His Jaguar Tattoo

No Longer A Furnishing

Birds. Chirping birds. Zuri had never hated them so much. Her eyelids reluctantly peeled open as if they hadn't done so in a thousand years. She rubbed them and sighed. Stupid birds disturbing my sleep.

When she began getting up, she realized she wasn't in her room. In fact, she didn't recognize this room at all. Then the events from the night before came crashing into her mind, and the pain of it actually made her groan. It was too much to handle.

Drew killed people. She understood that. Now, however, she knew he tortured people. That was different. That was...malevolent and inhumane and corrupt. How had she slept beside a man like that for nearly two months? How had she kissed or touched or even dreamt of being with a man like that?

Zuri realized she couldn't stay in this room and think about it forever. She had to face reality. She had to face Drew. They would have to find a way to talk about what had happened and what they were going to do about it.

Knowing she would give up if she didn't go right that instant, she forced herself out of the bed and out of the room. Her barefeet padded along the cold tile floor as she moved through the quiet hall. The house felt so still, it didn't seem right.

A loud snore threw her off guard, and she accidentally rammed her shoulder into the wall. Wincing, she brushed the throbbing off to focus on finding the source of the snore. Her ears led her into the living room, where a dozing Drew was stretched out on the black leather couch. His socked feet were hanging off the end. The sight made her think of a grounded teenage boy for some reason.

Her eyes roamed his face. The wrinkles on his forehead, between his eyes, and around his mouth were smoothed out. His lips were parted in a neutral line, but at least they weren't frowning. His brows were still and peaceful in all their bushy glory.

The longing to touch him made her body ache. She pushed it down. Touching him would be like trying to touch a jaguar at the zoo; they were beautiful but dangerous, and the cages were in place for a reason. Except...when he was sleeping, he didn't look dangerous at all. He almost looked innocent.

The next snore was so strong it shook him awake. Zuri stumbled back as his eyes jumped open. She rammed into the wall again and felt like punching it for continuing to get in her way.

"Zuri?" he called in a groggy, uncertain voice.

She plastered herself against the wall in the hopes that he somehow wouldn't see her.

Drew sighed as he slowly sat upright. "Come here, would you? We need to talk."

"Why am I here?" she demanded, fists clenched while she stepped out to meet his gaze.

"You fainted, we think," he replied, rising from the couch. His imposing height and beefy stature reminded her of how powerful he was, how he was far from an innocent teenage kid. "You don't need to be scared. I'm not going to hurt you. I never would. You know that."

"Do I?"

"Yes," he snapped. "You do. I love you, Zuri. I would give my life to protect you."

Her breathing hitched. Don't let him talk you out of this. He tortured somebody.

"This isn't about me," she said. "This is about a side of you that you never showed. A violent, vicious side that I don't know if I can...respect."

Pain flashed through his dark eyes. "Nothing has changed. I'm still me. I'm still the Drew you came looking for three days ago."

"I feel like I didn't really know you. You only showed me the parts you wanted me to see."

"Does everyone show every part of themselves all at once? I did what I had to in order to protect you. Kevin did not deserve to live. He was a filthy—"