Eva paused, her hand pressed on the door. “I’m fine.”
“Let me feed you, Eva.”
The way he said her name caused butterflies in her stomach to flutter.
Fuck. Me. Sideways. What is wrong with me?
“Night, Kace,” she said instead, not sure what she wanted when so emotionally drained. “Sweet dreams.”
“I only dream about you.” She didn’t make it far before she felt his presence at her back. He stepped into her borrowed bedroom, closing the door behind him quietly. “And they’re not sweet.”
A hand brushed her shoulder, and she stilled to keep from moving. Kace seemed almost hesitant, his touch light across her skin.
“No, they’re anything but,” he continued, his voice dropping impossibly deeper to a rumble, a perfect juxtaposition to his soft caress. “I dream about your legs wrapped around me. My cock buried in your tight, wet warmth and your fangs bleeding my throat.”
Eva’s thighs clenched instinctively.
“I never dream, I’ve only ever had nightmares. Until you.”
Unable to face away any longer she turned, but he had already moved back.
“Why do you sleep downstairs?” she asked, his gaze an intensity that electrified the air. He had always looked at her like that, like she had his complete attention.
She could hear his heart, beating harder than it was only moments before.
“It’s safer.”
“For who?”
His lashes dropped low to hide his expression, and Eva wasn’t sure if he would answer until she heard his barest whisper. “For everyone.”
She reached for him, his warning growl stopping her. “You think you’re this monster,” she said, his eyes holding something predacious, something dangerous when they steadied on hers once more. “But I’ve met monsters, and you’re nothing like them.”
“You have no idea what I am, or what I’ve done.” Kace’s lips twisted. “I’m exactly like the monsters who hurt you. Except I’m worse.”
Eva couldn’t help her flinch, and Kace stepped forward a single step.
“I’ve killed more people than you could ever imagine. I’ve bathed in their blood, and do you know what? I fucking loved it.”
Another step forward, and Eva lifted her chin as she stood her ground.
“I can’t bear to be touched, my anger so black that I crave the violence. I’m broken, Eva. So fucking ruined that I stain everything I touch.” His fists clenched beside him, his jaw tight. “I’m dangerous, so much so I terrify my own brothers. It’s why if you were smart you would stay away.”
Eva trembled, unsure what to do. She was at a crossroads, and she needed to know which way to turn. Which way would heal.
Nobody was perfect, and Kace was a man who had placed himself into a dangerous situation to save a child. To save her. He wasn’t a monster despite what he saw in the mirror.
“I’m not scared of you,” she said. “You’re nothing like them.”
A warning growl, his final step bringing him so close they almost touched. “I’m not your hero.”
“Maybe, but you’re not the villain either.” She strained her neck back, making sure to keep the eye contact. His height made it difficult, but she wanted him to see the truth in her gaze. “Kiss me.”
A strangled noise escaped from his throat. “Eva.”
She couldn’t wait any longer, not when she had decided. She reached for him, pulling him down until she could place her lips against his. He tasted of rain, and it was exactly what she wanted, what she needed.
He was tense beneath her fingertip for the briefest of seconds, and then he took over, his fingers curling into her hair as he devoured her with such ferocity she moaned. He had her turned, her back pressed to the door with his hand around her throat in seconds, and all she wanted was more. He didn’t take her breath away, the pressure a heavy presence that seemed to shake, pinning her as he tried to regain control.
