Taming the Beast

“You slept outside?” she asked, crossing her arms as she watched him. He always kept the scarred side of his face tilted away from her, but Bella didn’t mind. His face was handsome once you looked past the scars, which she was already starting to do.

“I did.”

“It was pouring out,” she said, gritting her teeth closed.

He lowered his eyes to the dirt and took a heavy breath. “You were frightened of me. I don’t want you to be scared.”

“Then stop yelling at me all of the time,?

? she said, narrowing her eyes on him. “It’s that simple.”

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

It was time to lay everything on the table. It was time to learn his intentions.

“Why are you keeping me here?” she asked, tapping her foot nervously. “Am I your prisoner or something?”

“No,” he answered quickly, his hurt eyes darting up to her. “You have a bad concussion. It’s dangerous to be alone with a head injury like the one you received. There are a lot of dangerous symptoms: confusion, vomiting, nausea, migraines, moodiness, amnesia. You shouldn’t be alone.”

Bella let out an exasperated breath. “Then why didn’t you just tell me that instead of yelling at me and making me think that you kidnapped me?”

“I told you,” he said, taking a heavy breath. “I’m not good at these things anymore. That’s why I’m out here.”

“So I can go?” she asked, uncrossing her arms to pick at her fingernails.

“When you’re better.”

“When is that going to be?”

“It depends on your head.”

She rolled her eyes. “Second question. Why are you out here?”

“What is this? An interrogation?” he asked.

Bella crossed her arms and glared at him. “Yes,” she answered simply. “Why are you out here?”

“Pass.”

“You can’t pass,” she said, shaking her head.

“Next question.”

“Jesus,” Bella whispered under her breath. He was so frustrating. “What’s in the spare bedroom?”

His body tightened. “That’s-”

“Forbidden, I know,” she answered with a roll of her eyes. “I wasn’t asking to go in. I just want to know what’s in there.”

He shook his head. “I won’t tell you.”

She groaned. “Just tell me there are no dead bodies in there.”

“What?” he asked, jerking his head back. “No, there are no dead bodies in there. Next question.”

“How did you get those scars?”

“Pass.”