with Bridget?"

When I glance at her, she now looks shocked that I'm even mentioning my dead wife.

"Do you think she didn't have to go through leaps and bounds to make our relationship work, but I still married her regardless because, guess what? I do what the fuck I want, when I want!"

She narrows her eyes again after a brief pause.

"It doesn't make it right, Arlo. Do you care about anyone but yourself? It's too late; you should have tried much sooner!"

I clench my teeth so tightly they grind, and I can't believe she would dare to say that.

"Do you care about the people you hurt around you when you're the way you are?"

As my eyes flame into hers and fire ignites within me, I take a slow step closer.

"The thing is, I care way too much when I feel or care, which is why I don't fucking do it!"

When I come to a stop in front of her, towering over her, she keeps her eyes low and her sweet scent engulfs me, tempting me to kiss, touch and fuck every inch of her.

She speaks softly, with her head tilted down and her eyes low.

"And now?”

I grasp her chin, forcing her to look into my eyes before I respond calmly.

"You know what the fuck now, or I wouldn't be here; I wouldn’t bother, and you know it."

She examines my facial features, her eyes welling up, then pulls her chin from my grip and faces away.

"I can't. I'm sorry. It's too late."

I drop my hand and stare at her tear-stained face in disbelief, and I can't believe she's not listening to a word I'm saying while I'm trying to open up to her, exactly as she wanted.

"Cree asks for you at least three times a fucking day."

She closes her watery eyes, more tears cascading down her pink cheeks and I can feel her suffering, but she is fighting it, and I can’t understand why.

When she opens her eyes, she wipes her cheeks with her palms before her angry eyes dart to mine.

"Don't you do that; don't you dare try to manipulate me!"

I feel my temper hit me again, and I am forced to raise my voice once more to try to express how frustrating the whole situation is for Cree and for me.

"It's the fucking truth, Wren!"

She pokes my chest with her finger, flames licking around her brown pupils.

"Do you know how hard this has been? Leaving him was the most challenging thing I've ever had to do in my entire life."

"So, come the fuck home!"

"No!"

"Why the fuck not, Wren? Your excuses are pitiful. I'm not marrying her!"

She sighs in defeat and strolls over to the end of the bed, where she takes a seat with her head down and after a while of quiet, she suddenly speaks sternly.

"Just fucking leave, Arlo; you're making this ten times harder."

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