to resembling any shade of green, not even one more closely associated with a sour stomach. But when Clare mentioned being with other men, he'd turned into Kermit the fucking Frog.
He should have told her he'd wait. He should have told her he could be patient, and anything she needed he supported. Even if he didn't like it, that's what he should have said. It's what she deserved.
Well, it didn't matter now. He'd royally screwed every pooch on the block. Just like he always did.
Chapter Nine
Clare was having a heart attack. She was sure of it. Her sternum had detached from her ribs and was preparing to turn her heart into mush. At least that's what it felt like.
She hobble-ran all the way back to Luxure , which wasn't too far, but was far enough it felt like it took an eternity to get there. She didn't pause when she finally reached the courtyard gate, punching the code into the lock and flinging it open like a serial killer was after her. Salvation was just across the bricks, up a couple flights of stairs, and under a plush down comforter.
Unfortunately, Julia and Armand were cozied up on the outdoor couch, flames roaring in the fire pit before them.
She tried to square up her posture and look normal—and failed. Maybe she looked normal for a zombie but that wasn't going to cut it here.
Julia sat forward, removing herself from the cozy looking nook of Armand's arm. "Clare? Are you all right?"
"Fine. Perfect." It was a miserable attempt and the words came out with a waiver.
Julia jumped up and took her arm. "C'mon." She tugged gently. "Let's go make some tea."
"Tea?"
"It's herbal and calming."
"Herbal tea? What has Armand done to you?" But with her shaking body, the calming part sounded awesome.
The feeling of having a heart attack didn't begin to subside until Julia was pouring her a steaming cup. She waited until Clare had taken a drink before asking, "Okay. What happened?"
Given Julia's hatred of Darus, she wasn't sure how detailed she should get. She sure as hell wasn't going to mention him by name. "I hooked up with this guy and it was going fine until..." She shook her head. "I just freaked out. I felt trapped and panicky and…well…you know the rest."
"Until what? What did he do?"
"Nothing really."
Julia's expression told her she wasn't buying it. "You can't leave me in the dark here, Clare. It isn't fair. First Chris and now this? Remember how you felt when I wouldn't tell you what happened when I met Armand? Why would you do that to me?"
Because you're such a judgy judger.
"I know. I'm sorry." She took a deep breath. "He got a little jealous, that's all. But it felt like Chris all over again and I couldn't deal with it. Obviously."
Julia mouth became a hard, thin line. "We're talking about Darus aren't we?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God, Clare! How— Why would you hook up with him? After everything he's done. After Chris… Jesus, it's Darus! You coming home in tears is the only way it could ever end."
"For the record, he didn't actually do anything that bad."
"Are you kidding? Have you looked in the mirror?"
"I get how you feel about Darus. I really do. But the truth is, he's not the big bad wolf you think he is."
Julia's sigh was so loud it filled the entire room. "He killed a girl…"
"I know. I get it. It doesn't matter anyway. I'm done with him. I don't do jealous."
"I can't believe you did it in the first place."
For some reason, Julia's open hatred of a man Clare had just spent a few fabulous hours with ticked her off. "I'm not going to defend who I fuck to you. Okay? I'm a big girl, and if I want to suck Satan's dick on the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse that's my business. And I don't need you to lecture me about it later."
She found herself stomping toward the stairs. She was tired of everyone in her business, telling her what to do, trying to control her.
"Clare…"
"Forget it Julia. I have." Just to make a point, she snapped the stairwell door shut just a
He should have told her he'd wait. He should have told her he could be patient, and anything she needed he supported. Even if he didn't like it, that's what he should have said. It's what she deserved.
Well, it didn't matter now. He'd royally screwed every pooch on the block. Just like he always did.
Chapter Nine
Clare was having a heart attack. She was sure of it. Her sternum had detached from her ribs and was preparing to turn her heart into mush. At least that's what it felt like.
She hobble-ran all the way back to Luxure , which wasn't too far, but was far enough it felt like it took an eternity to get there. She didn't pause when she finally reached the courtyard gate, punching the code into the lock and flinging it open like a serial killer was after her. Salvation was just across the bricks, up a couple flights of stairs, and under a plush down comforter.
Unfortunately, Julia and Armand were cozied up on the outdoor couch, flames roaring in the fire pit before them.
She tried to square up her posture and look normal—and failed. Maybe she looked normal for a zombie but that wasn't going to cut it here.
Julia sat forward, removing herself from the cozy looking nook of Armand's arm. "Clare? Are you all right?"
"Fine. Perfect." It was a miserable attempt and the words came out with a waiver.
Julia jumped up and took her arm. "C'mon." She tugged gently. "Let's go make some tea."
"Tea?"
"It's herbal and calming."
"Herbal tea? What has Armand done to you?" But with her shaking body, the calming part sounded awesome.
The feeling of having a heart attack didn't begin to subside until Julia was pouring her a steaming cup. She waited until Clare had taken a drink before asking, "Okay. What happened?"
Given Julia's hatred of Darus, she wasn't sure how detailed she should get. She sure as hell wasn't going to mention him by name. "I hooked up with this guy and it was going fine until..." She shook her head. "I just freaked out. I felt trapped and panicky and…well…you know the rest."
"Until what? What did he do?"
"Nothing really."
Julia's expression told her she wasn't buying it. "You can't leave me in the dark here, Clare. It isn't fair. First Chris and now this? Remember how you felt when I wouldn't tell you what happened when I met Armand? Why would you do that to me?"
Because you're such a judgy judger.
"I know. I'm sorry." She took a deep breath. "He got a little jealous, that's all. But it felt like Chris all over again and I couldn't deal with it. Obviously."
Julia mouth became a hard, thin line. "We're talking about Darus aren't we?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God, Clare! How— Why would you hook up with him? After everything he's done. After Chris… Jesus, it's Darus! You coming home in tears is the only way it could ever end."
"For the record, he didn't actually do anything that bad."
"Are you kidding? Have you looked in the mirror?"
"I get how you feel about Darus. I really do. But the truth is, he's not the big bad wolf you think he is."
Julia's sigh was so loud it filled the entire room. "He killed a girl…"
"I know. I get it. It doesn't matter anyway. I'm done with him. I don't do jealous."
"I can't believe you did it in the first place."
For some reason, Julia's open hatred of a man Clare had just spent a few fabulous hours with ticked her off. "I'm not going to defend who I fuck to you. Okay? I'm a big girl, and if I want to suck Satan's dick on the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse that's my business. And I don't need you to lecture me about it later."
She found herself stomping toward the stairs. She was tired of everyone in her business, telling her what to do, trying to control her.
"Clare…"
"Forget it Julia. I have." Just to make a point, she snapped the stairwell door shut just a
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