The Recluse

He dropped the bottle, and I heard the glass break within the paper bag. He cupped his face but not before I saw blood pouring from his nose, smelled it thicken the air with a coppery aroma.

He stumbled back, hunched over slightly, but he still looked at me, a stunned expression on his face. He knew who I was. Everyone in town did.

But he was drunk and high all the time, probably so hopped up on drugs right now that he just didn’t care.

I took a step forward and smelled the fear come from him. He finally understood, took notice that I could crush him in my hands as if he were nothing but a nuisance, a fly.

“If you touch, look, even fucking think about what’s mine—or another woman again—I’ll come looking for you, Josh.” I grinned, but it was more of a sneer, a flash of my teeth to let him know I was more animal than man right now.

“There’s nowhere you can hide, nowhere you can run that I can’t fucking find you. My pockets are endless, black holes of resources, and my reach is far and wide with my connections. I’d find you. And I’ll make sure that if you ever do this again, you’ll never have function of your arms or legs from that point forward.” I stared at him right in the eyes, could see the reality set in, his head clearing from whatever substance he was intoxicated with, so my words really penetrated.

I wasn’t a violent man by nature, had never even gotten into a physical fight. I used my words as my weapon. But when you wanted something so fucking much, it consumed you, and you’d do anything to make sure it was safe.

And I felt that way with Kitty.

“Do you understand me?” He nodded quickly, and I heard the grunt of pain come from him as the movement jarred his now broken nose.

I stared him in the eyes for a moment longer, really cementing my words, really making him fucking see how serious I was, before I turned and headed back home.

I felt raw in this moment, my emotions and feelings torn open, as if somebody had cut my chest, exposed my heart.

Yes, tonight I’d let Kitty know she was mine. I’d let her know with my words and with my body that I wasn’t letting her go.11KittyI’d been cleaning up after dinner when I heard Fin come into the kitchen. To say there had been this thickness in the room as we ate would’ve been an understatement. His expression had been hard, as if he had something heavy on his mind but didn’t want to share it with me.

He didn’t have to. I knew what the problem was.

I hadn’t missed how he kept looking at my wrist. As the hours passed, the bruise started to become more noticeable. He was pissed about it. I knew without him saying those words.

And that had been hours ago. He told me he had to run an errand. I didn’t question where he was going so late, because it wasn’t my business. But deep in my gut, I knew what was happening, what he was doing.

Going to handle what happened to me… going to find the man who touched me.

I was in my room, pacing, feeling on edge. I didn’t want him fighting my battles. I was a strong, independent woman, I kept telling myself. But a part of me, a part that was pretty damn strong, couldn’t help the feminine appreciation that he wanted to protect me.

Tonight. When he was back. I’d tell him how I felt.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore, not when I knew the looks he gave me, the way he watched me, and now this meant he had to harbor some kind of deeper feelings for me too.

I’d wait for him downstairs. I’d look him in the eyes and be honest, the truth spilling from me without any reservation, without worry or fear. I didn’t care if I lost my job over this, because even if I did, at least I’d have the honesty out in the open and the weight off my shoulders.

I descended the stairs, and just as I stepped onto the landing of the main level, the front door opened. Fin stepped in, his gaze focused on the floor as he closed the door behind him. He lifted his head, and our eyes locked.

My heart started beating harder, my body instantly reacting to his presence. But he looked… different. He appeared more primal and on edge than I’d ever seen him before.

I didn’t need to ask what was wrong. I knew.

My gaze instantly lowered to his hands, and that’s when I saw the knuckles on one of them. Busted and raw… from hitting something or someone.

I lifted my focus back to his face, and a gasp left me when I watched the way he lowered his head, his eyes locked on mine. He started moving toward me, this deep rumble leaving his chest. I found myself taking a step back and gripping the banister of the stairs for support. I may have retreated slightly, but I wasn’t running away.