Chapter 15
Shae pacedthe length of the dimly lit balcony, the cold night air barely calming her. Wearily, she rubbed her heated face then dashed away her foolish tears, wishing she could teleport out of there to someplace where she could lick her wounds inprivate.
Callused fingers grasped her wrist. She whipped around and tugged her hand, but Dagan’s grip tightened. “What do youwant?”
Without a word, he pulled her into the bedroom and shut the door behind them, the fire from the hearth shedding a warm glow over everything. He let her go. She stepped back, rubbing her wrist. He removed a cigar from his pocket and lit it, inhalingdeeply.
She breathed in the whiff of the cherry tobacco drifting through theroom.
Oh, man. Of course! “If that’s to make a point, no need. I’ll be out of your room in a moment. Angelus is going to help me tidy up one of the unusedbedrooms.”
Still silent, he strode across to the bed and set the burning smoke on the edge of the nightstand. Then, like the panther she often thought him, all lean, sinuous muscles rippling beneath the stretched tee, he moved toward her. Hastily, she widened the distance until her back hit the opposite wall, the windowsill digging into herspine.
“Do you want this, Shae? Wantme, knowing what I am?” he asked softly, stopping an inch fromher.
How could he? Not moments ago, he’d rejected her, and now he was back to tormenting her. “What difference does it make? You made it clear I’m the last person youwant.”
In response, he brushed his knuckles along her jaw, and a tremor of desire skittered through her traitorous body. God, not now! She pushed his hand away. Glared. “Why are you doingthis?”
“Because I must. You are human. Free will’s your right. You say yes, I’ll never let you go, bond ornot…”
He gently traced the damp skin beneath her eyes. Remorse flickered in those sun-bright irises. Then his warm lips took the place of his fingertip, and her heart nearlystopped.
“I’m sorry I hurt you and made you cry.” He pressed his mouth beneath her other eye. “It was never my intention. I only wanted to keep you safe from the violent side of my nature. Gods, Shae, you take over my thoughts awake or asleep. When you’re not with me, my mind’s a fuckingmess—”
Her heart filled with longing, but she refused to let hope bloom only to be crushed again. She’d been hurt too many times. “You blame me forthis?”
“Hell, no! The fault’s all mine. Nik, the bastard, licked your wound better…” He picked up her left hand and gently pressed his lips to the newly healed lesion where she’d cut herself. “Angelus worships the ground you walk on, and bloody Harvey teaches you to fight.Youlikethem.”
“I do.” At his dark look, she finally relented, said softly, “But they aren’t you. Mad as I get, and God knows at times I want to stake you with your own damn sword, I only want you. I feel it so deeply inside here…” She took his hand and placed it over her heart. Naturally, that hand cupped her breast and squeezed, his thumb lightly flicking hernipple.
He lowered his head and ran his lips over the jagged scar on her cheek. “I don’t deserve you, but I need you…” A whisper of achingneed.
Her chest tightened. She swallowed, and then asked him about the one thing that stood between them like a canyon. “What about yourfeeding?”
His big body went motionless for an endless second, before his shoulder lifted in a shrug. “I’ll have to use that iron will you often think I have when it comes to you to not go feral when we makelove.”
“That’s not what Imeant—”
“I know.” He kissed the corner of her mouth as he unbuttoned her top. The next moment, it disappeared, along with her bra. “I’ll be fine. Animal blood willdo.”
“Dagan—”
“Later.” He palmed her breasts, squeezing the mounds. Lowering his head, he ran his tongue around her areola, and she shuddered. Then he sucked the hard, aching nipple into his mouth, and Shae forgot her concerns, a wave of pleasure sweeping through her body like liquid heat to settle in her core. Her fingers tangled in his hair as he bent her backward over his arm, the hard bulge in his pants rubbing against her jeans-coveredcore.
“Dagan…” A whimper escapedher.
“I’ll give you what you need—we both need soon, Shae-cat. First…” He turned his attention to her other breast, sucking her aching nub with even deeperpulls.
Oh. She squirmed. There was no way she could endure this sensualassault.
Letting go of her nipple, he pulled her upright and lowered to his haunches. She grabbed his shoulders as he unlaced and removed her boots, followed by her jeans and underwear. He peeled off her socks and paused, his stare tracking slowly up her naked body to linger on her damp, brightly flushed nipples. He lifted those searing yellow eyes to hers. At the hunger there, her heart thudded inanticipation.
“You’re beautiful, Shae-cat.” He pressed his lips to her lower belly then rose to his feet. He put his mouth on hers, claiming her in an all-consuming kiss. A low growl of satisfaction rumbled deep in his throat when she kissed himback.
Shae drowned in the sensation of his tongue, licking and caressing hers, his hands stroking her body to squeeze herbackside.
Panting for breath, she broke free of his kiss. Needing to touch him, she pushed her hand between their bodies to the waist of his jeans and stroked his sex. But his rigid erection made the task of unbuttoning his jeans difficult—suddenly, the fastenings popped open. Thank God for histelekinesis.
