The woman’s eyes never once left Balen and it felt like a standoff. Each waiting for the other to make the first move.
“Delara.” Balen nodded to her.
Delara? That was the girl Jedrik had mentioned the other night. He’d said she’d taken off though.
“He knows you’re back. And there are . . . complications.” Her voice was harsh like sandpaper scratching a marble slab—sexy.
“Aren’t there always,” Balen said, his grip on my arm tightening.
Feeling jealous sucked. It was a new emotion for me and it made me feel out of control and vulnerable.
I noticed them both stiffen, and then the woman swore several times.
“Get out of here,” she said. Her gaze shot to me, then back to Balen. “You should’ve stayed away from her. He’s going to be seriously pissed.” She glanced over her shoulder then looked back at us. “Go, damn it.”
“Why are you helping me?” he asked.
“You fought and won. You’re still one of us.”
Fought and won? What the hell were they talking about? Who was going to be pissed?
“You trust me?” Balen asked her.
She gave an abrupt nod. “Yeah. Now, get the hell out of here.”
“I’m not running anymore, Delara. I’ll face my punishment,” he said.
“Punishment?” I asked. “What are you talking about?” Was he wanted by the police?
Delara ignored me and looked over her shoulder then back at Balen. “Fine. Do what you want, but turn yourself in, don’t go as a prisoner. Go. I’ll keep him occupied.”
Balen nodded then turned to me, his gaze hardening as if he was assessing me for a brief second.
“What is she talking about?” My heart raced and I could feel my nerves going off like live-wires. “Balen, what is going on?”
He leaned in until his lips were inches from my ear. “Don’t be jealous, little one. Even if I can’t have you, I’ll always be yours.”
My breath hitched and I went to pull away to look up at him, but he turned then jogged down the alley.
The woman grabbed my sleeve to get my attention as I watched Balen disappear from view. “Go inside.” She nodded to an approaching figure from the opposite direction Balen disappeared. “You don’t want to meet this guy.”
“What were you and Balen talking about?”
“There’s no time.” She shoved me toward my gallery door. “If you want to stay alive then get out of here.”
I glanced once more down the alley then turned and ran inside.
I FELT THE VIBRATION of his anger with each stride he took toward me. I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin to give the impression I was confident and unconcerned about his sudden appearance. Because the moment Waleron saw any weakness, he’d crush me.
Inside I was a chaotic jumble of emotions as my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. I took short harsh breaths, feeling as if I was suffocating under a blanket of fear. Getting beat up by my ex-maite, Tarek, didn’t help matters, although Waleron would never hurt me physically; his was pure emotional destruction.
I hadn’t seen him since the night he stood beside the witch-bitch, Trinity, knowing he was going to fuck her. It had reaped a hole right through me and I knew I couldn’t stay any longer. I had to leave. I had to get myself back. I left that day and I swore it would be the last time I’d let him affect me.
I inhaled his scent and my body betrayed me with marshmallow legs and a racing heart as memories came rushing back to humiliate me further.
Jesus Christ, I was a bowl of Jell-O. It was all I could do to remain standing as his eyes met mine with that familiar glint of blue. A blue that made all the reasons I left come rushing to the surface. I thought the hurt had been erased after all this time, but instead, the pain slammed back into me like a mallet.
I watched his long, confident legs—legs I’d tried desperately for years to obliterate from my mind, legs that had been around me. That I’d touched. Licked. Kissed every inch of.
He stood in front of me with his familiar, emotionless expression. No remorse for what he’d done. He didn’t touch me, yet I felt him all over. His breath seeped into my pores, fingertips caressed my skin. It wounded—broke every shred of dignity.
Bastard. Cold, callous bastard.
Waleron stared, eyes like ice, voice even colder. “I will ask once. Why?”
“That’s all you want? Why? But you know the answer, don’t you? I made it clear and you made yourself crystal clear. Nothing more to be said.” I glared back at the hard lines on his face that matched his hard, unyielding disposition.
He reached toward me and I forced myself to stay completely still as my insides liquefied with anticipation of his touch. Did this need for him ever disappear? It was as if he had a nicotine-like hold on my mind and body and I couldn’t get him out of me.
God, touch me. Hold me again.
When the back of his hand stroked my cheek, I thought my knees would give way, but it was his eyes that kept me standing, a translucent blue that locked me in place.
“I thought,” Waleron began, but then he changed his mind and grabbed the back of my neck. It was harsh and forceful as though he was making it clear that any refusal on my part was unacceptable. His breath floated across my face, and then his lips followed.
At first, it was cruel and unbending, our mouths clashing in a wild need to hurt one another. But within seconds, it changed and it became sensual and gentle. My palms rested on his chest, heat radiated from him as I caressed the tattooed muscles that remained covered by his coat and shirt. His fingers stroked the back of my neck and goose bumps rose while our tongues danced a slow and erotic song.