“Does he need anything? Blankets? Food?”
“He’s fine.”
The bathroom door shut behind him. With a sigh, Cady got dressed in some soft pants and a t-shirt, not bothering with underwear. She looked longingly at the bed, but her stomach was growling and she knew she wouldn’t sleep until she ate.
She walked out into the living room to find Josh sitting on the couch watching T.V.
“Hey, thought I’d get some food, you hungry?” she asked with false cheer.
“Yep, that’s why I ordered Chinese. Enough to feed half a dozen people, so there should be some left for you.” He grinned at her.
She smiled back, but it was a wobbly smile at best.
“You okay?”
Cady sat on an armchair. “I feel like I’ve barely slept. I’m jumpy as hell, I keep looking at everyone around me and thinking, is that him?’”
“Understandable. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell anyone?”
“Hunter’s been waiting to find out what happened to Angie for a long time. I was going to tell him, but there just never seemed to be the right time.”
“You should have made time. You should have told me the minute you found that envelope. You know I would have dropped everything.”
She looked up at Hunter who walked through the door. He’d showered and changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt, as well.
“I know. I was going to tell you, but then you came home after The House had been raided and I figured what was going on there was more important. I couldn’t pull you away from that.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make,” he said coldly.
“You know, I’m going to take a shower before dinner arrives,” Josh said quickly, moving into the guest room and attached bathroom.
“You are mine to look after,” Hunter said stalking toward her. “Mine to damn well protect. But I can’t do that if you push me away.”
“I wasn’t pushing you away, I promise. But I know how important this is to you. I didn’t want to pull your attention away when you were so close to finding out what happened to Angie.”
“Don’t you understand?” he said as he sat on the coffee table across from her. “You are more fucking important to me than anything else.”
She shook her head.
“Yes, damn you.” He grabbed hold of her shoulders and shook her. “You are what is important. You. Your safety and happiness. That is something I will not compromise on. How would you feel if I’d kept something like this from you?”
She licked her lips. Hurt. Angry. Upset. “I’m sorry. I really am. I thought I was doing the right thing.” Tears filled her eyes and he swore as he pulled her up and sat on the armchair with her in his lap.
“I know, baby. But don’t you ever hold anything like that back from me again, got it? Or the spanking you’re going to get will seem like child’s play compared to what I’ll do.”
“You’re gonna spank me? Now?” her voice squeaked.
“No. I prefer to take care of punishment right away, but not tonight. We’ll do it at the Twisted Thorn.”
“Where everyone can see?”
“Where we’ll be well protected and I can concentrate on what I’m doing.”
Fuck.
Chapter Twelve
Cady pulled nervously at her short, leather skirt. Hunter had picked out her outfit; she wouldn’t have chosen something quite so tight. A form-fitting, sequined top completed the outfit. He hadn’t left her any underwear.