Falling silent, Narae blinked at him.
“You don’t get to dismiss my actions,” he began. “And I ain’t petitioning Koe for shit. You and Jury are staying where you belong. Right. Here.”
And that snapped her spine straight as fury flooded her. “I’m trying to graciously give you a fucking out!”
Leaning forward in his chair, Daemon slowly asked, “Who said I wanted out?”
Jaw ticking, Narae sneered, “Has it occurred to you that you’re not the only one in this? Have my concerns or desires registered at all in that thick skull of yours?”
Daemon huffed a laugh, and that only pissed Narae off more.
“Hey, asshole!” she snapped. “I’m gladyoufind this situation funny, but I ain’t laughing. I’m…”
Daemon shoved up out of his chair, and when he did, Narae’s argument died in her mouth.
Staring at her, confusion clouded Daemon’s expression a moment before his brows speared down and he frowned hard. “Don’t do that!” he ordered. “Don’t shut yourself down on my account or anyone else's. You’re free to express yourself here. You’re safe.” He motioned toward the side cart by the window that held glasses and a picture of water. “I just needed a drink.” He walked slowly to the cart and poured himself a glass of water before holding up a second glass and turning to her, “Thirsty?”
Narae shook her head and stayed quiet. She didn’t know these shifters, and she’d really been pushing her luck. She knewshe should be grateful for everything they’d already done, and none of them had tried to hurt her or Jury…yet.
Taking a drink, Daemon watched her over the rim of his glass.
Narae lowered her head and said quietly, “Thank you for all you’ve done for Jury and me. I recognize that you could have turned her away or left me where I was.”
Daemon lowered his water glass. “But?”
Lifting her chin, Narae glared at him. “But we’re not your problem, and we need to go. So, you need to do something about this.” She gestured toward her throat.
“Wait a minute.” Daemon stalked toward the bed. “You have someone back at Bragga’s compound. Don’t you?”
“What?No!”
Daemon was talking to himself now, “It’d make sense why you worked to get Jury out, but you stayed. Youwantedto stay.”
Narae was getting pissed all over again. “No, I didn’t.”
“Listen, if you’ve got someone back there, I need to know about it.”
Narae clambered to her feet, standing on the bed and walking toward the edge. “Are you ears just for fucking decoration?”
Daemon stalked forward too. “It doesn’t even matter if you tell me because I couldn’t scent a lie on you if I wanted to, could I?”
“I’m not lying,” Narae raged.
Daemon stopped when his shins hit the mattress. “And how would I know?”
“I don’t know,” Narae yelled. “How about the benefit of the fucking doubt, meathead!”
“Meathead?”
She was trying to stay mad, but Daemon was right up on her, and even with her standing on the bed, she was still just eye level with him. It was sexy as hell going nose to nose with a beast of a man that she was certain wouldn’t hurt her. It felt powerful.Shefelt powerful and a dizzying combination of aroused and needy. It didn’t help that the masculine scent of him had the blood boiling in her veins. “Yeah,” she panted. “Meat head!”
“Stop.” he commanded.
But something between them had shifted, and it didn’t feel like they were arguing anymore. It took her a moment to realize that his hands had settled on her hips, his face taut with what looked like barely leashed control. He was radiating menace…no, not menace. Something else. Something that had an eerie feeling drifting over her skin, her heart rate hiking in giddy anticipation. She was playing a dangerous game right now, and she knew it. Still, she couldn’t stop herself. “I’m not taking orders from you.”
The sexual tension between them ratcheted higher.
Daemon’s gaze narrowed on her, the predatory look there almost enough to scare her. Almost. “You need to stop, Narae.” He pulled her body even closer into his. His nose brushed the side of her throat, and his hands left her hips to slide around her body, crushing her to him as he let out a contented-sounding sigh that tapered into a snarl.
