She tilted her head back and I kissed the curve of her neck. “God, Balen, I want you so badly it hurts.”
“Danni.” I pushed her back on the bed then came on top of her, my hand pushing her shirt up so I could feel the warmth of her skin. Her scent was driving me crazy. She was driving me crazy. The relief to be back with her . . .
I had to have her.
I groaned low in my throat before I claimed her mouth again. I felt her palms on my chest, so warm and . . . they were pushing.
Pushing.
“Fuck.” I jerked up and all sexual urgency died instantly. Danni’s eyes were wide and panicked. God, what the hell was I doing? “Jesus.” I flew back until my back hit the wall on the other side of the room.
Danni sat up. “Balen, I’m sorry, I just—”
“You’re sorry? Jesus, Danni.”
She rose from the bed, her pink boxer shorts and white tank top revealing far more of her body than I needed to see right now. Her nipples were erect through the skimpy top as if pleading with me to touch them.
Desire rose again as she walked across the room toward me. My breath sucked from my lungs, our eyes locking as she stopped inches away. She placed her hands on my chest, resting them there like they had a place near my heart.
“The pain is gone. I don’t know what’s going on, but you came back and it . . . it’s like it just vanished. How . . . God, I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore. But it has something to do with you. With us. I feel it.” Her fingers curled in my shirt and she half-laughed. “Am I crazy? Is that crazy, Balen? Please tell me you felt it, too.”
I searched her eyes for the hatred for what I’d caused, but it wasn’t there. “You’re not crazy.” But I was for coming back here. I should’ve stayed away. Never returned to Toronto in the first place. Now, I’d put Danni in danger with the Wraiths and whatever was connecting us.
She stood on her tip toes and kissed my lips. “What happened to you . . . what Ryszard did to you . . .”
I cupped her chin, my thumb moving back and forth as I looked down at her. “You remember?”
“Some of it. I remember us talking, the cages and . . . they tortured you.”
Fuck, if she remembered my mouth on her throat, I’d lose her. And I’d deserve it. She’d be disgusted. She’d wonder what in hell she’d done by sleeping with a fuckin’ animal. I was disgusted. Scars didn’t drink blood, but I had. I’d taken Ryszard’s . . . and Danni’s. Could that be why we were connected? I’d never heard of that before, but a Scar had also never drunk vampire blood and lived to tell about it.
I hooked my arm around her waist and brought her in tight as the door pushed open. Keir stared at us for a second, no doubt taking in that I had my arm around her. Scars and humans, yeah, that was so against the law. Well, I was fucked already, what was one more broken law.
“Living room. Now. And drop your block from us.” Keir spun around and left.
Danni stiffened as she looked around, probably just realizing where she was. “What am I doing at Keir’s? I don’t remember coming here? And what does he mean by block?”
Shit, I hated lying to her. I didn’t want to do it anymore. And Keir should know better than to mention our powers in front of her. I’d shielded my mind from all the Scars, and it was difficult allowing them to communicate with me again. “I have to talk to Keir and Waleron, right now. Find out what’s going on. Then I’ll let you know. Get some rest.”
“Like you were going to let me know about being Anstice’s brother?”
I really could come up with nothing. Literally nothing. Because I was Anstice’s brother and I’d kept it from Danni. I’d thought I’d be either dead or in Rest, never to see her again.
“I’m not staying here.” Danni tried to move out of my arms, but I tightened my hold.
It was obvious she was still angry and hurt over the lies and I couldn’t blame her. But the truth was a hell of a lot to take in right now. “Anstice loves you. I know it’s hard without answers, but I swear, I’ll tell you everything soon. When you understand, you’ll forgive your friend for what she’s had to do.” I leaned forward and kissed her again and it took a few seconds before I managed to get her to submit. “I have to go. Get some rest. I’ll be back in a bit and we’ll talk.”
“I’m coming with you. I’ll just throw on some clothes.” Danni pulled from my arms and rushed to the foot of the bed where someone had laid her clothes.
“No.” I strode over to her and grabbed her shirt from her before she had a chance to put it on. “This isn’t something you can be a part of. Stay here.”
Danni put her hands on her hips. “I deserve to know what the hell is going on.”
“Danni.” I tried to keep my voice gentle, but it came out like a warning instead. Habit. I was a Scar and it was difficult being anything but. I made decisions and expected others to listen to me, no questions.
Shit, she looked pissed.
She picked up her jeans, whipping them at me, smacking me in the face. “Fine, I won’t get dressed.”
With a determined look on her face, she headed for the door dressed in the slinky tank top and boxer shorts.
“Danni,” I warned. “Don’t you—Fuck.”
She ignored me and walked out the door.
I went after her. “Danni. Stop.” I caught up to her and grabbed her arm. “What the hell are you doing?”