Talon (Ashes & Embers Book 4) by Carian Cole

This all feels so wrong. My whole reason for participating in this crazy experiment was to find someone to love me, someone who wouldn't hurt me. To find someone to share the rest of my life with. I never expected to be insulted and have my soul torn apart, or to have my lifestyle sliced and diced and judged by someone who was born into a famous family and has loads of talent.
    "There you are." His booted feet appear on the floor in front of me, but I can't look up at him because I don't want him to see how hurt I am. "What's wrong?" he asks.
    "Oh, not much. I'm just sitting here being a puppyfuck charity case with zero bang factor."
    Sarcasm has always been something I seem to have no control over, and today is no exception. When I'm hurt, it’s my first choice as a self-defense weapon.

Chapter 13
Talon
    S hit .
    "You were listening to my conversation?" I demand, keeping my voice low so Gram doesn't hear me. The last thing I need is her over here playing referee or calling Asher or my mom here to counsel us.
    "Yes." She leans her chin against the top of the cat’s head, and the cat in turn rubs up against her neck. "I know I shouldn't have been, and it was really immature of me. But I wanted to hear what you said about me. I just wasn't expecting to hear all that ."
    Her head finally rises, and I'm looking into watery, purple gems that literally stop my heart for a few seconds.
    I've never hurt anyone before—or made a girl cry. Well, not since in third grade when I refused to sit next to Jenny Mallow on the school bus. But since then—nope. I've never been through a messy breakup or broken a girl's heart, because I've never been with a chick who cared about anything other than sleeping with a guy in a band.
    But just one day after my wedding, I've already made my wife cry.
    Marriage isn't easy.
    It's a whole lot of fucked up.
    It's a fucking melting pot of emotions.
    And a ton of damage control.
    How the hell do people do this for twenty-five years or more?
    "I didn't mean it."
    "Yes, you did."
    "I didn't."
    "You did."
    "No, I didn't." This convo is very reminiscent of how I fight with my little sister, and methinks that cannot be good on any level.
    "You did. Be honest," she says.
    I kneel down on the floor in front of her chair so I'm not towering over her. "Okay, I sorta meant it, but not as bad as it sounded. I really do think you're cute. I'm sarcastic, just like you. It's how I express myself."
    "I get that. I'm not after your money, Talon. I was doing just fine. If they put us together because you have money, then I'm sorry, but I don't want to be with someone who feels sorry for me."
    "I don't feel sorry for you, Aze. But I do feel bad that I obviously hurt your feelings, which I never meant to do."
    Her eyes drift from mine to stare out into the yard. "It's my own fault for eavesdropping. I'm sorry I did that; it was wrong."
    "Don't apologize to me. I'm the asshole here, not you."
    She wipes her finger beneath her eye, smearing her eyeliner in the process. "You're not an asshole. You're entitled to your own thoughts. I'm sorry I don't have the bang factor, or whatever you called it."
    "Come on… that's just shit guys say when we talk about women."
    "Either way, I'm pretty certain I'm never gonna live up to that. So I'm not sure where that leaves me."
    "Well…" I begin, struggling for some kind of right words. "Maybe that's a good thing. The bang factor is just like wham-bam." I reach out and pet Pixie, my fingers lightly brushing over Asia's hand that is resting on the cat's back. "Something tells me you've got way more to offer than just something to bust a nut in."
    Her eyes widen and her lip curls up a little bit. "Bust a nut?" The words sound so much worse coming out of her mouth.
    "I guess I'm not making this any better, am I?"
    "I can see that you're trying, so at least the effort is there, but your choice of words leaves a little bit to be desired."
    "I was trying to say I think you'd be more than just