Primal Desires

Chapter 14

Rose's POV

I hated arguing with Dimitri.

When we were good, we were really good. I always felt on top of the world when I was with him, and I constantly had aching cheeks from how happy he made me.

But when we argued, we really argued. I had hit the nail right on the head those years ago when I realised just how alike we were - he had anger buried deep inside him and he constantly fought to keep it under control. But when that control slips and we end up fighting, things can get explosive.

The two arguments we had last night were intense and left me feeling deflated. I managed to fall asleep after many hours of tossing and turning, my mixture of anger and slight feeling of betrayal preventing me from sleeping easily. I couldn't stop myself from balling my eyes out and I spent hours just curled up in the middle of the bed crying, which was really unlike me. I hated to cry, especially in front of other people and especially in front of Dimitri.

But I just had to walk away from him last night, leaving the argument hanging in the air. I couldn't stand to face him after what he did. Part of me wondered if I was overreacting, and I might have been, but I was so shocked and overwhelmed by everything. First, he acts strangely for weeks and doesn't take the time to confide in me, his partner, with what was bothering him. Second, he reprimands me in front of everyone at the guardian meeting and treats me like a child. Third, he fails to tell me that my life is in danger and has been for weeks! Not to mention the stress from the attack and what had happened to Eddie, which was already contributing to my heightened emotions.

Maybe I wasn't overreacting after all.

***

I lay in bed idly for a while longer before reluctantly making my way out of the bedroom. I had no doubt that Dimitri was awake and waiting out there for me. He hating arguing with me as much as I did, and he hated it even more when we went to bed without a resolution. I knew that he would be eager to resolve things with me this morning.

"Good morning," Dimitri immediately greeted me from where he lay on the sofa as I entered the room. His eyes looked tired and dreary, the result of hours without sleep clearly etched on his face.

Because I was still unhappy with him, I ignored his greeting and moved towards the kitchen to make a hot drink. I wasn't ready to converse with him just yet.

As I set out to make my drink, I instinctively grabbed two cups from the cupboard and placed them down on the counter in front of me - I was so used to making two drinks in the mornings while Dimitri cooked us breakfast that I automatically settled into my regular routine. I hesitated, contemplating putting one of the cups back and just making the one drink this morning. Sighing, I decided to bite back my pride and began making him his usual coffee anyway, albeit unenthusiastically.

Despite my current state of mind, I still loved him and I knew that bringing him his drink like usual would make him happy. I wasn't sure that I was ready to speak to him yet, but I needed him to know that I wasn't going to walk away from him – we would fix this, I just needed time. This act of kindness would hopefully bring him the reassurance that I still cared for him, despite everything. Of course I wasn't going to let my anger get the better of me and break up with him for what he did - I loved him and I wanted a life with him. I was just so hurt and wanted to punish him with the silent treatment.

Once our drinks were made, I picked up Dimitri's coffee, leaving mine on the counter, before heading over to the sofa. He had sat up from his previously horizontal position, his legs now over the front of the seats, elbows balanced on his knees and chin resting in one of his palms.