Page 64 of Bad Moon Rising
“Why is that? Hmm? It isn’t the curse making you say that.” She compressed her lips against a smile.
Her words drew him back. Maybe it wasn’t threats against her that worried him. Maybe it was him. He was afraid of the risk. Of having her and losing her. Life was full of losses. That he knew firsthand.
“Good luck being rational tonight,” his mother shot over her shoulder as she walked off.
Chapter Seventeen
Nova entered the cabin Evie said she’d been assigned, her body still tingling from the excitement of target practice. Seems they were to stay on the yacht overnight and get dropped back in Milan in the morning.
Roman sat on the far side of the sprawling king-size bed that dominated the room, head bowed with his back to her and feet on the floor. The mahogany wood paneled walls were adorned with gold furnishings. The bed had several huge gold throw pillows and quilted covers that advertised silky comfort. She glanced upward at the skylight that showed stars high in the sky and the luminous full moon. Something about the moon sent a shiver of longing through her. She craved…what?
Her focus settled on Roman.Him.
Get out of here.
“I must have the wrong room.” She turned to exit.
“No. This is the right one. There are only so many sleeping quarters on the boat. We were put in here on purpose. She wants us to give in to the moon’s lure.”
She turned back toward him, geared up for a fight, but noticed he avoided eye contact. He flexed his fingers a few times and then rubbed the back of his neck.
“Are you okay, Roman?”
He dragged his hand through his hair. “I’m going. Don’t know why I’m still in here. I’ll sleep on a sofa or something somewhere else. Anywhere not in here.”
As he got close, he arched his body to avoid touching her while he scooted around her to the door.
“Beyond your mother playing matchmaker, what’s wrong?” She caught his arm.
He froze, blinking at where her hand was on him.
Her chest tightened. Breaths came in short pants. Her stomach fluttered, and she flashed hot everywhere.
“Let me go,” he said low and gravely. “I can’t… Tonight’s moon…” His turn to stare at the moon through the skylight. “I’m so on edge, I can barely handle anything. You have to feel its pull. We can’t be close tonight. It’s dangerous.” His eyes met hers for the first time since she entered. The sheer intensity of desire in their depths sent a shiver of pleasure straight to her core. “I take suppression serum, which has helped stop the moon madness in the past, but it’s not working.” His eyelids fell to half-mast and his breathing harshened. “I can’t protect you from me tonight. I’m trying to do what’s right. Let me leave.”
“Okay, leave.” She released his arm and turned away.
He didn’t move.
Hoarsely, she whispered, “Go. If that’s what you want.”
He dropped his head. Barely audible, he said, “It’s not what I want. It’s what’s right.”
“For who? The people who order you around? Some lycan society you don’t owe allegiance? Or are you afraid you’ll find something here you can’t handle?”
“The curse is eating me from the inside to follow orders. I don’t want to hurt you.” His face lost all color as he doubled over and gasped as if struggling to breathe. He wheezed and massaged his chest. He muttered, “I won’t, not tonight. Go to hell.”
Somehow, he pulled further into himself and trembled.
On instinct, she wrapped her fingers around his tattooed wrist and said,“Ease the punishment for tonight so this warrior may feel love’s light.”
She repeated it twice more while rubbing along the tattoo. Her head whirled with vertigo from the energy depletion, but she was more than willing to donate to give him a break from the pain.
He whooshed out a long exhale. He took a few deep breaths. “The burn is gone. Thank you.” He tipped his head back for a moment and closed his eyes. “That’s the third or fourth time—”
“Now you can make the decision if you stay or go not based on here.” She touched the curse tattoo. “But with what’s in here.” Nova patted his chest.
“I can’t handle it if something happens to you,” he whispered.
