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"There always are," I cut in dryly. "But that doesn't excuse bad manners."
"I tried to call. Your line was always busy."
"Being taken off the hook will do that to a phone. You could have left a message."
"Could have, but I didn't." He hesitated, and just for an instant, his frustration swirled around me, thick and sharp. But what made my breath catch and my soul tremble was the depth of loneliness that lay underneath that eddy of emotion. I recognized that loneliness. I had shared too many nights with it of late.
"I just thought it would be nice to drop in and see you," he continued softly.
Part of me wanted to melt into his arms. The harder part knew I couldn't afford to. Not until I truly knew why he was here.
"Meaning, of course, I have no life and just sit around waiting for you?"
"That's not what I meant - "
"It's hard for me to ever know what you mean when you never bother taking the time to explain."
"And when do you give me the time?" he retorted, his anger a hot wash of emotion that seared at my skin.
I rubbed at the ache beginning in my head, and suddenly felt wearier than I'd ever felt in my life. Why did this have to happen now?
"You at least owe me the courtesy of listening," Quinn continued.
"She doesn't owe you anything," Kellen cut in. "You are not wolf. You have no rights - "
Something inside me snapped. "You know what? Neither of you have any rights where I'm concerned. I'm not a prized bone that can be fought over and won." Even if my hormones were dancing with delight at the idea of having two gorgeous men fighting to win my affections. "Right now, I'm not in the mood to deal with this. Why don't you both just get the hell out?"
Kellen's expression became as dark as Quinn's. "But we have tickets - "
"I don't give a fuck about the tickets, or the premier or whatever else you have planned. I've had a shit of a day, and it only seems to be getting worse." I glanced across at Quinn. "Nor do I care why you're here. Just leave."
Quinn studied me for a moment, then asked, "Why? This is something that needs to be sorted out."
"No, it doesn't. Because I'm seeing you both, end of story. If either of you can't accept that, then walk away. I don't care." Which was a lie, but one I wasn't willing to admit. "Get out. Both of you."
Quinn studied me for several seconds, then turned and walked out. I glanced at Kellen. "And you."
"So you're serious?"
"Totally."
His expression was one of disbelief. I couldn't say I blamed him, and part of me was hoping he'd put up a right, that he'd stay, and just hold me, comfort me.
But all he said was, "I'll call you."
"Do that."
He hesitated, his gaze sweeping me briefly, then he followed Quinn out the door. I closed my eyes against the sudden sting of tears. Not because the night I'd been so looking forward to had just been so thoroughly shot to pieces, but simply because neither of them had asked me if I was okay. Neither of them had even seemed to notice that I was battered and bruised. They'd been far too busy snarling at each other and trying to stake their claim to even notice something as obvious as my swollen jaw and cheek.
And yet both of them claimed to care for me.
I would have laughed at the irony if it wasn't so damn sad.
I scrubbed a hand across my eyes, then pushed away from the wall and headed into the bathroom. I lit a candle as the big old tub filled up, added some lemony-lime bath salts to the steaming water, then stripped and eased into the bath. Where I just relaxed, and tried to ignore the screaming frustration of my hormones.
I don't how long it was before I realized I was no longer alone, but enough time had slipped by for the water to become tepid.
I opened my eyes. Kellen stood in the doorway, one shoulder resting against the frame, his expression a mix of fierce desire and even fiercer determination.
