Chapter Fourteen
Rem
I had been listening to their conversation for the last few moments. I came in to fetch Duncan but came up short when I heard him talking about branding. I knew that Duncan was just kidding about branding Isabel, but I found myself imagining my own name on her skin. Where would I want it? Would I want my road name or my real name? I always thought the lower back was cliché for a woman. Maybe it would go on her shoulder or on her ribcage under the arm.
Hmm, but I want to be able to see it from any position.
When she became upset about her father, I made the decision to press Jordan for more information. Greyson had given him the task of trying to find out more about the Rochester’s work, and the rest of us were supposed to keep our ears open for Snake movement.
I needed to end this thing with the Snakes somehow. That they brought an innocent civilian like her into this battle was bullshit. I might as well be fighting the Taliban again.
“Come on, man. I’ll be careful.” Duncan whined after I told him he couldn’t take Isabel for a ride on his bike.
“I said no, Duncan.” I took a step closer to the younger man, ready to show him who was boss.
Duncan stood up straight to accept the silent challenge.
We were in a deadlock glare for a long moment before Isabel’s soft voice broke the tension. “It’s okay, Duncan. It’s not worth the risk.” I watched as she reached for Duncan’s shoulder and squeezed. He looked away from me to her. “But it was really sweet of you to offer. Maybe we can go out some other time when things aren’t so crazy.” She gave Duncan a sweet smile.
He smiled back. “Yeah”, he said and looked back at me. “It’s a date.” Duncan walked out of the kitchen toward the garage. I knew that last statement was meant to rile me. If Isabel wasn’t standing here, I would teach Duncan some respect.
I glanced back at Isabel, who was glaring at me.
“Why are you such a jerk?” she said, her arms crossed in front of her.
“What did you say to me?”
“Just because you hate me, doesn’t mean you have to threaten your friends who don’t,” she spat, not at all intimidated by me towering over her.
“You think I hate you?”
“So you’re mean and surly with everyone?” She lifted an eyebrow.
That made me pause. She was right that my behavior had been less than pleasant, and she didn’t deserve it. It stopped now.
I looked down. “No. I don’t hate you.”
“So why did you threaten him?”
Because I don’t like you smiling at other men. But I couldn’t admit that, so I met her eyes and said, “I’ve got my reasons.”
“Are you sure those reasons aren’t to make my time here miserable?”
Her eyes were alight with a fire I had yet to see from sweet Isabel. This bitch side should have turned me off. Instead, I found myself getting hard. I wanted to taste that passion and anger on my tongue. I wanted to feel it beneath me, clawing the shit out of my back while I felt her fire from within.
“No, they’re not.” I growled at her, physically holding myself still.
“Could have fooled me.” She suddenly turned back toward the sink and started washing again, dismissing me.
She was pissed, and so was I. I should walk away, but I knew I couldn’t leave it this way, not if I intended to take Greyson’s advice. “Listen, I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you,” I said to her back. “I know you don’t deserve it.”
She looked at me over her shoulder. I could see my statement surprised her.
“I am trying to help you and keep you safe.” She slowly turned toward me as I spoke. “But I’ve never really had to deal with a woman like you.”
“What do you mean a woman like me?” she said, the anger in her eyes replaced by something else.
I rubbed the back of my neck, unsure how to explain. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “Um, you’re so soft.”
“Oh.” She turned back to the dishes, taking what I said the wrong way.
I suck at this.
How could I explain that her softness was what drew me to her? That even if she wasn’t in trouble, I’d still want to protect her. “I just mean that you are different than the women I’ve known before.”
I moved behind her, close enough that I could smell her vanilla scented shampoo. I lifted my hand to let my fingers caress her arm. This was the first time I’d willingly touched her. The warmth of her skin soaked into my roughened fingertips, and I felt my heart speed up. She stopped washing but didn’t look at me.
“And I like that,” I whispered, more to myself than her.
Once the words were out of my mouth, I panicked. This couldn’t happen. Before she could say anything I left without looking back.