Page 94 of Craving Carla

“Do you want me to go inside and do it for you?” he asks, his voice tight with barely controlled frustration.

I shake my head, my eyes dropping to the ground. “I want you to accept that dinner date with Alexis.”

I don’t need to look up to feel the heat of his glare.

“I don’t know why you’d even think I’d betray you like that,” he hisses, his usually smooth voice edged with anger.

His frustration makes me grin a little, despite everything. “I want you to convince her to give me back Verde and Petra so I can give them a proper burial.” The last word catches in my throat, and I sniffle, fighting back tears that refuse to be contained.

“Oh, Carla.” His voice softens as he wraps his arms around me from behind, pulling me close. He buries his face in my neck, his cool breath fanning across my skin. “I can feel your pain.”

I turn in his arms to face him, my eyes searching his. “Do it for me, Amari. You say you love me...”

“That’s not a question, Carla. It’s a fact.” His fangs flash as he speaks, a physical manifestation of his intensity.

I run my fingers over his lips, and his eyes close at my touch. He leans in for a kiss, but I pull back slightly.

“I want Verde and Petra back. I don’t care if you have to?—”

He pushes away from me with a hard glare and adjusts his suit, his movements sharp and precise. “I know what you think of me, Carla. And I love you still.” Then he gets right in my face, his fangs bared. He’s mad. Really mad.

“Don’t you ever say anything like that to me again, Carla. I will not defile what I’ve built with you, not even at your request. You could have simply asked me to retrieve them. Not treat me like the whore you see me as.”

“I—” My explanation dies on my lips as he storms past me, up the stairs, practically kicking the door to my cabin open.

I suck in a breath and put my hand over my mouth, trying to stifle the sobs that I know he can hear with his vampire hearing. He doesn’t come back out for me. I take a moment to gather myself, wiping my face with the sleeve of my jacket before making my way up the stairs and entering the cabin.

I can hear him moving around upstairs, so I hurry up, finding him in my bedroom. I pause at the door. He’s already found a couple of my duffel bags—bags I’ve used in the past for stays atthe patrol cabin. He’s opening drawers and shoving my clothes inside with quick, purposeful gestures.

He still wants me to come with him? He doesn’t look at me, though I know he senses my presence.

I take slow steps toward him, watching as he moves from drawer to drawer, filling the bag to the brim before zipping it and grabbing another.

“Amari, you still want me to come with you? After what I just said?” I ask, my voice small.

“Yes, Carla,” he snaps, still not looking at me. “This may be difficult for you to believe, but I can’t sleep without you. I haven’t been able to since I first laid eyes on you.”

The confession makes my heart clench. “I’m sorry, Amari. I don’t see you as a whore.”

He groans and slams the bag down on my dresser, then turns to me, his hands gripping my waist and pulling me into his arms. “You do, Carla.” He presses his lips to my forehead, inhaling deeply. “But that’s my burden to bear, baby. Not yours.”

He pulls away and smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He grabs the bag from the dresser and resumes packing. “I’m sure you can manage with what I’m packing.”

“I’ll go get my favorite blanket,” I say softly, walking toward my bedroom door. I stop, turning back to him. He still doesn’t look at me. “And just my toothbrush and toiletries in the bathroom.”

He nods, focusing intently on packing rather than meeting my eyes.

“I really wish I could take my words back, Amari. I shouldn’t have said that to you.” He pauses, holding the bag at his side. “I have a lot to learn myself as a fated mate. I can’t just say whatever I want and think it’s not going to affect you. I’m sorry.”

With that, I go downstairs and grab two of my favorite quilt throw blankets, throwing one over my shoulder while holdingthe other. I make my way to the door, but just as I pull it open, I feel a flash of movement and a hand pushes against it, closing it. It’s Amari, already behind me.

I sigh and turn around to face him, leaning against the door. His expression has changed—that annoying smug grin is back, and his posture has shifted.

“Did we just have our first fight as a mated couple?” he asks, his grin widening.

I roll my eyes and slap his chest. He laughs as I turn around and try to open the door again, but he grabs me, turning me back to face him.

“You have no idea how hard I’m falling for you, Carla,” he says, staring down at me in a way that makes me gasp. My lips part as I look up at him, and he grins wider. “I’m going to prove to you that I’m worthy of your love. I don’t care how long it takes me.”