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“That doesn’t mean that I think you’re a monster.” I tilted my head up, silently begging him to kiss me.
But he put a hand over mine and took a step back. “I always lose my temper with you as of late.”
“Are you apologising for your caveman behaviour?”
He brushed my fingers. “I am. I’m sorry to have scared you. I lost my temper, but I would never hurt you.”
“And Nathan?” I meant it as a joke, but darkness spilled into his eyes.
“I can’t guarantee the same about him. If he touches you again in front of me, I’m not responsible for my actions.” Lord, he meant that.
“What if I want to hug someone? Bruce or Michael, for example?” I tipped my chin up. “Will you go berserker?”
He had the decency to look ashamed. “I trust them. I don’t trust Nathan.”
“What if…” I cleared my throat. “…I fall in love with someone?”
He closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple bouncing. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy, and I’d always be there for you if you need me.”
Lord. Why did he say things like that? “I guess there’s something in me that causes your temper to flare.”
The crooked smile tugging at a corner of his lips was pure sin. “Indeed.” He straightened, and my hand slipped off his chest. “Everything about you causes my temper to flare.”
“Excuse me?” I scowled. “That’s not fair.”
“It came out wrong.” He lifted a hand and brushed my cheeks with his fingertips. “When it comes to you, I’ve discovered I can be very protective.”
The simple, feather-like touch sent shivers up my legs and straight to my core. My beast roared her impatience. She wanted to mate with Roy. So did I. Before I could grab his hand, he withdrew it.
“Is that key still in your possession?” he asked in a gruff tone.
I smoothed my trousers, passing my hands over my thighs for something to do. “I think so. It should be in my room. I haven’t used it in weeks.”
“Show me. Let’s see if it’s still there.”
“All right.”
We hurried down the stairs towards my room. His arm brushed mine while we walked along the corridor, sending a traitorous quiver up my neck. He must have sensed it because his predatory gaze trained in on me and he inhaled deeply. If he was smelling my scent, there was nothing I could do to control it. It wasn’t my fault if his closeness aroused me and my body reacted with such violent desire. And to be honest, I didn’t want to control it. He was doing too much controlling for both of us.
“How’s your new partner?” An angry note slipped in when he said ‘partner,’ as if he wanted to say ‘I’ll kill him.’
“We need to work on our coordination.”
“I’m sure you’ll do great.” Now he sounded cold enough to frost the windows.
“I’m not. I don’t like fighting. Bruce and Michael beat us without a drop of sweat.”
He scoffed. “If I were the one training you—”
“But you aren’t.” I couldn’t help but shoot him a glare. Which I regretted immediately. Then again, he was the one who didn’t want to be close to me, although, after his reaction to Nathan, I understood why. Almost.
Working his jaw, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Obviously.”
I pushed the door to my room open and jogged to my bed. The anger between us snapped like a taut rope. “It should be here.” I pulled open the drawer of my nightstand. There was my jar of hand lotion, beeswax for my lips, and some spare hairpins and ponytail holders. But no brass key. “It can’t be.” I emptied the drawer on the bed and touched every corner, examining the crannies. I searched under the nightstand and my bag as well. Nothing. Among my things, the tiger pendant tumbled out of its velvet cloth. Roy eyed it.
I touched the charm, clearing my throat. “I removed it for fear that it might break during the training. Otherwise, I always wear it.”
He averted his gaze. “You don’t have to give me an explanation. It’s yours to do as you please. It was a gift.”
