The Ripple Effect (Rhiannon's Law #3)(23)

“I’ve got Judo this morning.” I cleared my throat and shifted the gym bag in my hands. “I wanted to run a few errands before class.”


“It’s five in the morning.” He started walking toward me and stopped when I took a step back. Despite our earlier kiss, it was an instinctive reaction. Weeks might have passed, but I clearly remembered what he’d done to me on a bed a mere yard or so away. The ghosts of my past were alive and aware.

He frowned, angry at my response and himself, I was certain. “Can’t you stay for a while? We need to talk.”

Pulling the duffel into my chest, I shook my head. “Thanks to your new houseguest, I’ve got a lot of shit to do.”

“Your class doesn’t start until ten.” He regarded me from behind narrowed eyes and thick, dark lashes. “You can spare me a few minutes.”

“How do you know when my class starts?” I’d only attended a few classes—starting a week ago—after the owner of Mike’s gym opened a dojo to teach women to defend themselves. It was a good place for starters and an even better place for someone like me who could use all the physical training she could get.

His shoulders contorted as he slid out of his coat and threw it across the desk. I tried not to notice the movement, or how his muscles lengthened and stretched beneath his shirt. I knew how hard those muscles would be, how firm they would feel under my hands. His skin would be cool, but it added to the allure. I’d touch him and he’d close his eyes and sigh, waiting for me to do more, until my teasing became too much and he took control...

Damn it to hell. I was screwed. I might remember being burned by the fire, but the flames continued to tempt me to touch.

“Do you honestly think that I haven’t kept an eye on you? Did you think for one minute that I’d allow you out of my sight after what I’d done?”

“You’ve been spying on me?” I lowered the bag, sparks of desire turning to outrage. Yes, I had an idea he had members of the vampire family watching over me. Learning that he was actually involved, however, stoked my temper.

“I’ve been watching over you.”

“Where I’m from, it’s the same thing. Stalking isn’t cool unless you’re an Edward.”

“Call it what you want.” He undid the button at his throat and followed it up with another, revealing a flash of chest. A sexy as hell chest covered in muscle and strong lines. “No matter how you feel about me, I will always keep you safe. I won’t allow you to be punished for the mistakes I’ve made.”

“After what happened yesterday, you could have fooled me.”

He started unbuttoning his cuffs. “I didn’t come to your defense downstairs because Marius was testing you. If I’d have done anything, he would have known you couldn’t be trusted. Believe me, I wanted to tear out his throat.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” I dropped the bag to the floor, planting my feet shoulders width apart. “I’m still in danger, you diptwat. If I don’t give him the knife, he’ll kill me.”

His arched brow made me furious. “Then give him the knife, love. Once you do, this will become a distant memory. You can keep telling me to go to hell, and I can keep waiting for you to give me another chance.”

“Don’t,” I snapped and he met my gaze. “Don’t even.”

“Don’t even what?”

“Try to win me over with an endearment and tell me I don’t have any options.”

“I tried to tell you that you didn’t have any options. You chose not to listen.”

“I can’t give him what he wants. What part of that don’t you understand?”

Disco sighed and ran his fingers through his blond locks, sending the strands scattering around his temples. “I wish I could make you happy. After everything I’ve done, I’d give you the world if it was in my power to do so. But you have to give him what he wants.” He lowered his arm. The way he looked at me caused me to take another step back. He was serious, angry, and focused entirely on me.


“And if I don’t?”


My back was pressed against the wall before I could blink, and Disco’s body went flush against me. A jolt of electricity traveled the length of my spine, sparked by his nearness. There wasn’t a soft inch on him, every solid muscle that held me in place firm and defined. He had his hands on either side of my head, giving the illusion I was enclosed. I wanted to hate the way my body reacted to his nearness. My heart rate increased, it was hard to breathe, and I felt a warm flood between my legs.

Love and hate. Revulsion and attraction.

No wonder my life is so f*cked up.

“You’ll give him what he wants. I won’t allow you to do anything else. I’ll protect you even if you hate me for it. Your safety means more to me than anything else. Marius isn’t the scary one, Rhiannon. Haven’t you figured it out? He’s trying to protect you from his maker. If you fear him, you’ll do as you’re told. If you don’t, Revenald will come. Marius knows I’ll try to defend you. He knows the lengths I’ll go to keep you at my side, even if it kills me.” He wrapped his fingers into my hair and tugged, forcing me to look at him. “Do you understand now, love? Am I finally getting through to you?”