Page 41 of A Vampire Bewitched
He narrowed his eyes, and she could see the muscles jump as he clenched his jaw. “Take. It. Off.” He started advancing toward her. “NOW.”
Emma began to panic. No, no, no! How much had he seen? Tears filled her eyes as she begged him, “Nik, please.Please. Leave it alone.” Stepping back into the shower, with a death grip on her towel under the onslaught of water, she got as far from him as she could. She didn’t want him to see the rest of her body. She was ugly and scarred and…and…ruined. He’d already seen enough. More than enough.
A harsh sob was wrung from her chest as she suddenly comprehended why he was reacting the way he was. Horrified he’d seen so much, she gripped that towel so hard her fingers hurt.
The wretched sound that burst from her drew him up short, and he stayed just out of arm’s reach of her. “Emma…I want to see them. Ineedto see them.”
She shook her head frantically. “No. No, Nik.”
Reaching out a hand toward her, but not touching her, he said, “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’msorry.”
Dropping his hand back down to his side, he just stared at her for long moments. When he did finally speak, his voice was hoarse with the emotions shining from his bright eyes. “What did they do to you?”
She trembled visibly in the warm water, desperately clutching her drenched towel to herself. “Please…” she whispered.
Why wouldn’t he just leave?
Chapter 23
Fury surged through Nikulas. He couldn’t control it. Fury at himself for scaring her, and fury at the things that had torn her up like a piece of meat. If there was any doubt in his mind the things she’d described existed, it wasn’t there anymore.
Stepping into the shower fully clothed, he ignored her protests and pulled her trembling body into his arms. She wasn’t broken. He would hold her pieces together. His strong, brave, sweet girl. His little warrior. She had nothing to be ashamed of.
He held her head to his chest and wrapped his other arm tightly around her back, holding her to him like she was the most precious thing he’d ever beheld.
She is,he realized.
Tearfully, she whispered, “I just don’t want you to see…”
“How stunningly gorgeous you are? You’re right. Probably not a good idea. I don’t know that I’d be able to control myself. It would totally ruin my long running status as the monk of the group here.”
It took her a moment, but then…her muffled laugh was the sweetest thing he’d ever heard. “Somehow, I don’t believe that,” she mumbled into his wet shirt.
“It’s absolutely true. The guys tease me relentlessly about it.” He was trying to distract her, and it worked.
“How is that possible? I mean, you’re…you…and you look like…you do.”
“That’s a story for another time.” As he felt her start to relax, he loosened his grip and leaned back to look down into her face. “Okay?”
Peeking up at him from beneath her lashes, she gave a small shrug as she awkwardly tried to hike up her towel while still in his arms.
“I’m sorry for barging in like I did. I should have let you know I was in the bedroom.” He wanted to rip the towel off of her. Wanted to demand she tell him, in detail, what those things did to her. So, she wouldn’t have to bear the pain alone anymore. But he did neither of those things.
In an act of sheer willpower, he kissed her on top of the head and took a step back. “I’ll leave you to your shower. There’s more towels in the closet right there.”
Emma stayed him with a hand on his arm. “Thank you.”
He gave her a little smirk. “For barging in on you unannounced, invading your privacy, and yelling at you?”
“No.” She laughed again, holding her sopping towel with one hand and running her fingers through her steam dampened hair with the other. “Not for that part. For not pushing the matter. And for lying.” She let go of his arm.
But he stayed where he was, frowning down at her. “Lying?”
“Yeah. You know. About the ‘gorgeous’ thing and all that.” Color rushed into her face as she lowered her head in embarrassment. “I’m far from it, but I appreciate the gesture.”
Nik’s anger returned full force. Gripping her chin, he tilted her face up to his until she was forced to look at him. Her eyes were wide as he gently squeezed her jaw, just enough to make sure he had her full attention. “I NEVER lie, Emma. You would do well to remember that.”
Loosening his grip, he ran the backs of his fingers across her cheek and down her neck. “Everything about you is perfect to me, don’teverdoubt that. Your face, your hair, your scent, your voice, your soul…even your scars. Especially your scars. Every single second I’m near you is absolute torture for me. You couldn’t even begin to comprehend the amount of willpower I have to have not to throw you down onto this cold bathroom floor right now and fuck you senseless. Every single second of every single day. I don’t care where we are, or who’s around. It’s always like that when I’m near you.”
