Page 61 of Lau Ahi
I was aggravated. More with myself than him and the longer I sat around hearing him doing whatever the hell he was doing in my house the angrier I got. I hopped up from the sofa in my home office and tore blindly into the hallway. I didn’t note anything that had changed so far but I didn’t care. I was on a mission and I needed him to know he wasn’t going to change me or the rest of my home without me putting up a fight.
My sister’s words echoed in my head about her hoping he would change me and I refused to let that become my reality.
“What is all this bloody racket?”
I was shouting like a fishwife, all manners out the door but it got their attention. Everyone in the room came to a halt. Ori was shirtless as some special type of torture and Alec was standing there as well, looking completely amused.
“You understand I’m moving in, right? It’s not a silent task.”
He put his hands on his hips and I realized for the first time he wasn’t in a suit. It was the first time since the first night that we met that I’d seen him in anything but. And I’d never seen his bare skin. But now it was fully on display and I realized that he was covered on one side of his body in ink.
What else don’t I know about this man I’m supposed to be marrying?
Everything.
His skin was a reddish-golden brown and one side of his body was covered in alternating light and dark triangles. His body was muscular, which was clear under the suits he wore but seeing it bare highlighted by the sun made my knees feel weak.
Ori snapped his fingers and Alec had his lips pressed together like he was trying not to laugh.
I came out of the tunnel vision I had staring at his body to frown at his face.
“Why on earth are you snapping your fingers at me like I’m a bloody dog?”
He looked smug and I braced myself for what he was going to say.
“Maybe because you’re staring at me like I’m a bone.”
A strangled sound let loose from Alec who turned his back to us like he was attempting to be respectful. What a shame my so-called fiancé didn’t have the same level of decorum.
“That was base.”
“At least you didn’t lie to yourself and pretend like it wasn’t honest.”
“Alec, can you give us a moment, please?”
“Sure. I’ll check and see if there’s anything else in the truck.”
Alec was still fighting the urge to laugh but I was happy he at least was kind enough to fake an excuse to leave. As soon as the door closed I turned to Ori with murder on the brain.
“Why are you trying to make this harder than it has to be?”
“I should be asking you that. We’re here, together. It’s a deal—”
“Not yet—”
He went to the back of the dolly, which had moved God only knows what into the space and wiped his sweat with the t-shirt he’d laid there. “Kid yourself if you want to. You aren’t going anywhere so stop dangling it out like it’s a possibility. You’re not doing shit but making this harder than it has to be.”
“I don’t think so. I think you want me to be something I’m not and I resent you for it.”
“How am I trying to change you? What have I said that has given you that impression? I’m trying to be your friend.” His face was calm and his words held a note of sincerity I couldn’t refute. It didn’t stop me from being angry.
“Friend? Think of yourself as an in-home, flesh, blood and bone dildo. For me to use whenever I need the release. I promise I won’t bother you all that often.”
“And how is that supposed to make me feel? You want me to be free use but won’t return the favor.”
Despite my desire to keep my face blank, I knew my eyes were screaming out my confusion at his words. I wasn’t sure when feelings had entered the chat but he apparently felt as though I should’ve accommodated his while he trampled on mine. Instead of giving him the argument he seemed to want I just smiled calmly and reached for logic instead of emotion.
“You should be relieved I would think.”
