Kole glances over his shoulder at the shattered doors. “He’ll cool off, but you should sleep in your room tonight, just in case.”
I agree and head back to my room, more than happy to sleep in my own bed. It takes a while for my heart rate to settle, but when it finally does, I decide that what happened tonight is tomorrow’s problem. There’s nothing more I can do about it right now and replaying it in my mind won’t do any good.
For at least two blissful seconds this morning, I was able to forget about everything that happened last night. But as I stand outside of the dining room, hearing Thane and Kole’s voices coming from the other side, I’m wishing I had stayed in my room and gone back to sleep.
“Are you going to just keep standing out there, or are you going to come in?” Thane’s voice cuts through the doors separating us, and my heart sinks.
The two of them are standing in front of the fireplace, looking at me like I have two heads.
“I’ll go whip something up for you,” Kole offers.
“You know I can make my own food, right?”
He glances at Thane and then back at me. “It’ll give you guys a chance to talk.”
Great.
I slowly make my way over to Thane and stick my hands out to the fire, letting the warmth of it seep into me. As the heat spreads across my skin, I’m transported back to the time heheld my arm over the fire to burn me. I jerk back, running my thumb over my forearm as the memory flares to life.
Thane grabs a hold of my wrist, pulling my arm toward him. I watch as he rolls up my sleeve and gently strokes my skin, making goosebumps sprint across my flesh.
“I’m sorry for ever hurting you.” I’m taken aback by his words and the pain lacing them. Even if he only feels that way because of the growing bond, it’s still nice to hear. “And for losing control last night.”
“I know you have to bite me,” I tell him, as I pull my arm back and roll my sleeve down. “I just wasn’t ready last night, but I am now.”
His head snaps up. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
I move my hair to one side, and Thane swoops me up, setting me on the dining table. He steps between my thighs, wrapping one hand behind the small of my back and the other just behind my ear. The bite instantly immobilizes me, and my head falls back into his palm.
There’s a gentleness to him this time. Almost like he’s scared he’s going to break me. His thumb moves to my jaw, stroking it so lightly that it feels like he’s running a feather over my skin. Normally when he bites me, it feels like an electric current is coursing through my veins, but right now it feels like there’s a warm blanket wrapped around me like a cocoon. There’s an odd sort of comfort as his hand burns into my lower back, forcing my body to arch into his. A quiet moan slips from my lips, and a low rumble sounds in the back of Thane’s throat in response.
“Oh shit, sorry.”
I barely hear Kole’s voice, but Thane retracts his fangs. “You can come back, brother.”
Kole dips in, wearing an apologetic look. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You didn’t,” Thane says, grabbing a hold of my waist to help me off the table. “I got what I needed.”
His eyes narrow on me for a moment, making my stomach somersault.
“Sophia is coming to visit in a couple of days,” Thane tells Kole.
Kole sets down a plate with an omelette and fruit on it, tossing me a quick wink.
“And what, pray tell, sparked this little visit?” Kole asks Thane with a cheeky grin that says he already knows the answer.
“She—” Thane’s eyes dart to me, and he clears his throat. “I’ll tell you when we’re alone.”
“By all means, say whatever it is,” I insist with the wave of my fork. “Not like I care about any of your vampire/werewolf business.” Thane shakes his head as if to tell Kole, “Not here.” “Who is she anyway?”
“Oh, Sophia is this badass werewolf Thane used to hook up with.”
I nearly choke on my bite of omelette, and Kole shoots me a questioning look.
“Can’t wait to meet her,” I force out with a hint of sarcasm lacing my words. Suddenly, I’m not so hungry.
