Jonas (Darkness #7)(12)

Something irritated her about the whole thing, though. Regardless if she wanted to admit it or not, she’d shown Jonas her vulnerability, and then she’d shared her suffering. She’d given him a glimpse into her so she could have a larger glimpse into him. And that had left a mark. It had connected them in intimacy.

“Doesn’t matter,” she said again. Her voice sounded dead in the silent room.

Emmy started to pace again. Jonas’ eyes filtered into her memory. Focused and entrancing, he always looked at her with equal parts respect and knowing. Like he could read her. Like he cared about her suffering in this place. Like he understood her trials.

“It does matter.”

She was striding out of her room a moment later.

No one had ever offered to help shoulder her burden. No one had tried to back off when they saw she was uncomfortable. And she didn’t share intimacy with anyone.

Not anyone.

That connection she had with a perfect stranger, forged in a high-stakes situation, was more real than any she had in her life. She’d had a conversation with him—something she didn’t even do in her day-to-day life since she had no friends. And he didn’t care about her half-half status. He didn’t care that part of her was human.

Men like him were worth protecting. She just had no idea how she was going to do that and live another day.

* * *

“So, the fates have led you right back to me, huh?” Darla paced across the stone floor in her red high heels and see-through gown. She’d always had a great body—toned but curvy—and an even better face. She’d also always been a raging bitch. Jonas hated her. He had no idea how the Boss had always dealt with her.

“And now Nathanial knows I have all sorts of insider information about the Boss and his stupid human mage. All sorts. What the interior of the mansion looks like, how he operates, how the Watch goes about their business—even the connection you have with the shifters. Pretty soon, you won’t be needed at all.”

“I wonder why he didn’t talk about his business with you before now? Didn’t trust his pretty piece of ass, huh?” Jonas deflected as he stared at the wall. Three huge males had muscled him across the floor and into a chair. There they’d attached the chains on his arms to the wall above his head and his legs to a metal hook. He now faced the door whereas before he was facing away. It was a new vantage point. Plenty of new cracks to look at to pass the time.

“He’s got a lot of clout in England,” Darla was droning on. “He’s only in America because of the destruction of the Council. As soon as he can, he’s going to step in and assume control.”

“That didn’t answer my question. Also, I can’t imagine your new f*ck-friend would be thrilled you’re giving me that information.”

Darla scoffed and shimmied closer. “You think he’ll trade you? He won’t trade you. He’s going to kill you just as soon as he has all he needs. Who are you going to tell?”

“For a female who can’t seem to complete any sort of organized plan to her benefit, you sure are certain of future events.”

Darla ran one fingertip across his cheek. She traced the curve of his lips. “How active is that Cato person? Is he moving around much? Are there many at the Council worth worrying about?”

“Go away, Darla. You’re annoying.”

“Is that right?”

Jonas felt the hard bite of her nail digging into his face, followed by a trickle of blood.

“I seem to remember you like pain, is that right? That’s what turns you on?” She bent. A warm tongue licked up his cheek and played over the wound she’d just given him. “Hmmm. You taste good. I want to suck on you as I ride you. Make up for all those years that you ignored me.”

“Takes a lot to knock down your confidence, huh? Constant rejection wasn’t enough—now you’re going to force yourself on me. Well, bad news is, it doesn’t work like that for a male. I gotta be turned on for you to ride me. And that ain’t gonna happen.”

“No?” Darla did a slow walk over to the wall with all the tools. He could see her fingertips glide across the various instruments before curling around a leather paddle. She took it down and turned with a sultry smile. “I know how to play the Dom. You just never gave me a chance to prove it.”

“Does your new squeeze know all you planned to do was screw me? That you didn’t intend on getting information?”

“I’ll get information. I’m a good lay.” Darla stopped in front of him, drew the paddle back, and whacked him across the chest. The effect was a light stinging where she’d disturbed the older wounds. She took aim and hit him again. Then again.

If possible, she was even more annoying while trying to be in control than when she was just sashaying around.

“Or maybe…” She pulled his sweats away from his waist to expose his dick. Then, bending over, she yanked them down until they gathered around his ankles. With a chilly hand, she clasped his limp shaft and started stroking. “Maybe a knife would be faster. Or a mouth…”

Gracefully, she fell to her knees and bent over him. He felt the warm wetness of a mouth circle his tip. Ordinarily, yes, that would be enough to get the ball rolling. With her, though, this wasn’t gonna play. There was no way he’d give her the satisfaction.