Page 75 of Indulge
His head tilts, a warning and a dare. My heart hammers against my ribs.
“You did what, Princess?”
The way he says it makes my pulse stumble.
“Stuff,” I whisper, looking away.
He stands abruptly, closing the distance until we’re toe-to-toe, the air between us electric.
His eyes stay on mine, completely cold and unreadable. I can see the muscle in his jaw jump as he clenches it.
“Stuff,” he repeats, his voice quiet but cutting into me. “You’ll have to narrow that down for me.”
I swallow hard. “It wasn’t what you think.”
“That right?” he says, stepping closer. “Because what Ithinkis that you went next door and gave my brother something that was supposed to be mine.”
“Yours?” I snap, the guilt burning into anger. “I didn’t know you cared enough for me to belong to anyone.”
His nostrils flare. “Don’t twist my words.”
“Then don’t twist my choices.”
The kitten mews softly from the couch, breaking the silence. For a heartbeat, we both glance at her, tiny and innocent, like a reminder of everything neither of us knows how to have.
Reggie drags a hand down his face and mutters, “Christ, Bella. You drive me insane.”
I take a step back, my throat thick. “You don’t get to be angry. You made it clear that this marriage is an arrangement, a deal. I was just… doing what I do best. Surviving it.”
His gaze flicks up, stormy. “You think that’s all this is?”
“You told me that yourself.”
He exhales through his nose. Then softer, almost broken, “I shouldn’t have.”
The admission hangs between us like a truce neither of us can accept.
I cross my arms. “You’re confusing, you know that?”
“Occupational hazard. It’s not just you who has had their life turned upside down with this.” He steps back, just far enough forme to breathe again. “You hungry? There’s food left. I made that roast dinner for you.”
I shake my head. Guilt eating me up; he cooked for me. He got me a damn kitten and apologized. Maybe I am being too harsh on him. “No. Thank you, I’m not hungry. I’ll eat later.”
He nods once, like that’s safer than whatever else he wants to say.
“Bella,” he murmurs.
I look up.
“Next time you want to hurt me,” he says quietly, “just do it with words or even your fists. Not my brother.”
I take a step towards him and, by instinct, place my palm softly on his chest. He looks down like my touch burns him.
“I didn’t do it to hurt you, Reggie. That wasn’t what it was. I couldn’t do that to Rowan either.”
He sighs, placing his palm over mine.
“I know, Princess. That’s what makes it even fuckin’ worse.”
