Page 9 of Branded in Love
“Please go change, and pack your essentials,” he insists. His gaze shoots skyward, and he glides his fingers through his long mane of hair. He releases a long breath when he looks at me again. Wow. It looks like he’s really struggling over there. No idea why. “You’re staying with me for a while.”
What in the...?My lips part, ready to speak the words, but no sound comes through.
He straightens. “You’ll have to stay with me. Otherwise, I won’t be able to protect you,” he adds with a curt demeanor.
I scowl. “I can take care of myself...”
His hand points down the hallway. “There’s an entire vampire coven after our heads, woman.” A twinge of frustration laces his voice. “So whatever beef you’ve got with me, I suggest we solve it quickly.”
His readiness spikes my anxiety. “None of this would have happened had you not jumped at us in the park!” I say in a blurt. I breathe in short, shallow breaths, unable to control the spasmodic trembling inside me.
“You would be dead right now if I hadn’t,” he says, holding back his temper. No arrogance seeps through his tone. He’s simply stating a fact. And that shuts me up. For a while, at least.
His eyes bore into mine. “Luciana...” The way he says my name makes everything inside me stop. Every thought freezes, my breathing halts, my pulse chokes for a precious instant. My body goes taut.
Last time he warned me and I didn’t listen, it almost got me killed. I bite my lower lip. I’m not taking any chances now. “Uh… okay,” I manage, opening the door wider. “It’ll just be a moment. Come in.”
He’s almost as tall as the doorframe. Handsome in dark denim, a black t-shirt, and a black leather jacket. “We should hurry,” he says, lingering at the entrance. “Go on.”
Wordless, I nod. My pulse is racing. I barely catch my breath by the minute I make it to the bedroom. With quivering hands, I grab a gym bag and stuff it with a few changes of clothes, shoes. Then I dash to the bathroom and grab everything I’d take with me on a weekend break… although this sounds like anything but that.
8
GAVRIIL
Fuck. How will I be able to resist her? It’s taken all of my self-control not to jump on her and devour her with sultry kisses. My inner bear does not listen to sense or reason. It wants what it wants. I don’t think it’s ever yelled at me with such harsh determination. I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this before. Not even with Bella… This is going to be hard as hell. But there’s no other way I can protect her.
“You haven’t told me your name…” Luciana says. Her tone is sweet.Luciana. Even her name is lovely.
Double fuck.
“It’s Gavriil,” I say with reluctance.
“Oh…” I see her stop in the middle of the bedroom. Luciana slips on a pair of jeans. She’s tugging on the trim of her oversized t-shirt. She’s going to take it off.
For the love of Chernobog.Against my bear’s claims, I look away. She has absolutely no idea of the torment I’m going through right now. I shut my eyes and pray to all the gods that the woman dresses quickly.
“Are you…?” she asks.
“Are you ready?” I interrupt. Everything in this room is redolent of her enticing fragrance. Foolishly, I try to convince myself it’ll get easier once we’re in my home, which is a large estate. But still. I know it won’t make a difference.
“Che cavolo...” Luciana mutters in the lowest of voices, but my hearing picks it up. She’s crossed at me for my brashness, but her voice is so tender I can’t stop myself from smiling and shaking my head.I’m so screwed.
Finally, she zips up her bag. “Ready as I can be,” she says, standing at the bedroom’s doorway.
I straighten. “Great. Let’s go.”
We hurryout of the elevator. Word of mouth spreads rapidly between immortals. I’m sure we’ll hear from them soon enough.
“Come on,” I urge her as we cross the building’s gates. I move forward, but Luciana lags behind.
“Is that…?” she mumbles.
When I look back, her widened eyes stare at the pool of blood on the pavement.Dammit, I forgot about that.At least the vampire’s remains are gone.
She turns to me, pale and sickly. I catch her in my arms fast, seconds before she hits the ground. “Luciana...” Slowly, her starry eyes fix on mine. I promised myself I wouldn’t do this, but… I press two fingers on her forehead. “Obliviscor,”I whisper, erasing that bit of memory.
Instantly, she faints.
