Chapter 19
Unable to sleep,Shae twisted beneath the duvet and stared through the undraped windows into the dark night. Her thoughts were in chaos, the hollowness in her tummydeepening.
The door to the bedroom opened. Footsteps sounded. Dagan entered the dressing room, the lights from the bathroom silhouetting him. Then he just stood there, head lowered, hands on his hips. His shoulders heaved as if in weariness. He unbuttoned and shrugged off his shirt, his muscles rippling with his movements. At the sight of the bloody dressing on his side, she jerked upright, worrysurging.
Dagan yanked off the gauze from his wound with a vicious tug and stalked into the bathroom. The shower came on in a harshrustle.
Helplessness sweeping through her, Shae slumped back on her pillow.Christ. She squeezed her eyes tightly. How were they going to fix this? He needed blood. And she couldn’t deny himthat.
Feeling as if her stomach would escape her, she buried her face in herpillow…
The bed covers lifted. His cool, very naked body slid alongside her t-shirt-coveredone.
“Shae?” He swiped her hair aside and pressed his lips to her nape. Her breath hitched. “I know you’re not asleep.” A heavy sigh barreled out of him. “I hate hurting you this way. I wish things could be different, but I am what Iam.”
“No, don’t.” She twisted to face him. “I’m sorry for what I said. I don’t want you to be different, Ijust—”
“Shae—”
She put her fingers on his lips. “You’re healing too slowly, I saw your dressing, Dagan. Animal blood can’t give you what you need, and that leaves you vulnerable.” This close to him, she could see the tense lines around his eyes and mouth. Not having a true feeding was taking a toll on him. Much as it hurt her, she couldn’t force him. And he would never risk her. “You’re probably right. I amhuman—”
“And mine. You give me all I need, my wildcat. Yes, my wounds will take longer to heal this way, but I just have to becareful.”
She lowered her hand to his abs, and the muscles there tensed at her touch. Lightly, she traced the edges of the new dressing on his side. “The way you worry about me, I feel the same about you. You put yourself out in deadly situations daily. Maybe if…” God, it was so hard to say it. “If it was just the goddess’ blood, I could accept you feeding fromanother...”
The hand caressing her hip stilled. He stared at her as if she’d said the sun was pink. Then he hauled her close and wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug. “I couldn’t. You are all that is right in my life, and I won’t dishonor you or defile my mating bond in any way. Animal blood isfine.”
“But for howlong?”
He shrugged. “Humans get hurt, heal, they move on. It’s the same thing. I just have to give this wound a chance to mend and I’ll beokay.”
She shouldn’t be relieved, but she was. He washers.
“I checked this Luka out through my sources while on patrol,” he said, distracting her, his tone hard. “He’s a dangerous bastard with deprived needs. Women usually don’t make it out alive once he hasthem.”
“Then that’s all the more reason to stophim.”
Dagan glared up at theceiling.
“You know I’m right.” Shae pushed to her elbows and waited until those frustrated yellow eyes met hers. She kissedhim.
Growling, he nipped her lower lip, his fingers tangling in her hair. Slow and decadently, he sucked the sting away. Amazing how he could bite her without breaking her skin…her thoughts scattered as he trailed sensual little kisses along her jaw before he pounced. Like a huge cat, he had her under him, his eyes dark and intense. “You are mine, Shae.Mine.”
His mouth covered hers. Her heart skipped at how tenderly he kissed her, and she realized he did give her his all when he made love to her. It was right there in his kiss. But, still, she longed to be the one who could fill his otherneed…
* * *
It was longpast noon when they got up. While she had breakfast, Dagan left for a run on the estate. Now secluded in the turret TV room, she worked on the editorial for her Nightlife series while she waited forhim.
The door opened. Dagan walked in with Hedori. His gaze touched hers briefly. No smile, just that look he had for her alone. He said something about clearing out his workshop and turning it into a study/living room before disappearing into hisworkspace.
“Wait.” Shae set her laptop aside, jumped up and followed them. “What about yoursculpturing?”
“This is a castle, Shae. We havespace.”
“Yes, we do,” Hedori agreed. “There’s an unused storage room in thebasement.”
“Perfect.” He strolled closer. “Don’t worry, Shae-cat, I’m not one of those vamps who like dark, gloomy places.” His lips twitching, he gave her a heated stare. “Besides you, I enjoy woodwork. It keeps me pleasantlyoccupied.”
