Come on, love, wake up.
Her legs tightened around his head. She breathed deeply. A dreamy smile touched her mouth. “That, was amazing—we forgot the condom.”
Amazing?She damn near gave him a heart attack.
In retaliation, and because he wanted to see her come again, he grasped her clit with his lips and sucked hard. She jerked and squealed in protest, grabbing his head to pull him off.
Ah, still a little sensitive, was she? He smiled. Perfect. For the scare she’d given him, he trapped her hands at her sides, pushed her past her comfort level and drew out another orgasm from her.
As she fell again, he crawled up her body and said, “Don’t need a condom, love. I’m safe—can’t pick up any diseases…can’t give youanything.”
* * *
Blaéz brushed his lips over Darci’s hair, inhaling her scent merged with the musky smell of their love-making. She lay curled at his side, eyes closed, legs tangled with his. He’d tired her out with his demands. But he couldn’t get enough of her. Only because she needed a break, he let her be.
Absently, he stroked her arm she’d slung over his waist. And like a cunning snake, reality slithered into him after the most transcendent moment of his long life. He may have taken Darci as his, but he could never claim her in the elemental way of his kind. There would be no bonding of souls. At the thought of just who had his, his euphoria dimmed and faded. His fingers clenched.
“Blaéz!”
At her sharp cry of pain, he shot upright. Even in the gloom, he saw the red welt on her upper arm. Her shock. What had he done? Anger and self-disgust pulsing through him, he pushed off the bed and crossed to the dressing room. With jerky movements he dressed, had no idea what the hell he pulled on, and walked out.
“Blaéz, wait-wait.” She got out of bed, naked.
As if his eyes had a mind of their own, his gaze slid down her body, and need corked him hard, like he hadn’t just spent hours with her, licking, tasting and touching every inch of her.
Cunning laughter erupted inside his mind.She will never be yours, try all you like to convince yourself of it.
His mouth compressed at the truth.
She’d yanked the sheet from the bed and covered herself, embarrassment reddening her face.
He’d made her uncomfortable. His self-loathing increased, as did his urge to put his fist through the wall. He wanted to tell her she was perfect, thathewas the fucked-up one. All that came out was, “I’m…sorry.”
“You didn’t hurt me—I’m fine.”
“Fine? Don’t sugarcoat my fuck-ups, Darci. I hurt you andthatshould never have happened.”
“I don’t understand—”
“No, you wouldn’t.”I’m trapped by a bastard who controls me, who’s ruining this incredible moment.Christ, he was a fucking fool, with a fool’s dream. An abomination who’d tapped into her emotions, pretending he was normal—normal? What a goddamn joke.
Unable to say it, or look at her again and see the hurt eclipsing her happiness, he walked out. How could he explain this powerless feeling surging through him? This helplessness. No matter that he’d claimed her physically, she wasn’t truly his, would never be. And he wanted her with every fiber of his being. He wanted her tied to him in the elemental way of their kind—with a soul bonding.
He jogged down the stairs to the foyer. Outside, he dematerialized, and moments later, he took form near the fighting pit downtown. The stench of fish hit him square in the face. Shoving open the heavy metal door, he headed down the dimly lit passageway into the glaringly bright arena and straight to the cage.
He willed the skinny opponent to leave. Pulled off his tee and flung it aside. A human built like a Mack truck rushed him, fists the size of a huge boulder crashed into his ribs and stole his breath. Blaéz went flying back into the rigid bars. Agony flooded him as a rib cracked. This pain he relished. It was all his, not drawn from others. He needed to hurt.
“Is that all you got?” he taunted Mack man.
Another punch in the jaw and blood ran warm down his chin. He licked away the coppery flavor. It took away the taste of Darci from his mouth.
As his lingering emotions faded, nothing remained but pain…
Chapter 16
Darci openedthe tall French windows in the library and breathed in the fresh forest air. It did little to ease her growing concern. In an hour or so it would be dusk, and she hadn’t seen Blaéz since he’d left her that morning. At the thought, she rubbed a hand over her face. He hadn’t hurt her, not really. She wished he’d talked to her instead of closing up.
He’d answered her call, but said he was busy and he’d see her later. What was so important for him to be gone the entire day?
