Page 123 of Dukes Are Forever
Because I want what Lena has.
She rested her chin on her knees, closing her eyes briefly. God, what a mess. How was she to obfuscate the truth now?
"My father ignored me all my life," she admitted. "I've always been his greatest possession, but he never truly valued me for me. But you.... You were distant and cool, but occasionally I would see your eyes light up when we sparred. And it sounds ridiculous, but you gave as good as you got, and sometimes you'd almost smile at something I said and it felt like a compliment."
"You enjoyed torturing me."
"I hate it when you ignore me."
"Then I won't ignore you." He hesitated. "You're going to fall asleep in the bath if you continue."
"Don't let me drown."
He laughed under his breath. "Never. Here." He reached for a towel. "Stand up."
Adele didn't bother to argue. She slowly unfolded herself and let Malloryn wrap the towel around her.
Bubbles sluiced down her thighs as he tucked the edge of the towel between her breasts to anchor it. Then his hands came to rest upon her waist.
Where they stayed.
Adele set her palms on his shoulders, as his gaze dipped to her breasts. Despite her pain and exhaustion, she felt that heated gaze like a caress.
"Malloryn?" she whispered.
When he looked up, his irises were flooded with pure black—a sure sign the craving had him in its grip.
Her breath caught.
Only blood thirst, sexual hunger, or the sheer possessive nature of the predator roused that sort of look.
But which one was it?
"For all your fancy words, I'm going to start thinking you have wicked intentions if you keep looking at me like that," she said.
"I don't."
Liar.
Adele arched a brow. She could feel the towel slipping free from its hold. "And yet, your eyes are black. Do you want me, Malloryn?" She brushed her thumb to the base of his throat. "Do you want my blood?"
There.The muscle ticked in his jaw. "No."
"Liar," she breathed. "That is one problem with the craving virus. It betrays itself when the predator rises. You want my blood, don't deny it."
"I thought you sought to avoid such predators?" His lips thinned. "And I was trying to be considerate, what with your past. It's merely a result of my not drinking enough today, and the consequences of the ball. It will pass. Or I'll send for some blud-wein."
It wasn't the bloodletting she had a problem with. Husbands and wives often shared blood privileges. "I trust you. I never thought I'd say that about a blue blood, but I trust you. You wouldn't hurt me. And it would be my choice to allow it."
"No," he said, as if the only lifeline he had in this moment was to repeat the word.
Damn him. "You're such a stubborn bastard."
"And you're a distraction I cannot afford."
A distraction, am I?Her eyes narrowed. "Better than being a coward."
Oh, that earned her a heated look. "No one has ever dared say that to my face before—"
