Page 111 of The Midnight Order
“Sorry about earlier,” he says, his eyes on his boots.
“We all have our demons. You certainly may have more than your fair share after nine hundred years.” I hop off the counter with Lowell’s help, and I don’t drop the hand he offered me in assistance.
Instead, I hold on to it steadfastly.
Lowell clears his throat. “I know that, but I come with much more baggage than anyone you’ve ever met, Silver. You keep making light of everything you encounter here with us, but I know it’s a lot.”
I’ve lost track of all the odd encounters and the list of things I’m up against in this manor. Now, it’s becoming my reality. My normal.
“I don’t want you to think I’m making light of things, but I just don’t want you to feel bad for being you, Lowell.”
He gives a slight nod before sighing and rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.
My tongue itches to ask about Ossana, but I refrain. It’s too raw.
“Jasper’s going out of the country for a few days,” I say instead, and Lowell’s eyes narrow at me.
“Yes, he is. What about it?”
“I wanted to go with him.”
His glare turns unabashedly carnal. “No.”
“Excuse me?” Part of me wants to shout at him and remind him that my asking is only a courtesy because I belong to no one.
But the look in his eyes reminds me that I’m mistaken; I belong to him.
“I said no. Is there another language you’d like it said in for you to comprehend it better?”
“No, I was?—”
“Nein,” he says, cutting me off.
“Lowell,” I warn.
“Non,” he adds, ruefully tugging his finger to his lips as if thinking of more ways to deny me.
I cross my arms over my chest and let him continue his charade.
“Nej, Nei, nee,” he continues, and I’m finding it hard to keep my mouth shut with this burning anger flaring in my chest.
No one tells me what to do.
I’ve always taken care of myself. I belong to myself.
“Are you done?”
“I don’t know. Do you understand my answer?”
“Lowell, I wasn’t asking. I was letting you know I was going with Jasper.”
He takes a massive step toward me, effectively caging me into the island as his hands grip the granite on either side.
I hear it creak under his powerful hold.
He leans down, his nose touching mine, his breath fanning my lips.
My heart speeds.
