He had never felt so protective, or defensive, of someone. He really was growing to care for the girl, he realized with a mixed feeling of awe and dismay. No matter how much he had never wanted it to happen, it was actually a pleasant realization he decided.It was athought that helped to ease the torment of his dark soul,asoul that he had no intention of ever letting her glimpse.
He was determined to protect her from all of the unpleasantness of the world, including himself. He would have her, shewouldbe his, but she would never know anything about his past. It was the only conclusion that he had come to in the long, discomforting night. She helped to ease his torment, because of that he wanted her more than any other woman he had ever met, but he had also vowed that she would never know the darker side of the world, or himself.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, a small smile crossedhis face as he thought about what tonight would bring.He just had to get the little witch to concede to his will, but he was certain that it wouldn’t be hard. He was beginning to understand why she had been staying away from him. For all of Isabelle’s bluff and bluster, inside she was scared, and frightened of being hurt. He could, and would, ease that fear.
The screen door swung open again. He opened his eyes, tensing as Jess came into the house. He had spoken to heralittle this morning as he had helped her carry her stuff out, but he hadn’t expected to see her again, and he didn’t want to see her now. They all turned to look at her, their eyes wide in surprise.
“I forgot my toothbrush.” Before Stefan could stop her, she was heading up the steps.
Isabelle was coming out of the bathroom, dressed in one of Ethan’s old T-shirts, with her clothes tucked under her arm when Jess stepped into the hallway. She instantly tensed as Jess’s hate filled blue eyes landed on her. For a momentIsabellecouldn’t breathe from the force of thehostility that radiated from the girl.
“I hope you’re happy now!” Jesshissed.
Isabelle blinked at her in surprise, taken aback by the waves of hatred beating against her. She had never thought it possible for someone to hate her as much as Jess had grown too.“Jess, I didn’t want this,” she whispered.
Jess snorted angrily. “I seriously doubt that.”
“I really didn’t!” she protested. She wanted to tell her that nothing was going on, but she wasn’t going to lie to her. There was something going on, she just wasn’t sure what it was yet.
“Don’t for a moment think that you’re special, you’re just like all the other sluts he’s been with. He’ll use you and toss you aside too, you’re...”
“If I were you, I would get your toothbrush, and get out.”
Isabelle’s eyes flew to Stefan as he stepped off the stairs. The cold hostility in his voice sent shivers of fear down her spine as Jess turned to face him. Isabelle wanted to tell her to run for her life, but her throat clogged with fear.Isabellehad never seen him look so deadly, so dangerous. Even when he had been angry at her, even when he had grabbed her, she had not been as afraid of him as she was now. For a moment she truly feared, trulybelieved, that he would hurt Jess.
Jess hung her head and darted quickly past Isabelle into the bathroom. Light pooled into the hall, illuminating Stefan as he glided forward, stopping a foot away from the bathroom door. His posture was casual as he leaned against the wall, but the hostility that radiated from him was almost tangible. She could feel the fury that caused his jaw to clench, and a muscle to twitch in his cheek. Isabelle wanted to shudder in fear, she knew that his anger wasn’t directed at her, but it still frightened her terribly.
Jess came quickly back out, flicking the light off,and casting them back into the dark. She stood uncertainly in the hall, her toothbrush clutchedtightly in her hand as she stared warily at Stefan. Stefan waved his hand elegantlyfor her to pass, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Jess bowed her head as she bolted quickly past them.
“Are you okay?”
Isabelle swallowed heavily, no she wasn’t okay.She was terrified of him, of everything that was happening to her. Jess’s words echoedloudly in her head, and the truth of them had caused a gaping pit to open in her stomach. She bit into her lip as she lifted her gaze to his, and forced herself to nod. Strands of wet hair fell into her face and she instantly pushed them away. He stood silently, his gaze boring into her soul. She didn’t know what to say, what to do. All reasonable thought fled under his intense scrutiny.
“I uh... I’m sorry about you and Jess,” she managed to stutter out.
“Why? I’m not. It’s been over for three daysnow;I just finally got her to leave the house.”
Isabelle knew that he was trying to tell her something with thatstatement;she chose to ignore it.Just like she chose to ignore the fact that he had slepton the couch for the last three nights. She didn’t have all of her feelings sorted out as itwas;she needed more time tobe able toassimilate this bit of information on top of everything else.
“If it had anything to do with me,thenI’ll explain that there is nothing going on between us,” she said hesitantly.
“Isn’t there?” he asked quietly, dangerously.
“No!” she cried.
His eyeswereferalin the dark as a small smile curved his full, hard lips. “If we hadn’t been interrupted last night...”
“I would have come to my senses!” Isabelle cried,a dull heat suffusingher body at the reminder.
“Ah and tonight?”
Her eyes widened as her mouth parted slightly. Her heart began to triphammer painfully in her chest as her mouth went suddenly dry. “What about tonight?” she managed to choke out.
“What will you do when I come to your room tonight, and there is no one to interrupt us?”
Isabelle’s body tightened in anticipation as she stared breathlessly at him. She wanted to tell him that she would welcome him with open arms, but it stuck in her throat. It got stuck on her pride. She wouldn’t give into him that easily. She couldn’t. “I’ll tell you to get out.”
He moved slowly forward, the shadows caressing his body as he stopped before her. She tilted her chin defiantly, but she felt anything but defiant. She felt like a quivering mass of raw nerve endings, all of which were screaming for his touch. His hand gently stroked her cheek. Isabelle jumped in surprise as everything in her reacted to his touch. Her heart hammered so rapidly that she was certain it was going to explode.
