He stopped and stared at her, waiting for her eager agreement. After this kind of attack, she would obviously agree his plan made the most sense. But she sat there glaring up at him. When she stood, he saw something unexpected flash in her flashing amber eyes — indignation.
“Excuse me?” she demanded, jamming her fists onto her ample hips.
God, she was sexy when she was mad. And naked.
“It’s the only way to keep you safe, Kat,” he explained. Her flaring nostrils suggested she didn’t fully understand his plan. Maybe more details would help. “Don’t worry, there will always be at least two guards outside the apartment, just in case one proves untrustworthy. As soon as we get back home, I’ll order a new security system, and we should probably fit you with some kind of tracking device—“
“Enough!” Kat shouted. “You’re being ridiculous, Alex. I’m not your prisoner, I’m your wife!”
“Exactly! What if I hadn’t been here?”
Kat’s gaze shifted away, and he knew he’d won that round. He softened his tone and held out a hand. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
Kat crossed her arms stubbornly and brushed past him without a word. She didn’t speak on the ride home — he’d insisted on taking the same car — and the second they walked in the apartment, she headed straight to her room and slammed the door.
Alex didn’t like the situation either, but he had to do something. To get the ball rolling, he started making calls. First to his father, who agreed to beef up security at the apartment, and then to Tier Hamilton. Having trusted Edgar, the man was understandably shaken. He kept dropping the phone because he couldn’t stop turning into a bear while they talked. Alex managed to talk him out of rushing over to check on his daughter, assuring him she was resting comfortably.
Within the hour, Tier Hamilton called to inform Alex that his enforcers had apprehended Edgar, though he didn’t put up a fight. His unconscious body had washed up on a river bank a few miles from where he’d fallen. He’d be dealt with swiftly and harshly, and no doubt he would soon wish he’d died in the river.
As Alex set his cell phone on the kitchen counter, Kat walked into the room looking sleepy-eyed, but calmer. They stared at each other for a minute before he finally could find any words.
“How are you feeling?”
Kat shrugged and sat on a bar stool at the counter, carefully avoiding touching the marble surface.
“I’m fine. Still stunned that Edgar…”
She trailed off and Alex jumped in to give her the news. “They caught him. That was your father letting me know he’s been taken into custody. He’ll never bother you again.”
She sighed heavily and nodded, but looked far from pleased. “Well, that’s something. Listen, Alex, I want to thank you for helping me, for rescuing me. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”
He gave her a gentle smile. “I’ll always be there for you, Kat. Always.”
“Not always,” she said. “You’ll be at work every day, then there are the business trips you’ll take. You can’t be with me all day, every day, Alex. And I sure as hell am not going to be kept a prisoner in your apartment, or allow you to implant me with a tracking device like a household pet.”
“Okay, I might have gone a little overboard with that, but I was frantic. I need to keep you safe, don’t you see?”
She laid a hand on his arm. The simple touch soothed him instantly.
“Alex, I’m as safe as any other woman. Keeping me locked up in your apartment isn’t going to make me any safer.”
“Why do you keep calling it my apartment? It’s our apartment now.”
Kat’s smile looked more like a grimace. She glanced pointedly at the marble countertop, then at various nearby pieces of furniture. The sadness in her eyes told him everything.
“Oh,” he said flatly.
What an idiot! This had been his bachelor pad, where he’d entertained far more than his fair share of ladies in his quest to forget about a future which had been decided for him. From Kat’s point of view, this place would never be truly hers, especially with all the reminders of his past life…and lovers.
Reaching for her hands, Alex locked eyes with hers. “I know this situation isn’t ideal, and I haven’t made it any easier for you, but I really think we have a chance at something special here, Kat. Can’t you feel it?”
“I don’t know, Alex. So much has h—“
“Exactly! In just two weeks, we’ve survived more than most couples do in an entire lifetime. I know it’ll take work — mostly on my end — but if you’ll be a little patient, I know we can make it. Not just for the clans, Kat. For us.”
