Page 46 of Haunted Nights & Savage Sins
“What the hell do you think you are doing? I told you what would happen if you try to run away from me again.” Cormac growls inmy ear and tries to pull me back, but I keep my feet planted on the floor before I turn and put a gentle hand on his chest.
He looks down at it like he’s confused. Maybe he expects me to be mad right now. I’m not. This is just a little fun. I’m so tired of being cooped up in one place for so long. I don’t know what he can’t understand about that. I’m not made to be hidden away like some rare bird. I need the sunlight. People. Fresh air.
Hell, I need to shop.
I am a woman, after all.
“If you don’t stop pulling me like that, the workers are going to start to think you are abducting me. Do you really want the cops to come and question you about a kidnapping charge?” I tilt my head up at him, a smile on my face and a lightness in my tone.
He looks around the store, his eyes darting in every corner before they focus back on me. “Brenna, I don’t want to be in here.”
“Where do you want to be, then? What store would be good for you? Tractor Supply? Bath and Body Works? The grocery store?” I hiss back at him, exasperated. “I don’t care what store we go to. Just tell me where you want to go, and I’ll be more than happy to walk around that store with you. Tell me where you want to go.” I’m looking up into his face, but his eyes are not on me. They are still darting around the room.
Not focusing on anything or anyone in particular. They drift over to shadows and moving objects.
“I want to go home.” His voice is lower, still not focused on me.
Blinking a few times, I take in his expression, and my eyes scan his body. His shoulders are tensed up. His hands are shaking,and I can see from the pulse point in his neck that his heart rate is skyrocketing. There is sweat beading on his forehead, and his lips are dry.
This isn’t anger.
This is fear.
This whole time, I thought Cormac didn’t want me to go outside because he was trying to control me. Trying to keep me under his thumb when it seems like the exact opposite is what’s really going on here.
He doesn’t want to go outside because he feels like he can’t.
The big beast of a man is suffering with social anxiety.
He’s suffering, and I just threw him headfirst into an intense exposure exercise.
I feel like such a bitch. I should’ve asked more questions before I just did what I always do. What I wanted.
I take a step forward and put a hand on his face. His eyes jerk down to mine for half a second before they are back scanning the room and the people in here.
“Cormac,” I call for him softly, “Cormac, look at me.”
He does, and his whole body trembles as if just the effort to do that is too much.
“I’m right here. Nothing is going to happen. No one is going to say anything to you out of the ordinary. I’ll protect you. There’s nothing to fear here. Just costumes and candy. You’re safe with me. I promise you.”
He nods once, jerkily.
“Breathe for me.” I take an exaggerated deep breath in followed by an equally exaggerated one out. Cormac follows along with me, and after three deep breaths, he’s trembling less and some of the tension has released from his shoulders.
I grab hold of his hand and walk further into the store. I don’t want to just run out; now that we’re here, I can at least prove to him that not every experience is bad.
We end up in the novelty section of the store. There are a few selections for couple costumes: peanut butter and jelly, plug and socket, salt and pepper.
“What the hell is that?” Cormac grumbles from behind me. His face is down, and he’s keeping his body turned so people can’t see the burned side of his face. I want him to stand tall, but right now I’m not going to criticize him. I know this is hard.
I look at the costume he is talking about. It’s a large inflatable poodle. “You wanna be a prize puppy for Halloween. I think you could pull it off.” I smile up at him. He squints his eyes at me but doesn’t even crack a smirk.
Imagine that, this large beast of a man in a pink and white poodle costume. Just thinking about it makes me laugh.
I pull him away from that section of the store. There is a spot with all the automatic displays and statues.
I look over my shoulder at him. “Prepare yourself, things over here may jump or scream. They are programmed to try and scare people. It’s part of the fun. Okay?” I wait for him to give me his approval in the form of a head nod before I take another step forward.
