“I thought you didn’t care what I wanted.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I can recognize we’ve been a bit harsh with you.”
“A bit?” I scoffed. If the spectrum was on the line of being burned by cigarettes, I guess that was true.
The bar was in hell.
“I want one of those.” I stood and motioned to the Epad. He raised his eyebrows.
“I’ll look into it.”
I licked my lips, eyeing him as he grabbed the Epad with bandaged knuckles and swiped it to life. Looked like he was done with the conversation. I waffled, shifting my weight from side to side.
“How long will I be staying?” I finally managed to spit out, standing up. He shrugged. “Until your Omega comes back? The one you’re so desperate for.” He didn’t spare me a glance as he tapped the screen.
“You’re dismissed, Eva De La Cruz.”
I clenched my teeth, but my feet were glued to the floor. Even with his behavior, he seemed so attuned to me. More affected than he would admit, just as Cade had said. Yesterday, Cade had offered me a small hint of what they’d suffered and what had made them so cold and resistant.
He’d shown me his scars, Rafe had allowed me to feel his . . . An itchiness to see Dorian’s wouldn’t release me unless I sated the curiosity.
Instead of turning on my heel and disappearing into the room, I inched closer to him. I placed my hand on his bicep, then slid it higher and higher.
Dorian stiffened under my touch, but I didn’t stop. I placed my palm on his cheek and slowly dragged it down until my fingertips played along the collar of his sweater. Dorian watched me from under his thick eyelashes. I pushed back the collar.
Horrible burn marks marred his skin, the uneven surface stretching further than I could see from the small patch of shoulder I exposed.
“Oh,” I breathed. My hushed word seemed to rip him out of his stupor.
“Don’t,” he hissed, standing.
I stumbled back as he came at me, looking like a vengeful devil. Having the end of a cigarette pressed along my back, the sting of the pain haunted me, and his were much larger. I hadn’tseen the full extent of them, but the small peek was enough. Whoever did that to him did it with something much larger than a cigarette and for a much longer time.
“Sorry,” I said tightly and backed up. My chest was too tight, and I had better get to my room. The horror that the three men must have experienced made me too soft.
“Move,” I spat at Dorian and shoved past him.
I was so close to the steps, then he grabbed my wrist, turning me forcefully. I kept avoiding his gaze until he gripped the bottom of my jaw. All I could think about was the pain he’d experienced. Emotion swelled in my throat, and the throbbing pulsation mocked me.
“Who do you think you are?” Dorian’s hips pinned me against the wall. I threw myself to the side, and my foot caught on his, sending me tipping to the floor.
Dorian caught my hip, keeping me steady.
His coffee scent wafted across my senses. I shivered at his touch. His hand was incredibly large. I panted, looking at him. He peered down at me, a quizzical expression on his face, and it morphed. His eyebrows furrowed downward.
“Why are you crying?” He narrowed his eyes and squeezed my cheeks until my lips puckered. He lifted my head until it pinched my neck.
“I’m not crying,” I retorted, filling my tone with attitude.
Dorian growled, and I didn’t move, keeping hold of his gaze, holding my breath. I wasn’t sure what he would do, so I just stood. Dorian slammed a hand on the wall at my back. I eyed it and turned, but his other hand came down with a slap, successfully caging me. Red adorned every single one of his knuckles, the wounds fresh, but not bleeding.What had he done?
“Let me leave,” I bit out.
“Look at me.” I refused because all he would see was the sheen coating my eyes. “Now.” It was funny how they kept ordering me about, just expecting me to do as they said.
“No!” I screamed.
His hand spanned across the bottom of my chin, half digging into my neck and half my jaw. I fought against his strength, but didn’t manage a thing. Tears I’d been holding back spilled over.
