Page 85 of Poison's Kiss
"Kane, please go. Right now, I need some time alone. I keep trusting all the wrong people, and it's starting to take its toll on me."
He pulls my hand to his lips, and he kisses the palm where my mark was just shining.
"I'm sorry," he says so softly. "For all of it. I thought... I was-"
"Please don't do this," I whimper, pulling away from his clutches. "This night has overwhelmed me enough."
I can't deal with him regretting his cold and callous actions right now. I can't deal with the fact we quite possibly threw everything we had away because we were both too afraid to trust the other based on what we are. That's not love. It never was. We just fooled ourselves into thinking it was.
He sighs out hard, and then he stands up. "I'm not going far. I'll be back tomorrow. Get some rest tonight."
He leans down and kisses the top of my head, making the butterflies in my stomach ruffle. When did my life get so confusing? The only two men I've ever been with are polar opposites yet exactly the same.
As soon as my door shuts, I hear Gage's voice. "You were supposed to explain what the hell happened, not work your own angle, you asshole."
Kane laughs and I move to the window, barely peeking out behind the curtain to watch them. Gage looks distraught and exhausted, like he's the one who just saw me making out with someone random at a party.
"You're on your own. This whole thing just changed, and I'm not about to let you have her."
Gage almost growls at him, but Dray shows up before punches can be thrown. He stayed with Amy, Sierra, and Deke to finish healing Amy once his strength returned. He looks dumbfounded by the overload of testosterone on the front lawn.
"Why are we standing out here, and where's Alyssa?"
Dice strolls into the mix, his extreme leather getup probably scraping against his body as he nearly skips in delight. I wish he was mortal. Then that leather would chafe him.
"Mr. Magic had the girl, but he forgot to warn her about the perks of his position in the Somage. Fang boy over here just realized the girl of his dreams really did love him the whole time. Now a duel is in place to find out which bloke gets the girl. I'm rooting for them to kill each other so I can get a little closer to the only girl I've ever known to be so resistant to mycharms."
I roll my eyes while silently mocking a gag. Kane swats Dice's useless input away before walking off with his hands in his pockets. My heart has stopped beating. Kane can't possibly want me back; not after all we've endured with our rude awakenings.
"Kane, we need to stay here," Dray calls, bringing Kane's retreat to a halt.
"Alyssa has requested we leave her in peace for the night. She's earned at least one night's reprieve from all of this... All of us."
"I'm not leaving," Gage growls.
"Neither am I, but we can't stay in the house. I'll be in my car if anyone needs me," Kane says with a devious smirk, his eyes catching my spying ones before giving me a wink.
I instantly slide against the wall, vanishing from sight before anyone else catches me. I should have known he'd feel my eyes on him.
Suddenly a loud pounding erupts against the window, making me wish I had extended the barrier. I pull the curtain back to see Gage staring in, heartbroken as he presses his forehead against the window.
"Please talk to me, Alyssa. You know that was business. I had to get a lead, and we need to talk about what I've found out. Please, just let me in."
I sigh out heavily, knowing this night is only getting longer.
"Tomorrow morning. Not until then. We'll only discuss things pertinent to the threats at hand. If you mention one thing about us, I'll kick you out."
He pops his head against the window again, growing frustrated before slapping the side of the house and cursing aloud.
"Damn it, Alyssa. You know how I feel about you. You know what we have isn't something I would mess up to fuck around with some stupid human."
"Labels aren't really your thing, soIdon't know what we had, but I do know it's over. I'm not my mother. I won't listen to the ramblings of a man caught in the act. Just go get a hotel room. Leave me alone. We'll all talk tomorrow."
His silver ring falls between his teeth along with his lower lip. Finally, after a long, drawn-out pause, he murmurs, "I'll be in my car. I'm not leaving."
Dray steps to the door to knock once, and he stares at me peering through the window.
"Am I also going to have to sleep in a car?"
