His tone startled me, and my eyes popped open. He was upset. Oh, no.
“You couldn’t think of anything more original thansomething my dad caught this morning?” He knocked the carton of fish tacos to the ground, stepped on them, and walked away.
“Cody, wait.” Through my tears, I couldn’t convince him to turn around. I disappointed him; I would just die if he left me for good.
All through the night, I left him voicemails begging him to forgive me for being stupid. My best guess was he ignored me as punishment. I couldn’t prove it, but why else would he not talk to me?
Early the next morning, I showed up at his door with a homemade triple chocolate brownie mousse stack cake; the recipe pulled from Southern Living magazine. I knew he had to have cooled off by then, but I didn’t expect him to be so hungover. When he answered the door, a plum of marijuana smoke surrounded him and alcohol lingered on his breath.
“Hey.” I tilted my head and smiled real pretty. The glass container between our chests held my present. “I made this for you.” I didn’t know what he would do, but in my fantasy, he pulled me to him and kissed me like he would never be mad at me again. Reality didn’t quite live up to the expectation, though.
With one eyebrow lifted, he pursed his lips and yanked the dessert from my hands. “What is it?” Backing into the foyer, he lifted his chin.
I had quickly learned that this was where I neededto apologize. “Baby, I’m so sorry about the fish tacos. I wasn’t thinking. I know better; I should have made you a fresh pan of lasagna. Can you forgive me?”
“I asked what this was, not for your dumb-ass apology.”
“Oh.” I exhaled the single syllable and tried not to let emotion take over. I blinked back the tears. “It’s a brownie mousse cake.”
He squinted and wrinkled his nose. “What on earth would make you think I would like something with the word moose in it? Like, seriously? You’re naming a dessert after a smelly beast? Besides, it’s either a brownie or a cake—not both. God, I swear, sometimes you’re so fucking stupid.”
My mom’s best baking dish came with a plastic lid; Cody opened it, sniffed, and gagged. “Gross.” The next thing I knew, it was in the trash.
I didn’t mean to gasp; I was just so afraid that I wouldn’t be able to show him how much I loved him.
“What’s your problem?” He pulled me to him and kissed me hard.
Blood seeped from the inside of my lip. Oh, thank God. He will forgive me.
“You need to prove your love. If you’re truly sorry—show me.” He twisted my hair around his hand and kissed me again. Using his body, he pushed me through the living room, and we toppled to the couch.
Excited, I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. I moaned when he yanked my hair.
Confused—or maybe curious—he pulled away.
“You like when I pull your hair?”
“A little.” My breathing labored, I flirted.
TANGLED inhalf-discarded clothes, our hair matted and sweaty from shared passion, Cody rolled off me. He settled beside me and nuzzled my neck. “I couldn’t hold back; I was so turned on. The way you screamed when I pulled your hair—that just got me.”
Even though my head hurt, and he had been too rough, I smiled, relieved that I had pleased my man. The weight of his arm across my stomach made me feel safe. Secure. Loved.
“You’re so perfect. I can’t imagine there is anyone else like you in the vast state of Alaska. You’re not like all the others.”
Unsure of what he meant byallthe others, I squinted but didn’t interrupt his compliments. It felt so good to be cherished. Besides, it’s not like he’s sinister. He interpreted my reaction as acceptance.
“I mean it. You’re the exact right height, not too tall. You could stand to lose a few pounds but I’m willing to help work it off.” The passionate kiss mademe lose my breath. “Your smile, your eyes.” Kisses landed on my lips, then each eye.
On one elbow, Cody stared into my eyes and frowned. His voice was almost a whisper, “You promised to wait for me.” It was unlike him to pout.
My heart rate increased, and my temperature rose. “I did wait for you.”How did he know?
“You don’t need to lie to me, Kennedy. We were apart for a long time. It makes sense that you would break our pact. I didn’t, though, so I’m a little disappointed.”
“Cody …”
“I know you slept with someone else, Kennedy. Don’t lie.” His eyes darkened.
