He leaned back and tried to lift her face. She struggled against him, burrowing deeper. Strong fingers tangled in her hair and tugged, pulling her head back.
God, he was stubborn. Janie knew full well she wasn’t a pretty crier, and she really didn’t want him to see her blotchy, swollen face. She blinked against his tender green gaze. “What?” she asked.
He frowned. “Why do you hide your emotions? You’re completely justified to be terrified of cyanide.”
She didn’t have time for fear. Thinking about it, she sniffled. “We’ve been at war for so long, and everyone has too much to worry about. I don’t need to be coddled like some . . .”
“Human girl?” Zane finished for her.
“I guess.” The vampires had moved heaven and earth to keep her safe, and the least she could do was not burden them with a bunch of emotion.
“When was the last time you cried?” he asked, brushing a soft kiss across her forehead.
She thought about it. “I have no idea.” There just wasn’t time for crying.
“We’re mated, and we’re going to give this a shot, Belle.” While the tone remained gentle, an underlying thread of steel wound through his low voice.
Her breath caught, and her abdomen tingled. “What about Suri?”
“I’ll kill him, but maybe there’s a way to end him without getting myself killed. I’m working on it.” Zane’s fingers unfurled to rub her scalp. “No more hiding your feelings. They’re mine, as are your fears.”
She shook her head, suddenly feeling fragile.
His slight smile failed to mask the intent in his dark eyes. “You might want to just learn to share without having to be spanked first, but I’m fine with the alternative.”
She scowled. “I thought vampires were bossy. Demon vampires are far worse.”
“You’d do well to remember that.” He brushed hair off her face. “So how are you feeling right now?”
She breathed out. “Well, my ass hurts, my head hurts from crying, and I’d like to punch you in the face.”
“What else?” he murmured.
She sighed and her body relaxed as she gave in to him. “Calm and at peace. I’d forgotten how a good cry can help.”
“See?” He kissed her nose. “I wonder if I can take your pain away yet.” Reaching out, he brushed two knuckles across her forehead.
Her skin tingled, and the pain melted away. Her eyes widened. “You did it.”
He closed his eyes and then reopened them. A full smile curved his lips. “Excellent.”
She played with the top of his T-shirt. “How about you take away the pain along my butt?” She’d love for him to take that pain into his own body for just a moment, even if he could dispel it.
He grinned. “I think I’ll let you live with that one. Keep it in mind next time you put yourself in danger or try to smother your feelings.” He stood, keeping her cradled in his arms. “For now, how about we head to the bedroom and I show you what I’m feeling?”
Janie softened in Zane’s arms as he strode toward the bedroom. How could he be such a hardass one minute and a sweetheart the next? Her new mate had layers of complexity she’d never imagined. Bringing him into the real world, into her world, would take time and patience.
And a big baseball bat if he ever tried to spank her again.
Although—and she’d deny it to her grave—she did feel much better after letting it all out. Her fear, her fury, her fate . . . she’d forgotten how cathartic a good cry could be.
He entered the bedroom and kicked the door shut behind them.
She’d seen that move in a movie once, and it had given her tingles. Having Zane do it so casually as an afterthought while he carried her to bed? Full-on wings flapping through her abdomen. She reached up to tangle her fingers in his hair as the dark waves curled over his nape. “I like your hair this length.”
He set her down as if she was made of breakable china. “Then I’ll leave it this length.”
She smiled. “Now you’re being agreeable?”
