Page 370 of Coal Hearts

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Ily

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I TREMBLED BENEATH HOT WATER.

I needed a moment.

A million moments.

After Henri stalked out of the bathroom, I didn’t have the strength to follow him. Didn’t have the courage to survive another fight, so...I chickened out.

I turned the shower back on and raised my face to the rinsing heat, begging it to wash out my mind as well as my body.

Flashbacks of Daxton.

Echoes of Peter telling me to run.

I shuddered.

I wanted to go back to the jewel quarters. To make sure Peter was okay and the others had survived the treasure hunt.

Go out there and ask nicely.

He’s just as angry as you are...it makes sense to have some space from each other rather than stew all night in bed.

Nodding with bravery I didn’t feel, I turned off the water and grabbed a towel.

I’ll go out there and thank him again. I won’t remind him that he’s responsible. I’ll act as if he’s my hero in every way, and then...he’ll let me go, and I can have a night in peace.

Drying my hair, then wrapping the towel tightly around me, I sucked in a deep breath and crept out of my steamy sanctuary.

My eyes shot to the throne chair in the corner.

Empty.

I glanced at the bed.

Also empty.

My heart rabbited with hope that he’d left and then stopped dead as Henri cleared his throat from behind me.

Spinning on the spot, I clutched my towel as he leaned against the wall by the bathroom door. Naked and still slightly damp, draped in shadow where the side lights didn’t reach. He watched me with eyelashes at half-mast, casting his grey stare in absolute darkness.

His tongue ran along his bottom lip as he looked me up and down. “Seeing as you’re fine enough to argue with me. Seeing as you still have that intoxicating fire and fight in you and insist you’re of sound mind to make choices to sleep with men you hate just to prolong your life. I’m going to ask you one simple question.”

I backed up, heading toward the bed. “Henri...I think you’re still infected with whatever energy the storm churned up.” My eyes flashed to the curtain-blocked window. “It’s gone now. The rain is slowing, and the thunder is gone. How about you calm down and—”

“Calm down?” He chuckled under his breath. “Calm down?” Pushing away from the wall, he stalked toward me. “I am calm, little nightmare. In fact, I’m the calmest I’ve been in days.” Stopping close enough to touch but keeping his hands to himself, he canted his head and gave me a terrifying, totally arousing smile. “You see, I finally understand that no matter what I try to give you, you’re unwilling to accept any of me. I am nothing to you. I will remain nothing to you. How did you so eloquently put it? I was born alone and will die alone?”

“I-I didn’t mean it exactly like that.”

“Oh?” He shrugged. “How did you mean it?”

“I just...” I pursed my lips. How could I tell him that watching him fight on my behalf did unconscionable things to me? That his violence turned me on. That his vengeance didn’t just invoke gratitude but lust.

Sweet, savage lust that had no place in here.