Page 25 of Bonita Brynne
“I don’t know what you mean. Joseph probably didn’t realize how he hurt me. He was caught up in the moment.”
“‘Caught up in the moment’ is why a man cheats on his woman. Don’t make excuses for Track like your mother did for Raul before he claimed her.”
“What happened?”
“Those stories are for her to tell.” She sipped her diet soda. “I’ll tell you what I told your mom years ago. If you’re going to be an old lady, you can’t show weakness. If the kittens see you as a mouse, you better believe they will eat you alive.”
“Jeez, they sound ruthless.”
“They can be, but they’re mostly nice. Track is fair game until he claims you. Sometimes that isn’t enough in other clubs, but in ours, it’s a sacred act that everyone in Knight’s Legion respects.”
I put my hand on my stomach. “Well, he hasn’t claimed me in your club, but he said he loved me.”
“Do you believe him?” Eve’s gaze darted to the door, and mine followed.
Joseph stared at me as if waiting for my reply. “Answer her, Bonita. Do you believe I love you?”
“I should be going.” Eve quickly rose from the chair. “I need to get supper for Valerie.”
“I just came from her room.” Joseph held the door open with his dark eyes locked on me. A shiver worked through me as the air grew thick with sweltering tension.
“Did you tell her about the two of you?” Eve asked.
“No. I wasn’t sure how to do it.”
“Hmm, okay. I’ll see you later, Brynne.” She waved on her way out.
“Thank you for staying with me,” I said appreciatively.
“You betcha!”
“I’m still waiting for your answer.” Joseph shut the door and locked it.
“Maybe I don’t have an answer.”
“You doubt how much you mean to me?”
“Wouldn’t you feel the same if other men kissed me?”
“I’d kill them.” He stalked toward me and kneeled between my legs. “I’m sorry.”
“For what, exactly?”
“For everything.”
“I don’t want a basic apology where you cover everything with ‘I’m sorry.’ I want to know if you know what you did to hurt me. I want sincerity and genuine remorse. I want to know that you’ll never hurt me again.” It wasn’t easy to remain calm while my heart raced, and I heard Eve telling me to set him straight and to demand respect.
“Okay, Bonita, okay.” He inhaled a deep breath. “I let the kittens kiss me.”
“Yes.”
“I ignored you.”
“Yes.”
“I disrespected you.” He rubbed his hands against my outer thighs.
“Yes!” I almost shoved him away, but I couldn’t. I needed his touch. I neededhim. “Do you think any of that makes me feel loved?”