“No!” I tightened my hold on her. “Nobody else will come,” I growled in her ear. Then I turned her around sharply to face me, clutching her shoulders in a tight grip. You’re what’s incomparable, my extraordinary beauty. “I only want you… here,” I tried to explain, but knew it wasn’t coming out sounding the way I wanted her to hear it. “And nobody else will be invited, Gabrielle. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Please understand me when I tell you that I do not allow strangers in my home. Others begin coming here and start poking around in my life? That won’t be happening. Never at Donadea—I will not have others fucking about with bloody goddamn everything that’s well and good with y—”

I clapped my mouth shut. Turned off the spigot to the word spew that was shocking even to me. I must be out of my mind saying this kind of territorial shit to her. I knew my rant came out a lot harsher than I meant it, but Gabrielle accepted my tirade without any additional commentary.

She couldn’t possibly know the real reason I guarded my privacy at Donadea so dearly. It was the only place untainted by the ugliness of my recent past, and barely at that. I meant it to stay untainted. Nothing from the outside was going to penetrate this place and spoil the only parts of my life that were good and special. Not ever. Did Gabrielle know she was included in the part that was good and special? Probably not. I doubt she’d believe me, even if I told her. It wasn’t the way in which she and I exchanged… yet. I needed time to get us there. Time, I didn’t particularly have. I’d have to fight hard for more time with her—keeping my kitten happy and content here with me, away from outside influences. Secrets would be exposed once I was forced to share her with the stupid twats who’d try to take her away from me somehow, some way. I’m fully aware of my first-class arsehole status as a human male. Flunked out of Being a Human 101 but aced Assholery III. Gabrielle might’ve been mocking me when she said it, but she was spot on. And yet, she’s giving me a second chance. I don’t deserve her, but even so, I’m taking her. Kitten’s already mine. She was mine when she fell into my arms at Taunton Station. Third time’s the charm. Fact.

She’s mine.

Right, I’m an arrogant prick who does not share well at all. And I won’t be sharing her just yet. The whole sodding world can fuck right off, I only just found her. I’m not apologizing for feeling this way either—I fucking won’t. Been there, done that once before, and it nearly ended me.

But it doesn’t have to be the end of the story for me. I know this. I’m not to blame for all the fucked-up shit in my life, even if I realize I’ll have to be the one to fix it. I can do better. I want to do better—for her, and if I become a better person, maybe there can be an us?