Chapter 5
The next morning was… upsetting, to say the least. And I completely blame Damian for that. I slept until noon, because of all the physical activity that my body wasn’t used to or genuinely prepared for. Maybe this is a sign from God that I should exercise more often.
I’ll put it on that to-do list that I have and yet never do a single thing on it.
He was awake, bathed and in a fresh suit, eating breakfast which he has ordered through room service as I awoke rudely to the overly loud sounds of him scarfing down bacon. I had a pleasant ache in body from all the pounding he did to me. His handprints were on my sticky thighs, in the form of a bruise from how hard he was holding them as we had sex last night.
“Ah, you’re awake. Wonderful. I’m going to drive you to your house. Get dressed. I put some of my old clothes that are roughly your size next to you.” It was an order. Pleasantly given and sweetly stated, but there was no mistaking the words for anything but a command.
“You don’t need to drive-” I started to say, before hearing a snort from him.
“You think you can walk?” His eyes darted down to my bruised thighs.
I huffed at him. “Of course, I can!” I argued.
His lips curled into a smirk. “Go ahead then. Get up.”
Trying to get up was a stupid idea. My legs were like jelly and I immediately fell back onto the couch. He was trying to hide a snicker.
But I saw it! And he didn’t even seem to really be trying all that hard to hide that stupid snicker. Jerk.
“Fine.” It was a whine, as I got up to go take a quick shower in his bathroom before I pulled on the outfit he gave me to change into.
The shower was nicer than anything in my house, but I was too annoyed to appreciate it. Couldn’t he be a little more romantic today? Last night we made love, and he was acting like it didn’t even matter!
Most of my anger dried up as I saw the way he just choked, seeing me in his clothes. Maybe I’m a little too harsh on him. He might just not be a morning person, but he definitely worshiped me like a goddess. And if that doesn’t earn a bit of leeway nothing does, honestly.
He worships me and sees something in me that nobody else does. It’s so good I could almost begin to cry.
“Well? Hurry up. Let’s go.” I couldn’t help but rush him. I just wanted to go already.
“Would you like me to take you to get breakfast?” He offered.
“No, Thanks,” I told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. I had a million ideas and my body was almost twitching with inspiration. I knew exactly what I wanted to create, and I didn’t have time to waste on silly things like a meal.
I could have breakfast with him anytime, after all.
Is it just me, or did my reaction make him look... crestfallen. For a split second, he looked so disappointed, I just wanted to wrap him in a hug and never let him go.
The emotion was hidden just a moment later, so fast that I’m sure I just somehow made it up.
“Very well.” He stated his voice kind. “Let’s go then. I have a gift waiting in the car for you.”
“A gift?” I almost squawked. “There’s nothing else I need from you and I would feel-”
“Oh trust me, you’ll love it.” He told me, practically dragging me to the elevator. “I’ll bring it up to your apartment and you’ll open it when we get there.”
Oh no. He’s going to see my apartment. But I can’t even… now I just… I can’t change my mind. He might think something shady is going on if I keep outright refusing to show him my apartment.
Ugh. Fine. For the sake of our relationship, he can see my stupid apartment. And of course, he’s going to be disgusted and I’ll be humiliated. Gah. Let’s just get this over with.
I found I was right, just looking at the grimace on his face as he saw my graffiti-covered apartment complex made my stomach twist in the worst way. Oh god no. Why is this what my life is like? Why is this guy so much better than me?
He’s used to a nicer life. Higher quality of everything. And then he goes and chooses a substandard failure of a girlfriend like me! Gah!
He said nothing. Which I guess is as tactful as he gets? Simply grabbing the presents and walking three flights of the stairs to my apartment because the elevator was busted again. Dammit! As if that’s anything new. The elevator is always busted and I hate it, but it’s even worse with my boyfriend here.
When I opened my apartment and the stale scent of the air wafted out of the room, his grimace of disgust just became more pronounced.
“You live in this filth?” He demanded, dropping my gift on the table that I put my keys on as he stalked into the apartment as if he owned the place. His patience seemed to be at its limit. His nose pointed up in the air like a caricature of a snob. Better not mention that particular observation to him. “How can you even live in this squalor?”
“Hey!” I argued, feeling offended. Squalor? How dare he! My home might now be perfect. But it is a home. “This is my home! And I like it here!”
“It’s awful. You deserve so much more than this.” He declared pompously. I know it was supposed to be a compliment in his mind but I was too offended on behalf of my home to see it that way.
Calm down, Clarissa. You know what this is. It’s just his stupid Werebear instincts. He wishes to protect you from anything, even your own poverty. He wants to provide you with a better life. Just don’t get angry. Relax!
Be calm.
“Not even the air is right.” He huffed.
Calm down.
“Your furniture looks like it’s been here for the better part of a century!”
Don’t say something you regret.
“Move in with me, immediately.” He ordered. “You must agree my home is better than yours!”
Clarissa. PLEASE!
“Clarissa!” He was upset I wasn’t responding.
Fuck it!
“Who do you think you are?!” I barked out, my face red with fury. “I don’t need anyone telling me how to live my life. I’m perfectly happy here as I am. And you have no right to tell me what to do or how to live. Just leave me alone!”
That was too much. I could just tell, the way his expression dropped. It went from angry and possessive, to hurt. Like a kicked puppy looking up at their master. “Fine.” He hissed, leaving and slamming the door behind him.
Is he going to come back? Is this it for the two of us? Because I couldn’t keep my yap shut, I lose the best thing in my life?
“Damian…” I reached my hand towards the door. As if I could just will him to return to me. But I couldn’t. I didn’t have that kind of power in any way. “Come back.”
I growled and my arm shoved everything off of that same table in a childish fit of rage that would have horribly embarrassed me if anyone else was around to see me freaking out like this.
The beautifully wrapped gift he set down fell to the ground. As it broke open, the contents spilled all over the floor. It was as if in slow motion.
They were… my favorite brand of paint supplies. A new set of brushes. And dozens of small tubes of acrylic paints.
I was complaining that I wanted to get back into acrylics but I was focusing so much on watercolors that I hadn’t restocked my acrylics in a while.
Oh my god. He was listening to me. And he was thinking about me enough to get me such a perfect gift.
That’s so thoughtful and I just…
What’s wrong with me!