Page 108 of The Hunger
He sighed heavily and released me. His expression was far from apologetic. In fact, it seemed more resigned than anything.
“Right. No public displays of affection.”
Why did those words hurt me? Maybe it was less the words and more the underlying disappointment they conveyed. What did he expect me to do? Ravish him in the hallway like some wanton succubus?
Flushing, I turned away from him and continued to the pools. The humid air wrapped around me the minute I opened the door, and that was the only welcoming thing about the place. Mermaids hissed at me and immediately dove into the water. All except for River. She lifted herself out of the pool, shedding her fins for legs.
“After the shit you pulled last time you were in here, you have bigger balls than the mutt behind you for showing up again.”
“Mutt?” Fenris said, sounding hurt. “I thought we were friends.”
“We were until you started backing Bo Peep here.”
“A human reference? Very impressive, River. You were paying attention in class. Did you hear the one about Miss Muffet?”
While they bantered, I focused on that thing inside of me, like Mom had told me to do. However, that thing was more interested in the lust coming off of Fenris than the disagreeable mermaid crossing the tiled floor. I gave a frustrated sigh and shuffled a step back, hoping that leaning against Fenris would be enough of a compromise that it would pay attention to what I wanted it to do.
River grinned, likely thinking my move had been a fearful retreat, and Fenris’s arm wrapped around my waist. He nuzzled my neck from behind, sending a shiver of need racing down my back. My hunger spiked. That dark thing inside of me undulated, calling to Fenris. He groaned and brushed a kiss against the back of my head at the same time his hands moved to grip my hips.
A slow smile curled my lips, and I fell into the need to eat. The flavors of lemon cake and spice cake coated my tongue. I lifted my arms, intent on reaching behind me to run my fingers through this delicious wolf’s hair.
“Aw, look at this. Eliana actually knows how to feed.”
My hold on Fenris loosened. When he would have tried to keep me, I gave him the barest shake of my head as a warning. His reluctance to release me was the only thing that appeased my anger as my attention snapped to the mermaid. How dare she speak to me like I was some lowly being unworthy of her presence when she was the one unworthy of mine?
“Feel the weight of my presence and know who I am, water-dweller.” River immediately fell to her knees. “I am outside of your food chain.”
Fenris’s fingers dug into my hips as he turned me to face him.
“Is it time for a swim, Eliana?” he asked. “Or a kiss?”
I purred and ran a finger over his lips.
“Both. Let’s get rid of these pesky clothes first.”
He rested his forehead against mine.
“Only after you feed some more.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I fed deeply. Slowly, that dark thing inside of me settled enough that I realized what I’d done. Untangling myself from Fenris and ignoring his sigh, I looked at River.
“We have no quarrel.” I lifted my head, noting the still water in the pools, and tried pushing my will out to all of them. “We have no quarrel,” I repeated.
River snorted. “The hell we don’t, Eliana. I don’t know what kind of mind-trick spell the druids gave you, but you have five seconds to let me off my knees so I can eat the flesh off your face.”
“I think you mean or I’ll eat the flesh off your face,’” Fenris corrected.
River slowly shook her head, the hate showing in her eyes. “Nope. And when I’m done with her, I’m coming after you, Fenris.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
My reaction to River’s threat was swift and completely unplanned. The dark thing rose inside me, so smooth and subtle that I almost wasn’t aware of it. Once I noticed, though, I realized why it had responded. Instinct. Just like Mom had done at the Club, I’d embraced the piece of myself that would give me the tools and power I needed to protect someone I cared about.
However, my instinct wasn’t only to protect. I wanted to dominate. She needed to learn that I was far superior to her in every way. Thankfully, I managed to shove that part of myself back into its quiet place rather than ordering River to wiggle like a fish on its belly before me.
Instead of force, I went with finesse.
“You need more love in your life,” I said, husky notes smoothing my tone. “So much more love. Why don’t you return to the pool and look for the love you’re missing?”
