Page 153 of The Spider Queen
“A few minutes. Did you…feelme?”
I nodded.
He slowly unclenched his hands as he stared at me with a dark, heavy-lidded gaze. “Did you want me to come in because you wish to offer me pity?”
“Comfort,” I corrected.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.” I frowned. “I felt your suffering and I—” Shrugging, I forced myself to look away from him. “I don’t know what’s real. Our connection clouds my feelings. But I still want to…if you’ll let me.”
“Let you what?”
“Be there for you.”
He didn’t reply.
“Don’t erect more walls between us. Not when they’re starting to come down.”
Thane finally dragged his dark eyes back to look at me. “It’s been a long time, Poppy—since I allowed someone in.”
“You’re doing fine,” I assured him.
“I don’t want to talk.” His eyes dipped down my body.
I shivered. How the hell could he do that to me? Make me feel like he was touching me when he was standing on the other side of the room?
He still hadn’t come inside. What would happen if he did? Would I be able to keep my hands off him?
My gaze slid up his chest. I knew what he looked like without a shirt.
Glorious.
Perfection.
“Love becomes an obligation,” he said, jarring me out of a lust-induced haze. “Love makes you weak. Love for my brother killed my father. Love for my father killed my mother.”
“Then why do you insist on making me fall in love with you?” When he didn’t reply, I turned away from him. “Get out.”
Chapter 7
Thane turned and stalked out of my bedroom. The wall quietly slid shut behind him, and I was alone again…and I really didn’t like it.
Just when I thought I was making headway in understanding him, he did something like this. More barriers to scale. I wondered what was at the heart of him. Had he shown me anything genuine? Was it all a fabrication?
Thane had mind fuckery on lockdown.
“Vodka,” I commanded.
A crystal goblet appeared in my hand. I looked into the glass to see dark red liquid.
“Guess there’s no vodka here?”
I didn’t get an answer. I took a drink. It was better than any mixed cocktail I had ever enjoyed. Effervescent, bright, delicious.
It soothed my battered nerves and dulled my senses.
My thoughts drifted to Hunter. I drank more of the potent liquid to cover the feelings of loss and guilt.
