Her mouth opened and closed at his callous words. Damn him. With little choice, taking a deep breath, Shae straightened her spine and stuck out her hands. With no idea how to compartmentalize what she didn’t want him to see, she gritted her teeth andwaited.
His fingers wrapped around hers…a minute passed. At his sudden, fierce stare, her stomach cramped. “What?”
Had he seen her unrequited crush on Ash, seen the real reason why her mother had walked out on her? Or worse, had he seen her unexpected attraction tohim?
She tried to snatch her hands back, but his grip tightened. “You don’t learn to control this, it will not only wreak havoc on everything around you, it will also consumeyouwhole.”
“My life’s on a fast track to disaster, and I have no idea how to stop it. Like you pointed out, I’m human, I didn’t ask for this…” She pulled free. Her fury draining, her shaky knees gave way, and she sank to the ground and rubbed the aching scar on her cheek. “Why?” she whispered, despair sweeping through her. “All I wanted was to find my mother, but she doesn’t want to be found. She can’t standme…”
Dagan lowered to his haunches beside her. “Whatever reasons she had for leaving, I’m sure it wasn’t because she dislikesyou—”
“You don’t understand,mylaptop exploded and sent her flying across the room—I’mresponsible for herleaving.”
“Shae, it was an accident. You couldn’t have foreseen that… You’re bleedingagain.”
Dammit. She swiped at her nose, and more blood smeared her fingers. Hurriedly, she looked up, met his burning gaze. At the hunger she saw there, apprehension swampedher.
“I’m not going to attack you because of a little blood,” he said, his tone curt. He pulled off his shirt, tilted her chin up, and held the tee beneath her nose. A warm tingle flowed through her face. “This started because you wereupset.”
Not a question. And not one she’d willingly answer anyway. After several minutes, he lowered his hand, his mouth tightening. Yeah, he knew why she was upset. Because of what had occurred—or didn’t occur—between them. He didn’t comment, for which she wasgrateful.
“We need to strengthen your mental shields. It’s the only way you will have any chance of controlling your power.” He rose to his feet and helped her up. “Let’s try this again. Now, go into your mind, to the place you instinctively use to shut outthoughts…”
Shae closed her eyes and let his words lead her into the space in her head where she felt the pull of her kinetic energy, the one that still hummed beneath herskin.
“Now, move it all back to where you feel it originating from. Lock it down, use a metal trunk, steel walls, whatever holdsit…”
His shirt clenched in her hand, she grasped hold of the humming in her mind and fought to push it into a steel box. Perspiration beaded her brow…and the buzz spilled free. Dammit. Her eyelids snapped open, and she found him watchingher.
“Again.”
“I can’t!” Her nerves stretched like a rubber band, she wheeled away and kicked a stone into the churning water. “Later—tomorrow, I’lltry.”
“No. Now is perfect. You’re upset. It’s when you need control the most.” He cupped her elbows, making her look at him. “You can do it. This time, keep your eyes onme.”
That was supposed to make it easier? Being this close to him, especially without his shirt on, wasn’t helping. Atall.
Mouth tight, she met his stare and let her mind take over. Only, she became aware of his warmth, his scent surrounding her. Her gaze lowered to his sensual lips. She wanted his mouth so badly onhers—
“It’s not working,” she bit out infrustration.
“You’re not trying hardenough.”
“Not trying?” she snapped. Every time she looked at him, images of him kissing her crowded her mind. God, she had no idea why she was obsessing over a kiss that had neverhappened.
Her mouth pressed into a tight line, she shut her eyes and went back into her mind, found the thread of vibration humming through her body and stilled. Like déjà vu, a memory stirred…his mouth sliding over her lips, his tongue stroking hers. Her breath caught. Her eyes snapped open. “You—you kissedme.”
“I did.” There was no apology in histone.
“Why?”
“I didn’t want you to disappear. The afternoon in the village, we had an argument, and your abilities flared. Your corporeal body was becoming invisible. I had to anchor you. Seemed the best way to doit.”
Of course. That’s all she was to him. Work. Nothingelse.
She rubbed her achy temple. Illogical it may be—considering he drove her crazy most of the time—but she wanted him to want her, to kiss her again. Wanted to be aware this time when his mouth was on hers, his tongue caressing hers—not trapped in herpowers.
Earlier when she’d kissed him, he hadn’tresponded…
