Chapter 14: Hate and Heat

"Her initials," I said. "Veda's."

"V.L., in the corner of every page. I found the originals in my father's files three weeks ago."

"Three weeks."

"I was going to put them in your hands myself."

I waded out of the water without answering.

He followed me up the sand to the driftwood log where I'd stitched his palm.

The tarp from the launch was still rigged there, a crooked lean-to against the wind.

I stopped under it, shaking from cold and fury and something worse.

"You let me hate you for two years," I said.

"Yes."

"You let me plan it. I picked a day. I picked a day, Rhys."

"I know."

"You're not even angry."

"I've been angry since the wedding night," he said. "At myself. At you for not asking me. At Veda, now, for all of it. Don't tell me I'm not angry."

I hit him.

I hadn't decided to, and the open hand cracked across his jaw so hard it stung to my elbow.

His head turned with it and came back slowly.

He did not touch his face.

"Again, if you want," he said.

I hit him again, and then I was beating my fists against his chest, and he stood there and took it.

"Nobody's bleeding, Lena," he said, very quietly.

It stopped me cold.

My own rule, handed back, with his heart going like a drum under my knuckles.

"I don't care," I said.

"Then say what you want."

"I want you to hurt like I did."

"I do."

"I want you to stop being so calm!"

He caught both my wrists in one hand.

His other hand went to the back of my neck, and he pulled me up on my toes until my mouth was an inch from his.

"I'm not calm," he said, and his voice was gravel. "I'm barely standing."

I bit his lip.

I bit it hard enough to taste blood, and he made a sound low in his chest that went straight down my spine.

Then his mouth crushed mine.

It wasn't like the kiss on the log.

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