“Bring me cake, and I will.”
He nodded and stepped inside. Through the glass, I watched him approach the counter. I stepped back and turned away as he pointed to the cake in the window. The woman looked down at the register as she said something to him. Carlos frowned and said something back. Too bad I couldn’t read lips.
A sliver of frustration poked my mind. It wasn’t my own. What could possibly frustrate Carlos?
He turned, without my cake in hand, and walked back out the door.
“Um, you’re missing something pretty important, buddy.”
“They take orders for their cakes. They don’t have any premade.”
“That’s bull.”
More frustration crept in, and I realized just how much he’d wanted to get me that cake.
“It’s all right. Cake’s overrated. I would have ended up splitting my new stretchy jeans.”
Disappointment filed in with the frustration.
“You’re just a barrel of emotions tonight,” I said, stepping close to him and wrapping my arms around his waist. “What else can we throw in there? I know. How about some anticipation? You can chase me again.”
“No.”
I’d hoped he’d say yes.
“Why not? Now that I bit you, I’m not a challenge? It’s no fun anymore?”
“Oh, it’d be fun.” He leaned forward and gently kissed my cheek. “But I don’t want to risk any more damage.”
My heart melted just a bit.
“But what if I really, really wanted you to chase me back to the apartment?”
He took a slow breath.
“Not happening.”
“I think it just might.” I stood on my tiptoes and moved my arms from his waist to around his neck.
His hands smoothed down my back, stopping just at the curve before my swerve. I nipped his neck.
“I can feel your excitement,” I said against his skin.
He shuddered.
“Race you back,” I said a moment before I ducked out of his hold and bolted down the sidewalk.
Before I reached the garage door, Carlos caught me from behind, spun me, and backed me against the building.
Out of breath, I did nothing to deter him. He pressed lightly against me so I felt his heart beating as he rested his forehead against mine.
“Do you know how much I like watching you run?” he said. “You’re in my blood, Isabelle. Without you, I would die.”
“Sweet words,” I said, “for a man who forgot my cake. For a man who won’t kiss me because my bruised face scares him.”
He pulled back and frowned at me.
“Kiss me, Carlos. Kiss me like you meant every word you said about not leaving me alone. Ever.”
He growled lightly and lowered his head. I closed my eyes, ready to feel without fear of hurting him. His lips settled against mine, light and loving. He kissed me until I shivered then reluctantly put some distance between us.
“Let’s go see if we have pizza waiting,” I said.
We walked into the garage and up the service steps together. The quiet, emotionless hall worried me more than relieved me, though. I impatiently waited for Carlos to open our door. Inside was empty as I’d suspected. We found a note on the breakfast bar along with an untouched pizza.
You took forever.
~Bethi
That girl needed help in a major way. I just wasn’t sure that what I could do for her was helpful. I wasn’t kidding when I’d told her I was like crack. Hopefully, with the worst of her emotions gone for now, Luke would be able to comfort her.
Pushing aside my concern, I grabbed a lukewarm slice of pizza and took a big bite.
“So good.”
Carlos walked to the cupboard, removed two plates, and handed me one.
“How are we going to live together forever? I’m such a slob compared to you. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you move my shoes and line them up next to the door. They are at a perfect ninety degree angle to the wall.”
He smiled slightly.
“I like being the center of your storm.”
I tilted my head and studied him. He really was the center to my storm. He was everything I needed and more. Giving me an out had been smart. It had given me enough courage to grasp for something I’d never dreamed I’d have. A future with someone I cared about. A future that didn’t involve the need for long breaks.
He held my gaze as I settled my mind and let what I felt for him surge, hoping he’d feel it and understand without me having to say the words.
“Good,” I said. “I wouldn’t want you getting tired of it.”
“Does that mean—”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll keep my Claim.”
The next morning I woke alone and shuffled into the kitchen, looking for Carlos. Instead, I found a bowl of cereal waiting on the counter and our bags next to the door.
Our time was up. Not cool. The group’s uncertainty over what would happen next worried me. I mean, look what had happened so far.
I ignored the cereal, grabbed my bag, and closed myself into the bathroom. Ten minutes later, I reappeared, clean, fresh, and repacked.