Okay, she’s definitely a psychic.
“I’m struggling, too. If you’ll let go of my wrists, I’ll sit down in the tub and we can… talk? You don’t have to look at me, but I—I would like to talk with you, Knox.”
I don’t realize how close my face has moved to hers until I feel her breath on my skin.
She’s seeking from me exactly what I want from her but I’m too afraid to ask for it.
I’m a coward.
But this coward will stop at nothing to protect her from the horrors that lie below our feet. Even if it hurts me to hurt her.
I release my grip as if the feel of her flesh disgusts me. “I don’t want anything to do with you. I don’t want to talk to you, and I don’t want to be your friend.”
I watch as my words slice her in two, pain and rejection making her recoil. The bond screams at me to take it all back and kiss her until everything is right again.
“Clean yourself up. Despite what Damon said, it’s not just a dinner. It’s a ball tonight inyourhonor. They’re going to try and get to the bottom of whatever the fuck is really going on with your heritage, so if I were you, I’d make sure you’re in top form.” I swallow and back up a few steps, still not allowing myself to look lower than her lips.
“Fine. Will you at least do me the decency of escorting me to the damn thing?” She spits the words, murder raging within her green eyes.
Good.
“No. Celeste will bring you down. I have business to attend to.” I turn to leave the bathroom but stop myself. She needs to be taken care of. And I’ll be damned if I let someone else do it.
“Sit down in the tub. I’ll get you some food and water,” I say over my shoulder and stalk into the bedroom, closing the bathroom door behind me.
Fuck.
I snap my fingers to summon food and a platter of chocolate-covered strawberries appears.
“Seriously? That’s what you came up with? Can’t you make it less romantic?” I shout into the air, as if the magic will bend its will for me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was doing this on purpose.
I grab the strawberries and the pitcher of water and head back into the bathroom. As soon as I enter, I’m hit with her natural scent mixed with my own personal care items. Our signature fragrances become one, just as I desperately want to do with her. Danni sits deep in thought in the steaming water, her arms cradling herself as she stares off into space. My eyes linger on the bruises beginning to form on her wrists. Damn, I should’ve done this first andthenbeen a cold dickhead.
I clear my throat, but she doesn’t look my way. She keeps her eyes fixed on the tiles in front of her. The bond tugs inside of me; I’ve upset her, and it doesn’t like that. I swallow and sit down on the fluffy bath rug. I pour out a cold glass of water for her and hold it to her lips to drink. Finally, she looks at me, but the betrayal etched across her perfect creamy skin makes me want to vomit.
I’m a total piece of shit, but I promise this is for your own good. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Love me, tell me you love me back.
Danni parts those pillow-soft lips and I pour the water down her throat. Her eyes close and for a moment, she looks peaceful. Until she opens them again, takes the drink out of my hand, and chucks it straight in my face.
“I hate you,” she grits through her teeth.
“No, you don’t.” The words fall from my mouth before I can stop them.
Danni doesn’t take her eyes from me as I replace the cup of water with a plump strawberry. I wanted to see her suckle softly on it, the same way a woman might do so after she received the best orgasm a guy could give her. But instead, she rips the damnthing out of my hand, stalk and all, and chews it viciously before spitting the green stalk right back in my face. My cock twitches.
Looks like I have a new kink.
I snatch her wrist quicker than her human eyes can track. She winces, then moans as electricity ignites upon our skin touching. The bond jerks, urging me to take her right here in the bathtub.
“Is that how you treat people who are trying to help you? You know that’s all I’ve done since you got here, right? Quit being a brat and let me take care of you.”
She snaps her jaw shut but her eyes never soften. Animosity radiates from her as I slowly massage her wrists to help with the circulation. After a few moments of tense silence, Danni finally relaxes back against the porcelain and closes her eyes. She looks so still, so angelic, perfect. If only she didn’t hate me. Maybe in another life, where things weren’t so complicated and we were just two people in love, we would have made a formidable pair.
25
Danni
I sit on thebed, wrapped in Knox’s fluffy bathrobe, sulking.
