The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)(44)

“Dani!”

Snapping me from my fury-induced state, I look over and see Shadow standing next to me. The rage flees my system and my vision becomes clear. I turn back toward Candy and notice she is a hue of red and purple under my death grip. My breath hitches at what I’m doing, but I still don’t release her. My hand is ripped from Candy’s throat as I watch, her body collapsing to the floor like a slinky. She grabs at her throat and makes a horrible gasping sound.

“You could have killed me, bitch,” Candy rasps, her voice scratchy and strained. She’s right. I could have killed Candy; my actions were manic and unpredictable.

“Don’t ever f*cking come near me again,” I threaten quietly. She looks up at me, her eyes spilling with tears, but I have no pity for her. She removes her hands from her throat and I instantly see bruising, making me feel queasy that I am capable of such a thing.

“Get the f*ck out of here, Candy,” Shadow bellows, pointing off into the distance. Candy crawls to her feet and scampers off, sobbing.

“What the f*ck was that?” Shadow growls. I shake my head, unsure. I’ve been back at the club a month and I’ve nearly killed three people. If Shadow hadn’t shown up, I know I would have killed her.

“I don’t know what I’ve become,” I whisper, shocked at my behavior. I look down and notice my hands trembling from the shock. The images of smeared blood from the guy I beat flash across my palms and I close my eyes, trying to wash the images away. Why couldn’t I let go?

Shadow backs me into the bedroom.

“You’re the Devil’s Dust.” I look at him, unsure what that means. “You have Hell’s fury inside you; it owns you and consumes your thoughts. There is no escaping it. The anger and darkness which is harbored within you will surprise you, making its presence when it sees fit,” Shadow explains.

“Outside of Devil’s Dust, where civilization casts people like us out because they don’t understand us— that is your prison. In here with us, this is where you are free; this is your family where we are alike and have each other’s back.” Shadow cups his hands to the side of my face and brings his forehead to mine.

“I feel like a monster, like I’m out of control,” I whisper. I feel the tears fall along my cheek and slide across my lips.

Shadow lifts my chin so I’m forced to look at him. “We are more alike than you’ll ever know,” he murmurs, looking into my eyes. I can see it, the beast which feeds off another’s blood is telling the dark creature which resides within me—the one just starting to rise from the nest—that me and Shadow are not so different from each other.

My bottom lip begins to tremble at the thought that I am capable of taking another’s life.

“What if I had killed her?” I question.

“You’re not a killer. A fighter, yes, but not a killer.” He runs his hands up and down my back.

“If you didn’t show up, I could have killed her, Shadow,” I insist, my voice stern.

“I’ll teach you to control it,” Shadow responds, nipping my trembling lip.

His connection is my comfort. I suck in his bottom lip and kiss him passionately. Shadow grabs me by the hips and plows my back against the wall as I fumble with the button on his jeans, so desperately needing the connection. Shadow pulls my shirt off and throws it to the side quickly, and then grabs my shorts. Helping him in a hurried daze, I pull them down along with my panties in one fast motion. I reach up and cup his cheek as I lock my lips with his feverously. Shadow grabs the hem of his shirt and pulls it over his head, breaking our kiss momentarily.

Within seconds, he brings his plush lips back to mine and grabs me by the hips. I wrap my legs around his waist as he spins us around and drops us on the bed. I feel his length, his proof of arousal; glide across my leg as he moves across me, leaving a trail of excitement behind. Shadow sits up and glides the head of himself against my opening, teasing me. I close my eyes and moan with frustration.

“Eyes,” Shadow demands. I open them and see his piercing blue eyes lock with mine.

“Don’t be gentle,” I whisper. I reach up and thrust my fingers into his thick hair. I need pain. I need to know I’m alive and not a walking ghost without a soul, incapable of remorse.

“I wasn’t planning on it,” Shadow states fiercely, slamming himself into me so deep he’s buried to the hilt. My back arches, and I sigh loudly with satisfaction.

Shadow slides his rock-hard chest over mine and pulls my hair roughly, moving my head to the side. He dives his mouth in and bites my shoulder, making my pleasure heighten to new levels.

Doing the things I have done, the inhuman, savage acts, which should cause a normal person to feel pain, like almost killing someone—they haven’t affected me that way. Not until the worst is over, anyway. Otherwise, I would have let go of Candy, and I didn’t. I know I wouldn’t have if Shadow hadn’t shown up.

I extend my arms as far as they will go and grab onto his firm butt cheeks, pushing him further inside me, wanting him to hit the back of my *. Feeling him slam as far as he can go causes me to whimper from the pain. Shadow tries to stall, but I urge him to continue by pushing his ass forward with my hands.

“Don’t stop,” I demand, my voice strangled from the lack of air entering my lungs.

Shadow sucks on my right tit hard, as he thrust into me relentlessly.