Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #9)(45)

She licked her lips, floundering beneath his penetrating gaze. Who knew that lying would be such a vital skill? Or that sucking at it might very well get Caine trapped in hell.

Crap. She had to do this. And she had to do it well enough to make sure Caine walked away and never returned. With an effort, she plastered something she hoped resembled a smile to her lips. “I decided that I’d had enough.”

“Enough of what?”

“Enough of us.”

“No.”

“What?”

“Try again.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“A woman doesn’t give her innocence to a man when she’s ‘had enough,’” he challenged.

“I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal about my virginity,” she muttered.

His simmering anger that she’d hope to provoke into a don’t-call-me-I’ll-call-you rage abruptly faded to be replaced with a heart-melting tenderness.

“Because it was a big deal to me.” His thumb traced her lower lip, a ready passion darkening his eyes. “It’s a gift I’ll always cherish.”

She swallowed a sigh of frustration. What was wrong with the man?

“Well, it was nothing more than a burden to me,” she said, adamantly refusing to shiver at the exquisite sensation of his thumb tracing the curve of her lip. “Now it’s gone I can move on to . . .”

Something that might have been amusement glinted in his eyes. “To what?”

“To someone else.”

That should have been it. What man could stand to be told his female was leaving his bed and going to another? Instead, that annoying amusement only deepened.

“And you thought you would find this mysterious someone else in my lair?” he drawled. “That doesn’t really make any sense, does it, pet?”

“Of course not,” she snapped. “I needed somewhere to stay until I can find a lair of my own.”

His gaze lowered to where his thumb continued to stroke over her mouth. “Surely, your next lover will provide you with a lair? Or at least a bed.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It is if you intend to use my private lair for your orgies.” A wicked smile curved his lips. “I should at least be allowed to participate.”

She shivered, a deep yearning threatening to undermine her noble intentions. “Stop that,” she hissed, batting away his tormenting hand and reminding herself the cost of failure.

His amusement vanished as he slammed his hands against the wall on each side of her shoulders, caging her with his body. “Tell me why you’re here.”

She turned her head, frightened by the grim resolve etched on his beautiful face. “Because I wanted to get away from you and I thought this would be the last place that you would look for me.”

“It has nothing to do with your vision?”

“No, now go away.”

“Never.”

“Then I’ll leave.” She grabbed his arm, frantically trying to push it aside. “Dammit, let me go.”

There was a tense silence and she could feel Caine’s gaze searing over her rigid profile. Then, without warning, he dropped his arm and stepped back.

“Fine. You’re free to go.” He said nothing as she stood there, trembling from head to foot. Finally, he reached to brush a gentle hand down her cheek. “You can’t, can you?”

She dropped her head, her hands covering her face as her eyes filled with tears. “Please, Caine.”

She felt him wrap his arms around her shivering body, pulling her against him and pressing his lips to her temple.

“What?” he pleaded. “Talk to me, Cassie. I need to know what’s going on.”

“I can’t.”

“Was it the vision?”

She resisted for another long moment, before conceding defeat. There was no way she was getting rid of the stubborn Were. At least not unless she could prove to him it was too dangerous for him to stay.

Something that was as likely as her sprouting wings and flying.

She heaved a resigned sigh, resting her head against the welcome strength of his chest. “Yes.”

His hands glided up and down her stiff back in a comforting motion. “Can you tell me?”

“It’s you.”

“Me?” He stiffened, obviously shocked by her confession. “Do I do something wrong?”

“No, you’re captured.” She shuddered, the memory of her vision painfully vivid. “We both were.”

“Captured by whom?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where were we being held?”

“I don’t know.” She gave another shudder. “We were surrounded by a white fog.”

There was a long pause.

“So you took off because a vision revealed I’m going to be captured?” he asked softly.

“Yes.”

She heard his low growl a mere heartbeat before he was roughly pulling away, his jaw clenched and his eyes glowing with the power of his wolf. “God dammit, Cassie,” he barked. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Caught off guard by his unexpected attack, she blinked in confusion. “I was trying to protect you.”