"Not this way," he whispered. "When you come to me… fully as yourself. When your love for me and only me blots out any sort of physical need you have — that's when I'll give in."
"And if that never happens?" I fought against him; I just wanted a taste, and I didn't even like him. It made no sense.
He shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time."
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the pain rather than on him… because when I focused on him, I hated myself a little bit more.
"Questions—" he choked out. "I know you have questions… so ask."
"Can't…" I shook my head. His voice was so pretty, so deep. What would it feel like to be with him? Just once. He'd make the pain go away; he'd make everything better. If I could just touch him more, taste him. My body strained toward his. "I can't stop thinking about you."
"Flattered," he said dryly. "Try."
"But—"
"Favorite color."
"What?" My eyes jerked open. "Did you just ask me my favorite color?"
He smirked. "Tell me it's green."
I rolled my eyes, some of the need dying a bit at his arrogance. "White."
His nostrils flared. "Cassius would be pleased."
"Not because of Cassius," I said in a soft voice. "Because white's like a blank slate. It means starting over."
"You wish…" He swallowed, his head tilting to the side, pieces of dark hair falling across his sculpted face. "…to start over?"
"I wish I would have run…" My body trembled as more heat invaded my stomach. "…when they called my number."
His smile made my stomach clench. "You can't run from destiny."
"I could have tried."
"You would have failed," he said in an amused tone. "And you would have most likely died at Cassius's hand for trying."
"Why did he mark me? How did he mark me?"
Ethan sighed. "His touch… if he touches any part of you, it marks you. He has to will it to happen, so it's a switch he can turn on and off. All of the Dark Ones can. He touched your shoulder, infused your body. It never takes much from a Dark One. They're… powerful."
I nodded my head, remembering the sting of cold that hit me when Cassius had touched my shoulder. "And the only way to take the marking away?"
"Is to cover it up." Ethan clenched his teeth. "Or in this case… infuse you with my essence."
"Your essence is strong enough to do that?" My teeth clenched together in pain. The heat from my stomach had traveled to my mouth. I eyed the water greedily.
Ethan lifted it to my lips. "Only if I'm without a mate…"
I sipped the liquid and took a breath. "You had a mate."
"Had," Ethan repeated.
I didn't push him; if there was one thing I'd learned, it was that when his eyes glowed, it wasn't because he was in a particularly happy mood. Water dripped from my chin; he caught it with his fingertip and brought it to his lips.
"You taste…" He closed his eyes. "…heavenly."
"Did you bite me?" I blurted.
He dropped his finger from his mouth and smirked. "You'd know if I bit you."
"So what did you do?"
"Shared my blood with you… the old fashioned way. With a knife."
"But wouldn't it have been easier to—"
"Biting is too personal," he finished, "intimate… not something shared with strangers."
"Or humans?" I asked.
"Or that."
"But Mason bit me."
"Mason has a different way of doing things, and, not that it matters, but his bite wasn't one of mating. It was done to try to cover up Cassius's mark, nothing more."
"So…" I pulled myself away from him; I was starting to get too hot again. "You've saved me… to what end?"
Ethan's eyes turned very serious as he whispered, "Hopefully, one day… you'll be able to return the favor. And save us."
Ethan
Her eyebrows drew together in what I could only assume was frustration. Her heart started to race, and then her eyes dilated as she glanced at my mouth again. If she did that one more time, I was going to lose my mind. I was already trying desperately to keep her from touching me too much. Because it affected me, as much as I wanted to deny it, to deny her.
Her physical contact was everything I'd been craving.
Giving in would be easy.
Staying away would be hard.
But traveling down that road again — knowing how it was likely to end — well, I wasn't so sure I would survive it. I was immortal, but my heart was still fragile.
And when it broke…
As an immortal, I suffered with unimaginable pain. Pain I never wanted to experience again, thus the reason for keeping myself firmly tucked away from the weak little human with the pretty smile.
I liked her hair.
It was gold, not really brown, not blond — just gold. The firelight made certain pieces glow. It was tempting to grab it, to sniff it, to wrap it around my fingers and imagine what she'd be like in the throes of passion.
"Ethan…" My name on her lips was ecstasy. I shook the thought away and tried to appear indifferent.
"Yes?"
"I can't save anyone… I can't even save myself."
"You're stronger than you think," I encouraged. "Trust me."
"That's just it." She tugged her lower lip into her mouth and chewed, her dark blue eyes sad. "You've given me no reason to."
"You're alive," I pointed out. "That's reason enough."
"He's not the best at comforting humans," came Alex's voice from the door. I could hear the amusement in his tone.
I rolled my eyes and turned, ready to bark at him to leave.
"Cassius called," Alex said in a bored tone. "Wanted to know if I know where the human is."
"And?"
"I lied." Alex rolled his eyes. "Of course."
"And he didn't believe you?"
"Naturally." Alex examined his fingernails and shrugged. "So I told him you'd trapped her in your lair and were having your way with her."
Genesis let out a little whimper and ran her hands down my chest again.
I clenched my teeth and hissed out a breath. "Could we not discuss this now?"
Alex held up his hands. "Just thought you should know… he isn't pleased that you've bonded with her. I lied and said it was complete."
"He'll still try to take her, regardless." I licked my lips and tried to focus on Alex rather than the fact that Genesis was drawing circles on my chest, making me want to lean into her, capture her lips and suck.
"Yup." Alex grinned as he watched the scene in front of him like it was some hilarious movie and not my life. "So, this looks cozy."
"Was there anything else?" I barked.
"Complete the mating." He nodded. "At least then her eyes will be opened fully… and we can see if this was all worth it."