Page 244 of Flirting with Darkness

My fangs dropped, long sharp and lethal. I could end one of my own kind. I was one of only a handful of Originals old enough and powerful enough to do that with a bite. “Hurt him and I’ll rip your throat out.”

Vito had to have a death wish because he just gave me a shit eating grin. “I won’t hurt him, boss. He is fucking beautiful to look at. I get it. Really, I do. I’d berealnice to him, too, if he wasmyprisoner.”

I roared and threw him across the room. The wall cracked as he slammed into it. He half groaned, half laughed as he pushed himself into a sitting position and shook dust from his arms and shoulders. “Godsdamn, Davlov, it’s true then. Roco told me you were fucked. I didn’t believe him, but, hell’s teeth, brother, you really are.”

My nostrils flared. “Roco phoned you?”

Vito nodded, groaning as he pushed to his feet. “He saw you at the club. Said he’d never seen you so wrapped up in a piece of arse before.”

“That little shit’s a worse gossip than any female I’ve ever met.”

Vito snorted. “Yeah, he is. But he’s right, isn’t he? That pretty mixed blood’s your mate, isn’t he?”

“Fuck off. He’s not.” I wasn’t admitting that to anyone, least of all the males who looked to me as their commander. If I failed to get Elliot to recognise what we were to each other, and Bal chose to end Elliot’s life, none of them needed to know how destroyed I’d be. Fear punched through me. Not for me, but for Elliot. I had to talk to the Count, but my stomach clenched. I knew better than anyone that he was as unforgiving as they came to those who threatened him or the people he considered his family.

“He’s a prisoner and that’s all.”

I stormed out of the building and headed to the SUV that I used around the Estate. Turning the key, I fired up the engine. Elliot climbed into the car, his face dark as he stared forward.

“Put your seatbelt on!” My fingers tightened around the wheel when he panted, trying to defy my order. “Just fucking do it!” I barked, angry that he was causing himself pain.

A growl erupted from his chest, but the click of the belt satisfied me enough to move off. I hit the pedal, and we lurched forward in a spray of gravel. I didn’t speak again. I couldn’t. I hated that I couldn’t act on my feelings, that everyone who knew me could tell how utterly besotted I was, even if I didn’t want them to know, while Elliot had no fucking clue. I threw the car around the sharp bends of the estate roads, heading back to the castle. I needed blood, sleep, and some time alone to get my damned head together.

“Slow down!” Elliot yelled when I almost skidded around a bend and he banged his shoulder against the door, his hand shooting out to brace himself. “You might be immortal, but I’m not, you dick!”

I glared at him, baring my fangs, my grip tightening on the steering wheel when I saw how pale he was.“Fuck!”I uttered. He’d not been in a car much if he was being honest about not being let out of his previous home. Another self-derisive snarl twisted my mouth. Of course, he’d told me the truth! I’d met liars before, and Elliot wasn’t one.

I growled, my grip tightening even more on the wheel. It creaked under my assault.

Not only had I lied about what Elliot was to me, I’d hurt and scared him. Forcing myself to control my emotions, I eased my foot off the pedal, loosened my grip, and drove steadily the rest of the way back. I still braked harder than I meant to, stopping outside the side entrance of the castle in a spray of gravel. Without speaking, I jumped out and strode for the door, unable to deal with being near him until I’d calmed down.

“Hey!” Elliot shouted.

I ignored him, my fists curled, tension about ready to make me smash the nearest wall to dust. Flinging open the door, I marched across the light and airy kitchen, through the dining room and along a long corridor into the gym, slamming the door behind me. A second later the door swung open, banging loudly against the wall.

“You don’t get to storm away from me!” he yelled, breathing hard as he marched into my personal space, standing almost nose to nose with me, fury rolling off him. “You’ll protect me from everyone, Davlov? How about your own men?”

“I did protect you!” I roared.

“Fuck you! What happens when you’re not around? I’m a half-breed, just fresh meat to them!”

“You are mine! My prisoner! They will never hurt you!”

His laugh was cold and bitter. “Yeah? Well, life’s taught me different, so fuck you and your godsdamned empty promises!” His nostrils flared, a snarl curling his lips. “I should have known you were no better than Victor. You’re both fucking liars!” He spun away, but his words cut deep.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I caught his arm and spun him back to me, catching him around his waist and thrusting a hand into his hair, pulling hard until he had to arch back.

“Away from you…”

“You’re never getting away from me. Not now, not ever,” I growled as I slammed my mouth against his, claiming him in an aggressively rough kiss. He moaned into my mouth, his body melting into my hold. Gods, he destroyed me, his taste, his smell, the feel of his hair gripped in my hand, and especially the way his body softened into my touch. I deepened the kiss, invading his mouth with my tongue, claiming him. Our moans mixed as I lowered him to the soft training mat, the feel of his compliant body under mine shredding my self control. My cock throbbed, aching and jumping with every sound he made. I ground against his hard length until he whimpered, his need clear in the thrust of his pelvis.

I pulled away.

“No…” he whispered, grasping at my forearms.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I growled. “But is this really what you want?”

He groaned, looking at where I fisted myself through my combats, trying to ease the ache.

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