Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

“To bed.”
I don’t bother fighting. I don’t have it in me right now.
He brings me into the master bedroom. It’s decorated in
soothing shades of beige and brown with lots of wood accents.
There’s another ridiculous view out the tall windows, but it
disappears when he tells Alexa to close the drapes.
He sets me on the bed, removes my shoes, and pulls the
covers over me.
Then he turns to leave.
“You’re going?”
He stops and looks back. A small smile plays around his
full lips. I can tell my tone pleased him, but he’s trying not to
be obnoxious about it.
“You don’t want me to?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know.” I sigh and burrow deeper under
the covers. “Maybe?”
“Let me know when you’re sure. Until then, sleep well.”
He leaves, closing the door softly behind him.
Now I’m wide awake again.
I roll to my back, fling off the covers, and stare at the
ceiling for a long time, going over everything in my head.
Except my head is full of mashed potatoes. It’s like I’m trying
to do algebra. I can’t come up with anything that makes sense.
The only thing I know for sure is that no matter what he
did or how mad I am at him, I’d feel better if Kage’s arms
were around me.
I throw my legs over the side of the bed, go to the door,
and open it. Then I pull up short.
Kage is standing there, leaning against the wall next to the
door with his massive arms folded over his chest and his head
bowed.
He looks up at me. Our eyes meet. A jolt like a thunderbolt
goes through me, hot and powerful, all the way to my toes.