Page 73 of His Atonement
She rolls her eyes. "So much that both times we've had any kind of actually enjoyable exchange, you fucking sneak out before we can talk about it?"
"I did that for you,” I snarl, getting angrier, and let's be real, hornier, as we exchange words. "Both times, I did that for you."
"Gee thanks! It does wonders for my ego to have the man I'm fall—" Frankie stops, and shakes her head. "The man I'm frustratingly attracted to sneak out on me after two of the best nights I've had in forever! You're a real stand up guy, Zan. Thanks a bunch!"
For a moment I'm completely fixated on the words she did not say, the thoughts she steered away from as well as the fact that she said she's attracted to me.
Frustratingly attracted to me, but a compliment is a compliment.
Then Frankie's arm jerks, which brings me back to my original reason for visiting.
"You will tell me what ails you and you will do it now."
She throws her hands up as her arm jerks twice more, then Frankie appears to lose her balance but quickly sits on the bed. "I'm not fucking sick, so just drop it!"
"You lie.” I narrow my eyes, and move even closer. "Do not lie to me, my darling girl, the consequences may be dire."
She inhales sharp, holds her breath as her scent flares, grows stronger around us and for a second I feel as though our argument will be put on hold for the most enjoyable reasons, but just as quickly a look of fury passes over her face before that sickeningly sweet smile Frankie reserves for our game takes its place.
"I'm lying?" she asks with too much feigned innocence. "You think I'm lying?"
I nod. "I know it to be fact."
"Well, I guess it takes one to know one, huh?"
I frown.
What the fuck does that mean?
"I do not understand."
Frankie laughs, that hollow forced one I do not care for. "If I'm a liar, then wouldn't that make you one too?Takes one to know one?"
Understanding hits me immediately and I take a step back. "Frankie, my darling girl, please, let me explain. I—"
She shoots to her feet and points a finger in my face. "No! You don't get to explain shit right now! Not after you kissed me better than anyone ever has, then bolted. Not after you broke into my house and made me realize I don't actually hate you before you split, and definitely not after you didn't have the balls to tell me that you aren't a fucking human being like everyone else on this goddamn compound!" Frankie's chest is heaving, her anger almost tangible. "So what are you, huh? A shifter? A vampire? Cora said you're not fae, so that's out. Maybe something else entirely, something that likes fucking with peoples feelings and making them… making them…" She growls in frustration, but does not stop advancing. "What are you?!"
"I am demon,” I whisper, my eyes focused on the ground between us. "I am demon, a collector of souls, bearer of mayhem and destruction."
I hold my breath and wait, wait for the onslaught of rejection and hate. I wait for her to sever the bond we share so I may begin to settle into the new state of existence she will surely force upon me, but when it doesn't come, I chance a look at her.
"Do not act like my reaction to that means anything to you,” Frankie spits. "I am so fucking tired of the mixed signals you send, the game you started then abruptly stopped, the feelings you provoke in me, and I am fucking done torturing myself over all of it!"
My brows furrow in complete confusion.
She didn't acknowledge what I said, did not acknowledge what I am at all, and instead skipped over it entirely to continue claiming I care nothing for her.
"Did you not hear me?"
Frankie scowls. "I heard you, Zan, and I don't care! I don't care that you're a fucking demon, just like I don't care that two of my closest friends are shifters, that my baby niece could potentially turn into a dragon one day, or that the man acting as my photography assistant is a vampire. I don't care about any of that because it doesn't change who they are, whoyouare, and it doesn't change how I feel about anyone. But right now I feel like I could fucking strangle you because, despite the totally contradictory way you act, I'm still infuriatingly attracted to you!"
I blink many times. "You do not care that I am demon? Are not disgusted by my nature?"
"Oh my god!" She pokes her finger in my chest, and attempts to force me toward the door. "No! I don't care what you are, don't care what you've done in the past. All that matters to me is right here and now, and right now I want to punch you in your pretty mouth for the way you keep fucking with my feelings." Frankie pokes me again. "I was perfectly content playing our game and convincing myself we hated each other, but then you had to go and fucking kiss me, and since then I've been a hot fucking mess." Another poke. "So do me a favor and pretend like you care enough about me to get the hell out of my house and leave me the fuck alone!"
I grab her hands as Frankie tries to shove me, something she couldn't do no matter how hard she tries, and tug her to me, pulling her body flush against mine.
"You do not care that I am demon?" I growl as my heart swells to at least triple its size, "Do not care of my many sins I cannot begin to atone for?"