“It’s a clear emotional plea saying I’ve ruined you for all others and you can’t survive unless I claim you.”
“But...” My headache broke through the miraculous properties of his blood and throbbed. “Ididn’task you to be responsible for me.”
“Pity.” He exhaled. “I might have said yes.”
I almost dropped dead on the carpet. “Wait. You would?”
He flinched as if only just realising where this conversation had gone. Shutters came down over his eyes as he stepped back and cleared his throat. “I don’t have time for this. We need to—”
“Thank you, by the way.” I cut him off, not willing to let the magic of this moment fade. “Thank you for saving me yesterday. Thank you for taking away my pain. And thank you for putting me in a different pavilion so I wouldn’t have to see the aftermath.”
His jaw tightened as if uneasy with my gratitude. “You’re welcome.” His gaze held mine before straying over my mouth, neck, and settling on my breasts.
Fire flooded me, arrowing between my legs.
God, how did he do it?
How was he the only man in the entire world able to turn me on with a single look?
Trembling a little, my hand went to what he stared at, resting over the swell above my heart. “Did you...did you do anything else while healing me?”
He froze.
Every muscle in his body locked as if I’d struck him. “Excuse me?”
The tendons in his throat stood out as if he choked on guilt and denial. His jaw worked, refusing to confess.
The air between us burned.
I wanted to tell him what Laura had seen. I wanted to see his reaction if I told him I knew he’d kissed me, fondled me...that he could do it again if he wanted.
But my frustrating condition broke through the numbing quality of his blood, steadily building a migraine.
The air continued to smoulder and smoke, becoming unbearably tense—
“You were unconscious.” Staggering backward, he sucked in a tattered breath. “I helped you, that’s all.” Sweat glimmered on his hairline. “I didn’t—”
A soft beep.
A flash of red.
He clutched his chest as his system activated awful punishment, just because he’dfeltsomething. His hand landed over his heart, clawing at the piece of metal.
I dashed forward—
He flung up his other hand, snarling like Whisper. “Stay away from me. I can’t be close—” He broke off with a hiss, crashing against the back of the couch as pain arced through him.
Completely ignoring him, I closed the distance between us and planted my palm over his on that nasty device. “It’s okay. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
He froze.
Our eyes locked.
The way he stared at me—as if he wanted to kill me and kiss me all at once. The way his teeth ground together and chest rose and fell beneath my hand.
For a moment, the world felt far, far too small.
Just him and me and nothing else.
