Read Online Mine To Bear (A Paranormal Shifter Romance) (Atonement Book 2) by Terra Wolf, Alannah Blacke - Free Book Online
Authors: Terra Wolf, Alannah Blacke
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how messed up everything was between Keri and I when we first got together. It took me flying across the country and apologizing in the middle of the airport for her to realize the truth of me. Sometimes, my friend, you have to be straight with them and lay yourself on the line. Have you told her how you feel yet?"
"Well, no, not yet, but I know she knows."
"Yes, but she wants to hear it from you." Derek chuckled lightly at that, remembering learning that lesson himself. His calmness towards the situation put Edward at ease, allowing him to sit back and tell Derek the rest of what had been going on lately.
By the time they rose to part ways, the sun was long gone and the moon high in the sky. Feeling better about himself, Edward set off towards home, taking it at a much more leisurely stroll this time. It was too late to do anything about it now, for Melissa would be asleep by the time he arrived home.
In the morning though, he vowed to apologize, tell her the entire truth, and confess directly how he felt about her. He hoped she would feel the same.
***
The last thing he expected the next morning was for her to show up to breakfast. Edward had planned all along to seek her out after he had eaten. The turn of events threw him off stride, but when she smiled at him and sat down to eat without mentioning the night before, he clued in that perhaps now was not the time.
"Edward, I have a problem. I need some more clothes. This situation is getting ridiculous."
His heart had stopped when she said there was a problem, but when it turned out to only be clothing related, he couldn't help but laugh. The look she gave him indicated she had known exactly what her words would do to him, so without thinking he stuck his tongue out at her. She smiled, that one moment making his entire day.
"I think we can do something about that. I'm sure it would be nice to have more than one spare set, wouldn't it?"
"You have no idea," she replied wryly, looking down at the rumpled shirt she was wearing for the third time in five days, then back up at him.
"But," she continued, "I don't have any money, nor am I interested in charity. Do you have any ideas on what I could do?"
He admired her unwillingness to rely on him for his money, but to instead do it on her own. Still, it seemed silly for her to have to go to such lengths simply for clothing.
"Listen, I have more than enough money. It would be pointless for you to use any hard earned money on clothes. But," he raised his hand to forestall her response, "I also understand you not wanting them just given to you. So instead, I have a proposal for you."
She looked at him askance, wondering just what he was getting at. It was his turn to enjoy knowing what his words were doing to her, even though he didn't mean what it might sound like.
"You've been making a lot of progress while out here it seems, at least to me. Would you agree?" She nodded slowly, conceding the point to him.
"So, if you're comfortable, and only if, why don't we go on a shopping excursion together. I'll pay for your clothes, but you work on integrating back into society, taking that next step in your recovery."
She thought about it for some time. There was no denying that she was making great strides on becoming used to normal society again. She no longer flinched when he made a sudden movement, and her own motions were more relaxed, less and less like those of a trapped animal every day. He knew she needed to do this, but he wasn't going to force her to accept. She had to want to do it, or else she would fail.
"Okay, I will try. I have two conditions though."
"Name them."
"One, we do a strip mall or outlet mall type place, not an indoor shopping mall. I'm not ready to combine crowds and being in a huge building just yet."
"Not a problem, I think that's more than fair. What's the other?"
"If I say enough, then we're done. No pushing me for more or anything like that. We simply pack it up and leave right then and
"Well, no, not yet, but I know she knows."
"Yes, but she wants to hear it from you." Derek chuckled lightly at that, remembering learning that lesson himself. His calmness towards the situation put Edward at ease, allowing him to sit back and tell Derek the rest of what had been going on lately.
By the time they rose to part ways, the sun was long gone and the moon high in the sky. Feeling better about himself, Edward set off towards home, taking it at a much more leisurely stroll this time. It was too late to do anything about it now, for Melissa would be asleep by the time he arrived home.
In the morning though, he vowed to apologize, tell her the entire truth, and confess directly how he felt about her. He hoped she would feel the same.
***
The last thing he expected the next morning was for her to show up to breakfast. Edward had planned all along to seek her out after he had eaten. The turn of events threw him off stride, but when she smiled at him and sat down to eat without mentioning the night before, he clued in that perhaps now was not the time.
"Edward, I have a problem. I need some more clothes. This situation is getting ridiculous."
His heart had stopped when she said there was a problem, but when it turned out to only be clothing related, he couldn't help but laugh. The look she gave him indicated she had known exactly what her words would do to him, so without thinking he stuck his tongue out at her. She smiled, that one moment making his entire day.
"I think we can do something about that. I'm sure it would be nice to have more than one spare set, wouldn't it?"
"You have no idea," she replied wryly, looking down at the rumpled shirt she was wearing for the third time in five days, then back up at him.
"But," she continued, "I don't have any money, nor am I interested in charity. Do you have any ideas on what I could do?"
He admired her unwillingness to rely on him for his money, but to instead do it on her own. Still, it seemed silly for her to have to go to such lengths simply for clothing.
"Listen, I have more than enough money. It would be pointless for you to use any hard earned money on clothes. But," he raised his hand to forestall her response, "I also understand you not wanting them just given to you. So instead, I have a proposal for you."
She looked at him askance, wondering just what he was getting at. It was his turn to enjoy knowing what his words were doing to her, even though he didn't mean what it might sound like.
"You've been making a lot of progress while out here it seems, at least to me. Would you agree?" She nodded slowly, conceding the point to him.
"So, if you're comfortable, and only if, why don't we go on a shopping excursion together. I'll pay for your clothes, but you work on integrating back into society, taking that next step in your recovery."
She thought about it for some time. There was no denying that she was making great strides on becoming used to normal society again. She no longer flinched when he made a sudden movement, and her own motions were more relaxed, less and less like those of a trapped animal every day. He knew she needed to do this, but he wasn't going to force her to accept. She had to want to do it, or else she would fail.
"Okay, I will try. I have two conditions though."
"Name them."
"One, we do a strip mall or outlet mall type place, not an indoor shopping mall. I'm not ready to combine crowds and being in a huge building just yet."
"Not a problem, I think that's more than fair. What's the other?"
"If I say enough, then we're done. No pushing me for more or anything like that. We simply pack it up and leave right then and
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