Wrath's Storm: A Masters' Admiralty Novel by Mari Carr (desktop ebook reader .txt) 📕

Walt shot to his feet and grabbed her elbow, stopping her from falling. He looked back and forth between her and Jakob, then sighed.

He took Annalise’s shoulders and turned her, pushing her to sit on the far end of the couch. Then he marched across the room and grabbed Jakob, who, to Annalise’s shock, allowed himself to be dragged.

Walt shoved him down onto the other end of the couch, a cushion and too many unspoken words, separating them.

Walt moved a chair around so he could face both of them. “All right, you two, it’s time for a come to Jesus meeting.”

“A what?” Annalise asked, utterly confused.

“Time to put your cards on the table. Put up or shut up.” Walt’s lips twitched, and he winked. “I’m saying it’s time to have a very frank and honest conversation about your relationship.”

“We don’t have a relationship,” Annalise said softly. “I am the reason Jakob has no time for himself. I am just the…the coward who needs protecting. A burden.” Every word she spoke felt like a dagger through the heart of the old Annalise, the one she thought she’d rediscovered. She wasn’t certain she’d ever felt heartbreak until this very moment.

“No.” Jakob’s single word was hard and fierce. “You are not a burden. Not a coward.”

“But I am. Objectively, I—”

“I protect you, take care of you, because I love you.”

Annalise’s breath caught.

Walt blinked. “Well, that escalated quickly.”

“Jakob, you…” Annalise didn’t know what to say.

“You remodeled, decorated that house for her, didn’t you?” Walt asked.

Jakob nodded.

“I knew it!”

Jakob looked up and glared at Walt.

Annalise scooted over, reaching out to touch Jakob, but he shot to his feet, moving away from her. She pulled her hand back, utterly confused.

“I am no better than your stalker,” Jakob said. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Annalise. You consume my every waking moment. I stay close to you, protect you, because I can’t imagine a world where you don’t exist. I love the way your hair curls over your shoulders when you undo your bun at the end of the day and the way your forehead crinkles right here,” he pointed to a spot between his brows, “whenever you’re working on something difficult, something troubling. Walt’s correct. I built that house for you because I wanted you to live in a place that didn’t feel like a cage but rather a home. I didn’t know who I was, what I wanted in life, until I met you. I would dedicate my life to making you happy, to making you smile, but I know…I can’t help…” Jakob swallowed hard. “I’m like him.”

“Wait. Stop.” Annalise didn’t know how to reply because she hated his comparison. How could he believe that he was no better than her stalker? How could he truly think that?

Regardless, it was quite a speech from Jakob. It was more honest than even their late-night chats on her couch, the conversations that had made her fall in love with the real Jakob, the man whom no one else saw.

He loved her, but he didn’t trust her.

“You are not like my stalker,” she said.

“I am. I invaded your privacy—”

“To protect me.”

“—I used what you told me to—”

“—build my dream house. That’s not—”

“—it is, because—”

“Time out.” Walt stood, holding a hand out toward each of them. “Take a knee.”

Jakob looked at the ceiling, then crossed his arms. “Be less American.”

“Be less literal and German. I’m saying you both need to go to your corners. Wait, damn, that’s another sports analogy. Must be channeling my dad today because I don’t even like sports that much.” Walt shook his head. “You two aren’t allowed to talk anymore because you’re not listening to each other. You need a mediator.”

What they needed was therapy. She should have been going to therapy this whole time but had thought she could handle it on her own.

“Annalise, how do you feel about Jakob?” Walt asked.

“I…I love him. I know I shouldn’t, but I do. Even though it is not fair to him.”

“Fair?” Jakob started.

“No. Not your turn.” Walt pointed at him. “Okay, to sum up, you love each other, but neither of you has said anything because…” Walt looked first to her.

“Because it isn’t fair to him. If I confessed my feelings, it might make him feel even more responsible for me, and I didn’t want to put that kind of pressure on him.”

Jakob was shaking his head, but Walt smiled at her. “Good. Okay, Jakob. Your turn. Why didn’t you tell her you loved her?”

“Because she’s being terrorized by a violent stalker. How could I take advantage of her when she’s so vulnerable?”

“Both your feelings are valid, but, Jakob, do you think of Annalise as a burden?”

“No. Never.”

“And, Annalise, do you think Jakob is taking advantage of you by spending time with you when you’re stressed out?”

“No. Of course not,” she murmured.

“Okay, great. Now kiss.” Walt waved his hands at them.

Annalise turned to look at Walt, utterly stunned. “I’m sorry…what?”

“You love one another. Kiss.”

Right.

Kiss Jakob.

Which she’d only been fantasizing about for months or maybe the better part of a year.

Annalise stood and faced Jakob. She could do this. Just walk over there and kiss him.

She didn’t move. Couldn’t. Jakob was right there, and a wild mix of embarrassment and uncertainty rooted her in place. She’d spent so long not kissing him that this felt awkward.

Jakob crossed his arms. Uncrossed them. Put his hands in his pockets. All the body language that said a person was unsure or uncomfortable.

They waited. The three of them. Standing there. Self-conscious and silent.

Walt sighed noisily, but he was smiling. “You two are lucky I’m here.” He reached out and took Annalise’s wrist, then pulled her over to where Jakob was standing.

Walt didn’t let go of her as he reached out with his free hand, cupped the back of Jakob’s head, and kissed him.

A hot, sharp stab of desire lanced through her. She loved the way Jakob’s eyes widened for just a moment, the shock and surprise