He held his breath while she gazed up at him, assessing him. He saw the moment she decided to give their relationship another try and had to choke back a shout of happiness.
“Maybe we could—“
Before she could finish her thought, Alex’s phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a text message.
u miss my honey yet? cum n get it, papa bear
Other than at the occasional social function, he hadn’t seen Nadia in months. Why was she texting now?
With a start, he realized Kat could read the message too. He dove for the phone, trying to flip it over, desperate to hide it, but it was far too late.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he started lamely. That’s what all cheaters said, but he actually was innocent.
Kat’s gaze turned sharp enough to cut diamonds. “What it looks like is you’ll never change.”
“No, Kat. I swear to you I didn’t do anything. Nadia is just—“
Kat knocked over her barstool as she jumped to her feet and jabbed a finger at him. “I know exactly who Nadia is. She so kindly introduced herself last night, and now I know on exactly which surfaces in your apartment you fucked her brains out.”
Alex blanched. Nadia had always been a little nuts, which was why he’d dumped her after a few dates, but this was just plain psychotic behavior. Did she really think trying to sabotage his new marriage would endear to her to him?
“Kat, I haven’t even spoken to her in months, long before we ever met. You have to believe me.”
“Oh, I do, Alex. I do believe you. I also know what you were like before our wedding. I experienced it firsthand, remember?”
Flames burned Alex’s face remembering how cruelly he’d treated her. How many others had felt as mistreated over the years? He’d never felt so ashamed in his life.
“I’m so s—“
Kat cut off his apology. “That’s not even the point, Alex. The point is I can’t help wondering how long it will take for you to go back to your old ways. How long before another Nadia comes along to entertain you, only to have you break her heart as you did mine, and then have her stalk you, or me, or God forbid, our children.”
His heart skipped at the thought of having children with Kat.
“What kind of woman would I be,” she continued, fire in her eyes, “if I remained in a marriage with a man who treats women so poorly? How can I stay with a man I don’t trust? And on top of all that, you want to lock me up like some precious treasure while you get to do whatever you please.”
“You are a precious treasure, Kat.”
Kat snorted and pushed past him, shrugging off his hand as he tried to stop her. “I can’t live like this, Alex. I’d rather live under my father’s strict rules. At least I could leave the house.”
“Kat—“
But she’d already disappeared around the corner and a moment later, her bedroom door slammed. Again.
“Shit!”
Alex scrubbed a hand across his mouth. There had to be a way to show her how much he cared for her, that there would never be another. Words meant nothing to her and he couldn’t blame her, after what he’d done.
First, he needed to talk with his father. More than anything, the older man could offer some advice on how to deal with this situation, but he also might need to perform some
heavy damage control. If Katrina ended this marriage, it could mean a return to war.
Leaving her alone in the apartment after what she’d gone through this morning churned his stomach, but he didn’t dare assign guards…yet. Instead he flicked through his contact list and was relieved to find Tilly, Kat’s best friend. The woman might have loathed him, but she’d be there for Kat, and that was good enough for him.
Fifteen
When the doorbell rang, Kat ignored it. Let Alex get the door. Probably just a bunch of enforcers hellbent on making sure she didn’t step foot out of the apartment.
It rang again. Why hadn’t he answered it yet? He wasn’t even moving around out there. Had he left? Had he left her alone?
Then her phone buzzed, and Tilly’s smiling face popped up above the text, “Answer the door, stupid!”
Kat sprinted for the door. It had barely opened before she flung herself into her friend’s embrace.
“Whoa, Kit Kat,” Tilly said, dropping her bags to pat Kat’s back like one would when trying to comfort a child. “What the hell is going on? Alex asked me to come over, but he wouldn’t tell me anything other than you’d had a scare and needed me.”
“Let’s go inside,” Kat mumbled, holding back the tears until the door had closed.
