Chapter 11
He laid bare his past at her feet. Detailing the highlights, explaining things so she'd understand. Time stretched out and she didn't respond at all to anything he told her. Then he waited for her to say something, anything, but she just looked at him in that unnerving way she had. She wore that look on her face she got some times, the one that made him feel like he was naked even if he was fully clothed.
Time stretched out and he gave up on a hope he hadn't realized he'd even had before just then. Defeated he broke eye contact with her and looked down. Instead of looking at those damning green eyes he studied the spider web tattoo covering his knuckles, a reminder of a different time and a different man.
"So," she finally said, breaking the silence.
He didn't look up, instead he ran his thumb over his spider web covered knuckles, wishing he was that man again. That man could have been worth this girl's time. That man wouldnt have nearly gotten her killed.
"What are…where does that leave me?"
He cleared his throat. "You'll have to stay here until I can get this mess cleaned up." He finally looked up at her. "I'm not sure how long that's going to be."
She nodded, then he watched her bow her head. "I'm not sure if this matters to you or not Nick, but I want you to know anyway." She took a deep breath. "All that stuff you just told me. It doesn't change the way I see you."
"It should." Even though she'd told him what he'd hoped to hear, he warned against it. Pushed down the feelings her words created.
She sat up straight and looked him in the eye, the move was defiant. "I've already told you I'm not afraid of you."
"You should be." He gave her a cold look. She really didn't need to think of him as one of the good guys. Doing so might end up getting her killed.
"Forget it Cajun." She glared back, Carolina drawl coming out strong, and he loved the sound of it. "If you wanted me to be afraid of you, you shouldn't have bothered saving me from those vampires or daimons or whatever they're called. You shouldn't have visited me in the hospital, or went to breakfast with me, or put up with my non stop talking. You wanted me afraid of you, then you shouldn't have went to such lengths to save me from that hell hole I was in and you shouldn't have let me know about it. If you were aiming to frighten me with you just told me you did a damn good job, but its not you that scares me. So suck it up."
He was stunned. Never had he'd ever seen her loose her temper, not even when she was at the bar and a customer went too far, she'd stayed calm. He'd figure he'd scared her off by telling her the truth; instead she was in front of him looking as sure of herself as he'd ever seen her. And when she brought her hand up and leaned forward he was pretty sure he was going to get slapped for trying to frighten her, not get kissed with a gentle hand pulling him to her.
A/N: Here's a reminder to review. I got only one last chapter (Thank you Erkn!) and would really love more. Thanks for reading now let me know what you think.