Page 92 of Haunted

I pause, ready to grab the comforter. I’m deadly serious when I say, “I never toy.”

“You’re infuriating.”

So I know. “Another truth you’ve learned about me.”

Niawen clenches the bedpost. Her face is utterly taut for a moment before she drops her hands. “Stop. I can’t deal with you like this. Don’t make a joke out of…”

She fumbles for her words, but I know what she implies. I don’t want to address her feelings. If she confesses something, I’ll ravish her. I know I will. I won’t be able to stop myself. “We should go to sleep. You might say something you’ll regret.”

Her internal light flares. “I’d regret? And you’d regret nothing? Why should I go to sleep just to wake with you touching my finger the way you do?”

I don’t sigh. I stay calm and pretend innocence, pretend I don’t know how frustrated I’ve made her. “Niawen. What do you want?”

“How could you not know?”

Her face. I can’t look at her. She’s trying to define what I can’t admit to. “You’re upset because I’m not doing something.”

“You’re not touching me!”

I know. I blink. “You want me to touch you?”

Niawen flinches. She’s restraining herself. She’s furious.

I have to smooth this over. “A touch must convey the right sentiment.” Please believe me when I say that. My touch would only put you at risk.

“You’re not letting me in. I can’t read what this pinkie touch means. Please tell me. Open your mind to me so I don’t have to beg.”

No. Don’t beg. “You’re begging?”

“You know I am.”

“Niawen, it’s not a good idea.” I plead with her, hoping she sees the fervor in my eyes. Don’t make me open myself to you.

She doesn’t yield. “You better have a good reason.”

“You have no idea what you’re doing to me right now.” I pace on my side of the room, glancing at Niawen, forcing myself to tear my eyes off her. But every time I look back, primal want surges inside me. “You can’t see the flush of your cheeks, the forceful way you hold yourself. The rise of your chest with each inhalation before you fire your words in my direction. The way your sleeve slips back from your delicate wrists as you gesture wildly at me. You carry so much fire, but your eyes are desperate.”

“Do you want to see desperate?” She charges around the bed toward me.

I back away and lift my hand. “Please, Niawen, stay back.”

She throws her hands up. “I’m sleeping in my own room!”

I have to give her answers; I don’t want her to leave. “Let me explain. You deserve an explanation. I just didn’t want to tell you.”

“We couldn’t carry on like this forever.”

I nod. “No, we couldn’t. But I thought you’d be patient.”

“I’ve never been patient.”

Of course not. I smile. “I know, woman, I know. I was hoping you’d sense I needed your patience.”

She freezes as my words sink in. Understanding reaches her. “I’m so sorry.” She turns away and rubs her forehead.

I can’t stand the distress I’ve brought upon her. “So how do I phrase this without horrifying you?” I step closer. Waves of her energy, her essence, almost smash my resolve to behave.

She grabs hold of some sort of calm because her words are steady and confident. “You can’t horrify me. Just say it.”

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