She recoiled, stung by the ferocity of his words.
His expression only darkened in reaction. “I’m only making this whole thing worse.” He raked a hand through his mussed hair, then stared at her as if he could hardly stand to see her now. Even though he looked and sounded as if what they’d just shared had been the biggest mistake of his life, his amber gaze bore into her with unbridled heat. His fangs were still enormous behind his parted lips, her blood still slicking his sensual lips.
Glowering at her, he wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and swore again. “I need to get out of here for a while. Forgive me, Willow. I can’t be near you right now.”
Without waiting for her to answer, he grabbed his flannel shirt off the floor then pivoted to stalk across the room to the door. He stepped out without a backward glance, as if he couldn’t get away from her fast enough.
CHAPTER 23
Not only was he the biggest asshole to ever live, but also the biggest coward.
Tugging on his shirt and hastily buttoning it as he stormed down the attic steps, it was all he could do not to erupt with rage and loathing—all of it self-directed and well-deserved.
He’d thought Willow had given him the most precious gift when she allowed him to drink from her vein, but even that paled next to her tenderly spoken admission that she was in love with him.
A better man wouldn’t have hesitated to tell her just how much she meant to him too. That she had become his light, his purpose, his everything. He should have gotten on his knees and told her in no uncertain terms that not only did he love her, but he didn’t want to imagine a single moment of his life yet to come unless she was part of it.
Instead, he’d bolted like a heartless bastard.
He’d turned tail and run like a craven fucking coward.
The fact was he wanted nothing more than to complete the blood bond he’d initiated with Willow. If he had allowed himself to remain in the room with her for even another minute he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from giving her his own blood and binding her to him forever. Hell, he wanted that even now.
But it was bad enough that he took her gift while his secret still loomed between them. If he had also let her drink from him without her knowing the full circumstances of how their lives had intersected, it would be doubly unforgivable. As it was, he didn’t think he’d likely ever be able to absolve himself for what he’d just done.
Knox and Leni were standing alone together in the kitchen as Razor stepped off the last stair from the attic. The couple were caught up in a sweet, private moment, their arms wrapped around each other, Leni’s pregnant belly cradled between them. Knox had just dropped a tender kiss to his Breedmate’s brow when Razor’s abrupt arrival in the kitchen made them both glance his way.
“Sorry,” he muttered. He waved his hand indistinctly. “Just passing through.”
His voice sounded like hell, little better than a harsh, gravel scrape of sound in his throat. He probably didn’t look much better than he sounded. Leni’s eyes went a little wide at the sight of him. Knox’s expression went dark with question.
“Everything okay?”
Razor scoffed by way of answer, continuing his trek through the small kitchen. “Just fucking peachy.”
Knox groaned. “What did you do?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Razor kept walking.
“Damn, brother.” Knox released Leni and moved toward him. “How bad did you just fuck things up with her?”
Dark animosity—not for Knox, but for himself—brought Razor to a halt. His talons erupted from his fingertips before he could curb the combat instinct. He snapped his reply. “I said I don’t want to talk about it.”
Knox was a big Gen One male by any measurement, but even he stepped back at the sight of Razor’s explosive fury. He moved himself into a protective stance with Leni behind him. “Keep your head, Raze. Especially when you’re near my family.”
“Sorry,” Razor muttered, wrestling to put the beast in him back into its cage. He eyed Knox and his startled mate who peered around his shoulder. “Sorry, I . . . I shouldn’t be around anyone right now.”
“No shit,” Knox said, still watching him as if he were a live grenade about to blow.
Razor thought back on the morning’s events, and blew out a harsh sigh. It’s true, he wasn’t fit for company, but there were more important things than his black mood and his immediate need to continue punishing himself over his failings with Willow. He stared at his brother. “There’s something you need to see.”
“All right.” With a meaningful look at Leni, Knox followed Razor out of the kitchen.
Walking through the living room where Riley and Shannon were on the sofa watching TV, they entered the den where the boy’s laptop was still sitting on the coffee table. Knox closed the door, then took a seat on one of the chairs.
“Willow’s sister recorded a video message for her,” Razor said as he slipped the flash drive into the computer and opened the file. He sat back, watching as Laurel Townsend’s stunning revelations began to play for Knox.
The big Hunter said nothing during the video, but with each moment he listened his face hardened with grim understanding—and barely banked anger.
