Avenging Angel (The Fallen #4)(75)

But Tanner didn’t rush inside. He stopped. Shut the bedroom door behind him, and took a deep breath.

I could have lost her.

He understood the game that the killer was playing now. The sick prick. The guy had set things up perfectly, and Tanner had been the one forced to choose.

Save the angel or save the demon.

Bastard.

Tanner had managed, just barely, to save them both. But what would happen next time? He couldn’t just let his own brother die.

He wouldn’t let Marna slip away from him.

So next time . . . he reached for the edge of his bloody shirt and tossed the garment aside. Next time, Tanner would make sure he was the one hunting—and the one killing.

He’d keep both Marna and Cody safe. He had to. There just wasn’t any other option for him.

He kicked off his shoes. Finished stripping. The water continued to pour from inside the shower. The steam rose, and drifted into the room like smoke.

Tanner glanced down at his arms. He’d shifted a few more times, trying to push his body’s natural healing powers into overdrive. The burns and blisters had all but faded. Now there were just faint lines, scars, left to remind him of how close he’d come to death.

More scars. More pain. At this point, his body was a mess of memories. Most days, he just wanted to forget them. But these new marks . . . the ones that reminded him that he’d gotten Marna out of that blaze, that she was safe . . .

He wouldn’t be forgetting them anytime soon.

Tanner stalked toward the bathroom. The old hardwood creaked beneath his feet. A few more steps, and his hand pushed the faded bathroom door open all the way. Marna stood behind a thin, clear shower curtain. He could see a perfect outline of her body. Water dripped down her curves. Such a gorgeous body. He’d touched and kissed every part of her.

I want to do it again.

“I was wondering if you would come in.” Her voice drifted to him, but Marna didn’t turn to face Tanner. “You sure took your time about it.”

He swallowed and realized he could already taste her.

“How’s your brother?” she asked. Still under the water. Still so perfect she made him ache. His cock couldn’t swell any bigger.

In her. That’s where he wanted to be.

He was almost drooling. Right. Way to be in control. Tanner cleared his throat. “He’s stable.” For now. The doc, a lady who’d barely looked twenty—but then paranormals were good at hiding their real ages—had patched Cody up the best she could. He was resting, and as for surviving, he’d better.

Marna faced him. Finally. She pushed the curtain aside and stared at him through the steam and pouring water. Her gaze dropped to his chest. Lingered. “You’ve got blood on you.”

He’d always had blood on his hands. It would never wash off. He took another step toward her.

She lifted a hand. “You were an ass.”

His angel and her dirty mouth. He rather liked that. When she cursed at him, he always got turned on. How screwed up was that? “I was . . .” He cleared his throat and managed to drag his gaze off her breasts. Want them in my mouth. “Jealous.”

Her brows rose.

Did she really think they were just gonna stand there, naked, and talk? If so, Marna didn’t understand a whole lot about shifters.

He was managing to keep his claws in and the beast on a leash, and that was pretty much all he could handle.

Tanner climbed into the too-small shower with her. Deliberately, he let his body brush against hers. “Yeah, jealous.” The water crashed over him. “As in . . . if that vamp touches you again . . .” He’d been able to all but smell the vamp’s lust, and it hadn’t just been lust for her blood. “He’ll lose those fingers.” Not an idle threat.

And, unlike a few other paranormals that Tanner knew, the vamp wouldn’t regrow those appendages.

“I don’t want him to touch me.” Her gaze met his. “I don’t want him.”

His hands rose. Sank into the heavy weight of her damp hair. “You want me.” Not a question.

Her chin lifted. “As much as you want me.”

Enough talking. He couldn’t handle any more. Tanner’s mouth took hers. The kiss was deep and hot, and just made the shower steam more. He’d never be able to get enough of her taste. Sweet but rich. Flowing right on his tongue. Making him insane with need.

Her body, so slick and warm, pressed against his. His fingers skimmed down her back, over the scars that he’d learned could bring her pleasure and not just more pain.

He only wanted her pleasure. Always.

She moaned into his mouth, and his fingers trailed lightly over the marks on her back. Raised ridges and the ghosts of wings that were gone. Only . . . he could almost feel those wings. So soft and silken beneath his touch.

But her hands rose and pushed against his chest. She shook her head at him, and Tanner’s gut clenched.

That damn vamp was right. And Tanner had been wrong. Marna didn’t want to have sex with him. She was still angry.

Some women don’t want animals.

His breath seemed cold in his chest. Strange, when the water was so warm.

“This time,” Marna told him, and her voice had become a husky rumble that skated right over his flesh, “it’s my way.”

Uh, her way? He’d take her any way.