I turned my head, his mouth dropping to my neck. It took everything in me to force the words out. “I need to check dinner.”

“No, you need me.” His teeth dug into the sensitive flesh where my neck met my shoulder. His hands moved under me, working at his slacks.

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

The smoke alarm began to go off, and the fear simmering in my chest flared until I wanted to cry.

I knew better, though.

That’d just upset him more.

Eddie pulled away, but he didn’t look mad at my failure. He also didn’t look surprised by it. He released his hold, dropping me without giving me the chance to steady myself. He moved into the kitchen to silence the blaring alarm.

But it still echoed in my head. Mocking me.

He returned a moment later, holding the tray of what used to be his celebratory lasagna. The top was charred to a crisp. “You couldn’t even do this right? It’s pasta, Jane. Do you know how fuckin’ stupid you have to be to fuck up pasta?”

“I told you I needed to check dinner,” I said before I could catch myself.

I’d grown too comfortable.

Ever since finding out I was pregnant, Eddie had changed. He was happier. Sweeter. He only touched me with affection.

For the most part.

He may not have been the Eddie I’d fallen in love with, but he was closer to it.

But the coldness in his eyes was back. “Are you saying this is my fault? I come home after a big day, expecting my fiancée to celebrate with me, and this is what I get?” He threw the pan of lasagna to the ground, the bubbling sauce splattering to scald my bare feet. “Burned dinner and a cunt attitude?”

I hissed and jumped away, nearly slipping.

“Oh, are we to this part already? The dramatics?” His words sounded aggravated, but he wasn’t. Not really.

It was barely-there. A hint of a shadow of an illusion.

But I saw it.

The smile.

He’d caused me pain and gotten a reaction. It was what he craved, and I refused to give him more.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t move. The sauce felt like it was melting my skin, but I didn’t try to wipe it away.

My lack of reaction set him off more. “You’re right. This is my fault. I shouldn’t have expected better from you. I shouldn’t have assumed my lazy, fat fiancée would get off her lazy, fat ass, and do something right for a change.” His lip curled in disgust. “I shouldn’t have tried to force myself to touch her.”