Bones sat up and watched me.
I didn’t pull on his t-shirt the way I usually would. After waking up, we usually had morning sex, then I would go into my art room and he would head to his office. But that routine was over, starting today.
I pulled on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt before I started to pack my bag.
Bones got out bed then stood behind me. “You’re leaving.”
I didn’t look at him, concentrating on pulling my clothes out of the drawer and placing them inside my bag. I could feel his piercing gaze right between my shoulder blades, like he was holding a branding iron against me. “I’m free to do whatever I want, right?”
He was quiet for an eternity, like he might not say anything at all. He’d granted me my freedom, but he obviously struggled to keep his word. He wanted to grab me by the arm and yank me onto the bed. He wanted to do what we did every morning, not caring if I wanted the same thing. But now, everything was different. I could feel the struggle right behind me, feel him clench his fists in frustration. “Yes.”
“Then I want to go home.” I zipped up my bag and then walked down the hall to the art room. I was taking my paintings with me, so I grabbed the paper and started to cover each one, to protect them from sunshine, humidity, and the pollutants in the air.
He stood in the doorway and watched me. “Does that mean you aren’t coming back?” He crossed his arms over his muscled chest, his ink stretching down both arms and up his corded neck.
“I don’t know.” I had no idea what I was doing at this point. I just knew I needed some space. “I think I’m going down south to spend time with my family. I want to put up my artwork at the winery anyway. Might be good for me to have a change of scenery…”
“Are you going to tell them?”
I knew exactly what he was asking—if I was going to tell them everything about him. If I did, my family would immediately mobilize and prepare to bury him six feet under. I could start the war and give them the upper hand. “No. And that’s only because I believe you’ll make the right decision.”
“You need to stop seeing the good in others—when it’s not there.”
“There’s good in you, Bones. It’s just buried so far down that you can’t see it.” I finished wrapping all the paintings then set them on the floor. “If you do decide you’re going to move forward with it, I want to know first.”
He continued to lean against the doorframe.
“I want to warn them what’s coming. But I’ll be on the other side of the battlefield—and this time, I will kill you.”
His expression didn’t change, but I knew he was fighting to keep his face neutral.
I meant what I said. If he made me choose between him and my family, I would choose my family. I didn’t have the strength to kill him when it was just the two of us, but if my parents’ lives were on the line, I’d shoot him right between the eyes.
I knew it in my heart.
I picked up two paintings and then moved toward the door even though his massive frame was blocking it. “Will you do that for me?”
He cocked his head to the side slightly, examining me with those pretty eyes. “Alright.”
“Promise?”
He gave a slight nod. “Promise.” He stepped out of the way to let me pass.
“Can you give me a ride home?” I didn’t have a car or a way to transport all of my things. I moved into the hallway and turned around when I didn’t hear him follow me.
He remained in front of the doorway, pressing his hands against the frame. All the muscles of his torso tightened, his displeasure obvious. He fought the urge to say no, fought the urge to tie me up and keep me there forever. He clenched his jaw before he answered, his words coming out restrained. “Yes.”
He helped me carry all of my things into the apartment. My place wasn’t ideal to house all of my paintings. We leaned them up against the wall in the living room, the images taking up all the available space in the area. There was hardly room for my easel. Thankfully, they wouldn’t be there for long since I would drop them off with my parents.
I set my bag on the couch then looked at him, feeling the tension increase between us. The silence was deafening, nearly bursting my eardrums because it was so loud. Goose bumps formed on my arms, and the hair on the back of my neck was standing up. All my emotions were contradictory because I wanted him to stay, but I also couldn’t wait for him to leave.