Page 37 of Thane's Demon
“You look like you are about to start a war because I won’t let you walk me to the door.”
He didn’t smile. Not even close. In fact, he looked annoyed, a slow burn of displeasure settling across his features.
I shrugged softly and teased, “Besides, it wasn’t a date, remember?”
Something flickered through him at that, something sharp and possessive, though he hid it quickly. Instead of addressing it, he abruptly asked, “Do you have a phone?” The change in topic startled a small laugh out of me.
“Yes, of course.”
“I want your number.” No hesitation, not even an attempt at pretending this was a casual request. My heart leaped because of it.
“You want my number,” I echoed, trying to keep the smile out of my voice and failing. “Really?” I scolded myself at the eagerness in my tone, unable to help myself.
“Yes,” he said, holding out his hand like a man who wasn’t very used to being refused anything. So, I dug my phone out of my bag and handed it to him, watching the way his fingers dwarfed the device. He typed quickly, then handed it back. A second later, I heard a faint beep from his pocket. My eyebrows lifted.
“Did you just text yourself from my phone?”
“I did.” He met my gaze without a hint of embarrassment.
“Now I have your number, and you have mine.”
“And why exactly would I need your number?” I asked, trying to sound casual even though what I truly wanted was his answer, the one that would tell me he was not walking away from this, from me. Maybe this wasn’t him pulling back like he had warned earlier, but him letting something new slip between us before either of us could stop it.
“Call me,” he said, stepping closer as his voice dipped so low it vibrated through me. “If you ever need anything. Anything at all, Alora, you call me.” A soft breath left me, shaky and small.
“I will,”I whispered, feeling strangely reassured by the certainty in his voice. “I promise.”
He gave a short nod, as if sealing a vow, then glanced briefly upward toward the high-rise behind me. Somehow, without being told, he knew which floor my apartment was on. The realization sent a strange chill down my spine, mixed with excitement.
He stepped closer once more, close enough that I felt the warmth of him, close enough that the world seemed to lean toward him along with me. His hand lifted slowly, almost reluctantly, and the backs of his fingers brushed down my cheek, just like they had done that night. The touch was so gentle it stole the air from my lungs. My eyes fluttered shut, my pulse thundering in my throat, because I thought he was going to kiss me. Every breath I took pressed me closer to something I was not ready for and yet wanted desperately. I even closed my eyes in anticipation, more than ready for it.
But instead, he murmured near my lips, his breath warm against my skin,
“Until the next time I stalk you.”
My eyes opened instantly, but…
He was gone.
One moment brushed against me like heat, the next swallowed by shadow as if he had never been standing there at all. I exhaled shakily, my heartbeat refusing to settle. So, after one more scan around the area for him, I forced myself to cross the road and step into the building. But my mind was far from home, and it seemed as if I wasn’t the only one thinking about the other, as a soft chime sounded from my phone.
A message.
From him.
I opened it, breath held tight inside my chest…
Thanks for the date, my little dreamer.
16
NEW PREY
THANE
Iwatched her walk away from where I had left her, and every step she took toward that building felt like a small act of violence against something inside me. She had no idea what she did to me. But then how could she? How could she know that simply turning her back to go home would feel like this? Though I had reminded myself that I had also been the one to say goodbye… my restraint would only stretch too far around her.
Ridiculous, I told myself. Weak. She was just a girl, just a human girl with soft, fluffy hair and big hazel eyes. Eyes that had a way of looking at me like I was not already dangerously damaged. I should have turned and left. I should have melted back into the crowd and forgotten the way her skin had felt against my fingers. The way her voice had said my name like it was something worthy of being spoken.
