She stands and wipes her pajamas free of debris, and I take a step forward, but she takes one back, jerking her head. “Don’t.”
“Why? Because you know exactly how it’s going to end up once you let me touch you?”
“Love and sex solve nothing, remember?”
I run my hand through my hair, and she crosses her arms, satisfaction clear in her eyes. She’s fully expecting me to give up at some point. It’s the opposite of progress, and she puts a voice to it.
“Giving up already?”
“Stop it,” I snap. “It was just a dream. Did nothing I confessed to you yesterday make a difference?”
“Yes and no, you just…，” she rubs a hand over her red nose, “you don’t belong here.”
“Where do you picture me?”
“You didn’t even bring a goddamned suitcase!” She fists her hands on her hips. “Where do you live now? Where are your belongings, Tobias?”
“Packed in a truck with a driver waiting for my say so. Over half my wardrobe are suits that I don’t plan on fucking wearing anytime soon. I live here. Where you are is home. I made that clear yesterday. I know we can’t pick up where we left off—” I step forward, she steps back, and so the tango begins—the look on her face one of a wounded animal.
“You’re lonely here, Cecelia. I did that. I’ve made you lonely again. You think I don’t know that? You gave up your fucking life for me, so I did the same. I did the only thing I could because I wanted you to take me seriously when I showed up with nothing but the clothes on my back.”
She bites her bottom lip, her eyes drifting up and down my frame.
“I gave up the only life I’ve known for over twenty years and most everything that had anything to do with it, to come here just for a chance to be with you again.”
“You gave up clothes.”
“I gave up control,” I counter. “Which is the hardest fucking thing for a man like me to do.” I step forward, and this time she doesn’t step back. I cup her face, her cheeks ice cold. “Because I want this, more than anything else. I want this, you, us.”
“Just,” she lifts her hands to my wrists and grips them, intent on pulling them away. “Go back to bed. I need to think.”
“No.”
“Tobias—”
“Fuck no. I’m not going to give you a chance to think of more reasons to hold a grudge against me.” I lean in. “What hurts you hurts me. There’s more to say.”
“Not today.” She drops her eyes and shakes her head before pushing past me toward the house. That’s when I snap, rush her, and scoop her into my arms.
“Put me down.”
“No,” I murmur, nuzzling her neck, inhaling her scent, a scent so soothing it feels like coming home. But it’s short-lived because I feel her tensing in my arms.
I bend to kiss her, and she turns her head.
“Look at me, please,” I implore.
“I hate you so much,” she whispers.
“I know.”
Her eyes lift to mine before dropping to my lips. “Plus rien ne nous séparera. Jamais.” Nothing will ever come between us. Never.
Exhausted, no doubt by me, she drops her head to rest on my shoulder as I carry her inside, Beau hot on my heels until I kick the bedroom door closed in his face.
“Don’t take your frustration out on my puppy,” she scolds as I walk into the bathroom and gently deposit her to stand in front of the shower.