Chapter 197

Rowan pulled back from my face and looked me in the eye. “Okay.”

Nix receded, leaving me panting and confused. “What?”

Rowan stood, and I nearly stumbled back from how fast he stood. “I said okay.” His smile was perfect. Everything about him was perfect.

I shook my head to clear it. “I’m confused…what?”

He laughed and then gripped me at my waist, pulling my body against his, and he bent down, kissing my lips and making me nearly moan. His lips were soft, biteable, and I wanted to spend the rest of my night exploring them, but he pulled away. “Your wolf has made a good point. If I want to earn her name, if I want anything from you, I need to prove it.” Rowan squeezed my hips, and I felt my eyes flutter from the slight pain. I was learning things about my likes, my needs, in this life I never explored in my last. I was a little lost in thought as Rowan stepped back.

I tried to grab at him, but my hands met air. I shook my head to refocus, and I bit my lip to stop myself from doing something I would regret. I coughed and ran a hand through my hair. “What are you doing here?” I finally met his eyes. They were still full of need, and I needed a little space from him. I turned away from him and grabbed some actual pajamas. I turned and looked over my shoulder at him. “Do you mind?”

His smile was roguish as he shook his head. “Nope, I don’t mind.”

I rolled my eyes and faced away from him, pulling my t-shirt over my head, and pulling on my tank top. “I’m going to need you to turn around. I need to change my bottoms.” The flash of need nearly stopped my breath, but I spun my finger in a circle and he reluctantly turned. I slipped my shorts off and slid on my jogging pants. I pulled my hair back into a messy bun. “So, why are you here?”

Rowan turned to look back at me. “I needed to see you.”

I felt the words melt my insides a fraction, but I bit the inside of my lip to refocus myself. “See me? About what?” Rowan stepped aside as I slid past him to go back to my dinner. I wasn’t going to let him interrupt my plans for the night.

Rowan’s fingers trailed down my arm as I passed him, but he followed me as I kept moving. “Things are happening behind the scenes. And I wanted to talk to you about it all, plus…” He trailed off as I sank onto my couch.

I pulled out the meals I got today. “Have you eaten?”

“No.” He sat down as I gestured.

“Pick one.” He stared up at me and reached for a dinner. I grabbed one of my own and sat down in the chair. His eyebrows rose, but he didn’t comment on the space I created between us. I dug into the cold meal, not caring enough to heat it, and then I looked up. “What’s been happening?”

Rowan finally stopped staring at me and dug into his own food. “Your father has been able to move things around. You now have access to his accounts. This way, it looks like you inherited all of his money.” Rowan paused. “We need you to go out and start spending. New clothes, new furniture, anything that will catch Brandon’s and Vince’s attention.” I nodded.

“And how am I supposed to do that?” I tilted my head.

“Here.” He pulled out a card I recognized well.

“You have been to the Agora to see him?” I reached out and took my father’s bank card.

Rowan nodded. “I had a lot to discuss with him, and years to apologize for.” I just nodded. “He gave me a letter from Cassie to give to you.” He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it over.

I felt tears spring to my eyes. “Cass.” I smiled as I put the letter on the table.

“You aren’t going to read it?” His voice was soft.

“I’ll read it when I’m alone.” I flicked my eyes to his, and he deflated a little. But I had to create space. After everything. After today. I needed to create this space between us.

“You haven’t emailed me. You have been ignoring me, and I’m just confused.” He started, but I laughed.

“Seriously?” He was trying to turn this on me.

“What?” Rowan’s eyes snapped up from his meal.

My anger spiked so fast, I nearly fell when I stood. “Get out!” My voice held the venom I felt.

“What?” He stood.

“If you are going to fucking sit here and blame me when you are the one that has ignored all of my calls, my emails, my texts, you are going to fucking blame me. Get the fuck out of my apartment.”