Page 33 of The Discovered
“Listen. Only stalkers know how long it’s been since someone’s last meal.”
“I’m both a kidnapper and a stalker now, is that right?” he asked as if he’d taken the insult seriously.
“Oh, stop pouting. It was ajoke.” I exaggerated the last word, shaking my head at him. “Stop being so serious.”
“Keeping you alive and making sure you’re prepared for what’s to come is a serious job,” he murmured.
“I’m not a child. I think I learned how to keep myself alive a long time ago.”
“Well, you’re not particularly good at it,” he muttered.
I laughed.
“What is so funny?”
I shrugged. “You.”
He flustered. “Glad I can amuse you.” He looked like he wanted to say something more but didn’t. Instead, he watched as I set my finished herb smoothie down on the bedside table.
I leaned back on the pillows. Across from me, he leaned back on his palms. We stared at each other for a moment in silence. When he moved closer, my breath caught in my throat as he gently lifted my left arm and kissed my wrist softly.
“Will that speed the healing, too?” I asked, my voice still scratchy.
“I figure it doesn’t hurt to try,” he said. His eyes were utterly seductive, but I could tell it still pained him to see my bruises.
“Well.” I swallowed. “Then you should probably be thorough.”
He smiled, crawling over me so that his face was mere inches from mine. He looked down at my lips, but then cocked and moved his head lower so he could reach my neck. I turned to give him better access as he left the lightest of kisses along my bruised skin. He moved from one side to the other, and I mirrored him. Each time his lips met my throat, a shiver went down my spine.
My breath picked up as he finished, and as his lips were so close to mine again, I was nearly ready to beg him to kiss me. He didn’t. I must’ve given myself away because he looked rather contented with himself as he pulled back, leaving me yearning.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so gentle with someone,” he murmured.
I quirked a brow. Why was that not surprising? Of course, Daelon wouldn’t be intogentle. All of the innuendos he’d made came rushing back to me.
He smiled shyly, leaning on his side against the pillows. I turned so that we faced each other. “I just—this isn’t something I’m used to.”
I didn’t have the gall to ask him to elaborate on whatever non-gentle relationships hewasused to.
“I’m not used to feeling this way,” he clarified.
“Oh,” I said, barely audible. “Feeling what way?” My eyes probed his.
Daelon shook his head. “We really shouldn’t, Áine.”
“Shouldn’t what?” Why must he always make things difficult? I didn’t understand why he had all of these arbitrary rules for himself in place. I ignored the words of the wannabe devil that flashed in my mind, insinuating that Daelon was hiding his identity. I knew who Daelon was. Even without the help of my gift, I could sense it. “Nothing that you’re hiding from me could change anything.”
Daelon sighed. “It will.” He looked so conflicted; his features wracked with discomfort. “When I was close to killing you—” I opened my mouth to tell him to stop torturing himself, but he pressed a finger to my lips. “No, listen. As you faded out, you sent me what you were feeling. That’s what brought me back, I think.”
My eyes widened as I remembered those moments, and I knew I was probably flushed. My feelings for him had been the only thing I could think about. “And you don’t feel the same way,” I finished for him. Maybe this was all just lust for him.
“Áine, that’s not what I’m saying.” He took in a breath. “Like I said before, I just don’t want to take advantage of this situation. I don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize what we’re working toward. It’s all just—complicated.”
“Stop treating me like I can’t make my own decisions about how I act and feel. You are never going to take advantage of me, Daelon.”
He sighed, and he moved a strand of hair behind my ear. “Maybe you’re right. I didn’t think I would feel this way. I’veneverfelt this way,” he said. He was angelically vulnerable again, like he looked only in his sleep. Fear gleamed deep in his eyes. “I don’t know if I can stop myself anymore. Not now.”
“I don’t know if I can either,” I whispered back, reaching for his hand. “So maybe we shouldn’t.”