It occurred to her she hadn’t shed a tear after Edgar’s attack. She’d been too busy making love to Alex, and then they had a fight, and then she’d stormed off to her room like a brat…
Tilly held her as she cried, patient as any mother bear. When the worst of the storm had passed, they sat at the table and Kat spilled every detail of Edgar’s attack.
“Edgar?” Tilly asked, clearly astonished. “Edgar?! He always seemed so nice. You say they caught him?”
At Kat’s nod, Tilly started pulling herself upright — not an easy task as pregnant as she was. “Where is he? I’m gonna kill him! Just tell me where that fuckwad is!”
The woman’s claws had already started lengthening, that’s how serious she was to inflict bodily harm against Kat’s attacker.
“Relax, Tilly,” Kat said, guiding her back into her chair. “My father has him, and you know he has more planned for that creep than anything you could ever think of, right? Besides, getting all worked up like this can’t be good for the baby.”
Tilly relaxed visibly and sighed. “Okay, you’re right. I guess I have some, um…protective things going on. Yesterday I chased a dog for three blocks because he barked at a kitten.”
“You didn’t!
“I did. Lucky for him, he got away.”
“But you didn’t shift, did you? In the street? Did anyone see?”
“I stayed human. Barely. Ha ha, bearly.”
Katrina rolled her eyes, but she secretly loved Tilly’s terrible puns.
“Seriously, Kit Kat,” Tilly said, grasping Kat’s hands. “You’re really okay?”
“Scout’s honor. I’m still in shock, but I’m not hurt physically. I can’t say the same for him. I got in a couple of good swats before he was swept downriver.”
“Good!” Tilly gave her a high five. “Thank God Alex was there to help. I have tell you, I wasn’t sure about him after everything that happened, but I will love that man until the end of time for saving you.”
Katrina avoided her gaze. “Yeah, he’s great.”
“Hold on.” Tilly gave her a searching look. “You just said that in the same voice you used when you told your parents you’d done well on math tests. What’s up?”
“Well…”
“Wait. Stop. I have a feeling this is a conversation that will require supplies. Also, I’m starving. Where are my bags?”
Tilly’s bags, lying forgotten by the door, contained chips, cookies, several pints of slightly soft ice cream, a six-pack of club soda, a bottle of nail polish, and a manicure set.
“Sorry, no wine,” Tilly said, popping the cap on a club soda. “If I can’t have it, you can’t.”
“Fair enough,” Katrina laughed, getting plates and spoons from the kitchen. “But why the nail stuff?”
“I’ll tell you why the nail stuff. I haven’t had a pedicure for weeks and I can’t reach my own feet. No way I’m letting ladies at a salon judge me. The only person allowed near these tootsies is you. Well, and my husband.”
“Great,” Kat said as she picked up a neon orange polish. “I was just lying on my bed, wishing I could paint someone’s toe nails.”
“Quit complaining. I’ll do yours next.”
Tilly propped one foot on Kat’s lap as she opened a bag of chips and pulled a tub of ice cream closer. “Ever dip Doritos into Chunky Monkey? Delish!”
Kat made a gagging sound as she picked up an emory board. “I’ll trust you on that.
As teens, she and Tilly had traded pedicures during every sleepover. Of course, ‘sleep’ was secondary to gossiping, drinking way to much soda, and eating way too much junk food. Just remembering those fun times helped ease the tension from Kat’s shoulders.
“Now,” Tilly said, “tell me everything.”
And Kat did. About the long cold silences in the apartment and the play-acting when they went out. About how every time she thought she might really like Alex, she remembered all the women who’d probably felt the same about him. About how filled with love and joy she’d been after they’d made love earlier and how angry it made her when he’d treated her like a cub who needed a leash.
Tilly rolled her eyes. “Well, he certainly could have handled that better, I’ll give you that. Way to go from a knight in shining armor to an deranged king who locks ladies in towers.”
