Arabella. Still thinking only of yourself. Again.
Still behind him, she moved to within inches, inhaling his scent and letting it seep through her body, into her chest, where he lived in her heart. Blessed Goddess, she’d missed him.
Steven tensed a split second before she whispered in his ear.
“You’re in danger.”
He didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge her at all, except for the clenching of his hands at his sides.
“The only danger I’m in, you put me in, Arabella.” He didn’t bother to turn. He knew she would hear him.
She huffed but he was right, to a point. She had to get him out of here now. She saw Kerri jawing to her friends on the other side of the stage about the jerk who’d offended her.
“Then I supposed it’s up to me to save your ass this time. Come on.”
He turned and the anger in his eyes knocked her back a step. Anger directed at her. In all the years she’d known him, even the last time she’d seen him, his anger had never been directed at her. It made her heart shrink to realize just how pissed off he was.
Your fault. All your fault.
Turning, she headed for the door through which he’d entered, knowing he’d follow. Steven wasn’t stupid. He knew if he stayed any longer, one of the men would challenge him.
Neither of them needed that. Steven wouldn’t use his magic to defend himself, and she was still shaken by what had happened last week.
Instead of heading through Harry’s office, Bella turned left into another hall. She didn’t need light to see the way. And even though Steven couldn’t see as well as she could, he should be able to follow her with his senses only. If the stubborn fool would use them.
Serve him right if he walks into a wall.
The brat who lived in her head, the voice she’d tried to control, to smother, for the past three years piped up. Bitchy, spoiled rotten.
That wasn’t her anymore.
The brat snorted.
Bella wanted to slap her.
At the end of the hall, the metal door needed only a push on the right spot to open. They stepped into the alley behind the club, the space so narrow a car couldn’t fit through.
Her nose twitched at the musty odor, but the scent of the man behind her made her thighs ache to wrap around his waist while he buried himself deep inside her. She remembered warm summer nights, making love under the stars at the Castigliones’ house in Chester County. She tilted her head to look up at the sky. Bruised and swollen clouds obscured the nearly full moon and stars.
Her skin itched, just as it had her first time. She wanted to howl. The wolf wanted out.
She had control of her change now.
She just couldn’t control him.
She turned to face Steven, his gorgeous lips set in a straight line as he glared at her.
Fine, she’d break the ice.
Her back straightened and she settled her hands on her waist. “Someone tried to kidnap me last week. They wanted me to get to you.”
Rage and fear fell into Steven’s stomach like acid.
Rage that she’d made him come after her, forced him back to the world he’d left behind three years ago.
But the fear… The fear sunk hooks deep into his stomach.
His gaze flew over her. He didn’t see any outward bruises but she wasn’t lying. He knew Bella. She was spoiled, willful, uncontrollable, passionate. But a liar? It wasn’t in her.
He took a deep breath, forcing down both emotions before they overwhelmed him to the point that he couldn’t think. “What happened?”
She stared up at him, her brown eyes wary. She’d expected him to doubt her.
His stomach clenched with regret. What did that say about their relationship?
What relationship?
That clench became pain.
Her eyes narrowed as she drew in a breath. “After work Tuesday a week ago, I was walking to my car and two men nearly ran me over. They said it was an accident then they tried to get me into their car, said they’d give me a ride to the hospital. But I could smell the lie on them. I turned and ran.”
She paused
Still behind him, she moved to within inches, inhaling his scent and letting it seep through her body, into her chest, where he lived in her heart. Blessed Goddess, she’d missed him.
Steven tensed a split second before she whispered in his ear.
“You’re in danger.”
He didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge her at all, except for the clenching of his hands at his sides.
“The only danger I’m in, you put me in, Arabella.” He didn’t bother to turn. He knew she would hear him.
She huffed but he was right, to a point. She had to get him out of here now. She saw Kerri jawing to her friends on the other side of the stage about the jerk who’d offended her.
“Then I supposed it’s up to me to save your ass this time. Come on.”
He turned and the anger in his eyes knocked her back a step. Anger directed at her. In all the years she’d known him, even the last time she’d seen him, his anger had never been directed at her. It made her heart shrink to realize just how pissed off he was.
Your fault. All your fault.
Turning, she headed for the door through which he’d entered, knowing he’d follow. Steven wasn’t stupid. He knew if he stayed any longer, one of the men would challenge him.
Neither of them needed that. Steven wouldn’t use his magic to defend himself, and she was still shaken by what had happened last week.
Instead of heading through Harry’s office, Bella turned left into another hall. She didn’t need light to see the way. And even though Steven couldn’t see as well as she could, he should be able to follow her with his senses only. If the stubborn fool would use them.
Serve him right if he walks into a wall.
The brat who lived in her head, the voice she’d tried to control, to smother, for the past three years piped up. Bitchy, spoiled rotten.
That wasn’t her anymore.
The brat snorted.
Bella wanted to slap her.
At the end of the hall, the metal door needed only a push on the right spot to open. They stepped into the alley behind the club, the space so narrow a car couldn’t fit through.
Her nose twitched at the musty odor, but the scent of the man behind her made her thighs ache to wrap around his waist while he buried himself deep inside her. She remembered warm summer nights, making love under the stars at the Castigliones’ house in Chester County. She tilted her head to look up at the sky. Bruised and swollen clouds obscured the nearly full moon and stars.
Her skin itched, just as it had her first time. She wanted to howl. The wolf wanted out.
She had control of her change now.
She just couldn’t control him.
She turned to face Steven, his gorgeous lips set in a straight line as he glared at her.
Fine, she’d break the ice.
Her back straightened and she settled her hands on her waist. “Someone tried to kidnap me last week. They wanted me to get to you.”
Rage and fear fell into Steven’s stomach like acid.
Rage that she’d made him come after her, forced him back to the world he’d left behind three years ago.
But the fear… The fear sunk hooks deep into his stomach.
His gaze flew over her. He didn’t see any outward bruises but she wasn’t lying. He knew Bella. She was spoiled, willful, uncontrollable, passionate. But a liar? It wasn’t in her.
He took a deep breath, forcing down both emotions before they overwhelmed him to the point that he couldn’t think. “What happened?”
She stared up at him, her brown eyes wary. She’d expected him to doubt her.
His stomach clenched with regret. What did that say about their relationship?
What relationship?
That clench became pain.
Her eyes narrowed as she drew in a breath. “After work Tuesday a week ago, I was walking to my car and two men nearly ran me over. They said it was an accident then they tried to get me into their car, said they’d give me a ride to the hospital. But I could smell the lie on them. I turned and ran.”
She paused
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