Chapter 0390 , VALERIE. , I’m pacing the bedroom floor wondering if I should have a word with Atticus before introducing him to Zade. After all, I don’t want him to say anything hurtful to him, but then… didn’t I say hurtful things to Zade earlier? , I have always been blunt and pretty harsh at times, to the point I struggle to keep my mouth shut, especially when I’m mad. , I watch as he finishes cleaning up the glass that broke earlier and my heart skips. a beat. He’s so caring, in his silent way, doing things without rubbing them in…. My stomach flutters, a surge of emotions dancing through me. Walking towards him, I stop beside him. “I’ll work on it,” I say, tugging at the sleeves of my top. , He glances up and cocks a brow? , “I would hope so… training starts tomorrow. , “Wait, what?” I ask, confused as he stands up and I have to remind myself not to check him out. , “What else are you going to work on? I thought it was pretty obvious you were talking about your lack of survival skills,” he remarks, making me pout with displeasure at his obvious mockery. , “I meant my attitude…” I mutter, looking away from him. , He’s watching me intently, but I’m not brave enough to look him in the eye. He takes hold of my elbows and I know I need to say it all properly., “I do it when I’m overwhelmed. I have anxiety and when things get too much, 1 just need an outlet… I overreact… it’s something I’ve always done and I’m sorry that you’ve been on the receiving end more than once in such a short time…. and then just saying sorry after being a bitch isn’t-” , “Hey, I don’t want to hear you call yourself that again. If anyone is going to call you by a degrading title, it’s going to be me. Whilst I ** you.” My core throbs, his deep, husky voice sending shivers of desire through me. , Fuck, why does he mess with my head like that? , My cheeks feel hot, and I toss my hair back from my face. , “Umm, ok, well… uh… what was I saying?” I say, feeling confused as I look up at him and trying not to feel all lightheaded from his words. , 15 BONUS , Oh, how I want him to ** me. , There is a glint of amusement in his eye. “You’re supposed to be a doctor, certainly you can’t be so forgetful…” he coos teasingly. , “I’m not! I just uh… you make me go blank,” I blurt out. , He smirks at that, it’s a faint crooked half–smirk but it makes my heart soar. You were saying… how saying sorry after you’ve been a little upset-” , “After I’ve been harsh when I shouldn’t have been… I just change is hard for me and I did react but it’s not ok… I just want you to know, although I asked about there being two rooms… I prefer sleeping in your bed. Um yeah, I mean sure I’ll need space sometimes. I’m sure you will too, but I can just take a walk around the house. I cool off easil-”, He places a finger to my lips and I stop spewing word vomit. , “I like you the way you are. Annoying, loud and a total drama queen at times, but I like you, Little Mate. You forget that I saw your wrath for five years…” he whispers. , My heart races as I gaze into his eyes, that time making my heart ache… but I don’t want to go down that path… not today. One day I will. One day, we will talk about everything. Together. , I pout. “That sounds like an insult,” I grumble. , He chuckles ever so quietly as he tugs me into his arms and I close my eyes inhaling his seductive scent, the hint of oil reminding me of when I first saw him in that garage that night. , “So… I was thinking if I should talk to Atticus before he sees you, I don’t want him to say anything to you…” , “No one else’s words bother me, baby girl, no one’s… so I’m ok to be there with you,” he says, his hand massaging my back. 2 , His mention of ‘no one else’s‘ didn’t slip past me unnoticed. My words, my feelings… he cares what I think, and I better remember that. , “Good then. Alright, we’ll face him together…” I say, exhaling. Atticus has been there for me, although we met as adults and I didn’t like him for years. It’s crazy how things change. , The doorbell rings, and I look up at Zade, but instead of saying anything, he kisses me deeply for one long, delicious moment before he moves back. , 15 BONUS, “I’ll give you a minute to at least greet him,” he says before he steps back and walks off towards the kitchen area. , My heart is pounding as I take a deep breath and walk over to the door. “Always check who it is, even if you’re expecting someone,” Zade murmurs , I close my eyes, realising how careless I am… how do I keep forgetting? , I look through the small screen beside the door that displays the camera footage. , It sure is Atticus, dressed in a grey suit, his shirt buttons open, his brown hair styled back, with a strand falling over his forehead. He’s holding a pull–along carry–case and a gift bag in one hand, the other one holding a bouquet of flowers. , Ok, here goes nothing… , I unlock the door and pull it open. , “Hey!” I say, as he instantly looks me up and down before he puts down his bags and wraps his arms around me tightly. His heart is racing faster than it should be. , “Thank god you’re ok,” he breathes. “I knew you moving so far was a bad idea.” , “Hey, I’m fine. It’s nice to see you, though. I missed you,” I reply, hugging him , “I , back. , He’s about to move back slightly when I hear him sniff before he slowly moves. back. “Who are you here with?” he asks., Atticus is one of the strongest people I know, well everyone in the sublime is, aside from me. I don’t think he could have connected the scent to Zade, but possibly picked up on a male scent from me. , “My boyfriend, and the reasons I’m not dead already,” I say quietly as I step back, allowing him to step inside. , He picks up his back looking uneasy and confused. , “Boyfriend? Val… I love you, from the bottom of my heart and want you happy, but… I didn’t think you were ready to move on…” his voice is low, full of concern. , “Because the right person was never there,” I reply, he’s already become serious, and he doesn’t even know who it is yet. , “Who is it? What do you know about him? How are you sure he’s-” , “She may not be the most careful person around, but she knows me pretty well,” Zade says as he saunters over to us. , Atticus turns, a flicker of confusion changing to realisation when his eyes fall on Zade. His face drains of all colour, his eyes blazing with rage and a menacing growl that is not like the brother I know tears from his throat. , I think this might just go worse than I thought… , Fuck me. 1 , Moonlight Muse , Author , Thankyou for reading! Good night everyone, D, Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.