“Exactly! It’s not like I’m in any more danger than every other female ever born.”
“Guys like Alex don’t get it,” Tilly said between licking chocolaty Dorito dust off her fingertips. “Women are constantly aware there’s a risk. Alex probably has never been in danger, so it’s a shock to his system. A paradigm shift.”
“I was just caught off guard by Edgar. Normally, I take reasonable precautions, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Alex fit me with a tracking device, and I most certainly do not need his permission to leave the apartment.”
“Of course you don’t,” Tilly soothed. “And he’ll realize that once he calms down a little. Marriage is all about compromise.”
Katrina sighed and kept her eyes focused on painting Tilly’s toes. “The thing is, I don’t know if I want to compromise. I don’t know if I want this marriage.”
Tilly sat quietly for a long time. When she spoke, her voice was gentle. “You’ve told me so much about what’s been going on between you two, but you haven’t told me how you feel about him. Half the time it sounds as if you hate him, but other times…”
“I sound like I love him,” Katrina finished. “And that’s the hard part, Tilly. I think I could love him. He’s funny and smart. And strong. Sometimes I watch him, striding through a crowd, and my heart does this funny lurch. Or when he was so kind to that woman with the jerk husband.”
“But,” Tilly urged.
Kat shook her head. “I don’t think I can get over his past. I know he cheated on me with me, but good guys don’t do that. I don’t know if I can trust him.”
Tilly gazed so deeply into Kat’s eyes, it felt almost invasive. “Do you love him?”
Kat had expended a lot of energy telling herself all the reasons she shouldn’t love him, but she’d failed to ask herself that simple question. Do you love him?
Tears itched at the back of her eyelids. “I don’t want to, but I think I do,” she whispered.
“Well, then,” Tilly said as she swapped feet in Kat’s lap. “I think you should give him a chance and just love him.”
“That’s it?” Kat couldn’t believe her ears. “Just love him? Are you actually telling me, of all people, to go along with whatever crazy thing he wants? I should let him hold me prisoner? I should just look the other way when he sleeps around?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You should stand up for yo
urself, and love him. You should make it clear you’re an independent woman, and love him. You should let him know you’ll cut off his favorite body parts if he cheats, and love him.”
With great effort, Tilly reached forward to stroke Kat’s cheek. “Loving him doesn’t mean losing yourself in him, Kit Kat. But to make this marriage — any marriage — work you must let love be your beacon through it all. A fight can’t end a marriage if you love each other through it. Stop resisting that love. Let it wash over you, flow through you, consume you. Love him with all your heart, and everything else will seem easier. Can you do that? Can you at least try?”
Alex exuded charm, but sincere charm. He listened when others spoke, honestly curious to hear their thoughts on any given subject, not simply waiting to speak. And then he remembered it all — such as her throwaway comment about van Gogh on their first date.
Then there was the matter of his honor. He’d grown up knowing he was destined to marry a stranger. Instead of running away from his duties, he embraced them. Kat couldn’t imagine a lifetime of knowing what had tortured her for just two days. It took strength and integrity to honor such a difficult commitment.
She couldn’t forget the way he made her feel. Whenever they were together, even if she was giving him the cold shoulder, Alex anticipated her every desire. When they made love, he knew the precise spot to touch or lick at the exact moment she needed him to touch or lick it. Heat grew in her cheeks — and other places — simply thinking about him.
Katrina caught Tilly’s eye and smiled. “He really is pretty great,” she admitted. “How could I not love him?”
“I knew it!” Tilly crowed. “You’re so into him. Now you just need to tell him.”
That wouldn’t be easy, after all the grief she’d given him. She just hoped it wasn’t already too late.
Sixteen
Alex sat stiff as a board as he listened to his father rant about duty and the clans and war. Seeking his parents’ counsel had seemed like a good idea, but…maybe not.
The Werebear's Unwanted Bride (A Paranormal BBW Shifter Romance) (Howls Romance) Page 8
