Page 20 of She is the Darke

“I’m not a shifter, Darke. I ran away like a normal person.”

Demi snorted. “It’s not that bad here, you know.”

“Mmm. You be the least-favorite son of my father, and then we can talk.”

“Hey, you’re the one fighting with him on how he should like shifters the first week you come back here.”

He laughed. “He really doesn’t like you.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Okay, I will tell you about it. If you were on fire, he wouldn’t piss on you to put it out.”

“Thanks, Tyler,” she said sarcastically. “I’m aware.”

“What’s it like?” he asked again.

“To Change?”

“Yeah.”

She drew into herself and really thought about it. The Change was such a natural thing for her, she’d never really thought about explaining it to humans.

“It feels…tingly. That’s the first sign it’s going to happen. It feels like bugs crawling under my skin, and I get really hot, and my mind numbs out. Maybe that’s my favorite part. Whatever was stressing me in the world before, it just…” She shrugged. “It disappears. The animal processes emotion differently, and with human problems, she doesn’t care. She will let them go, and I’m just…”

“You’re just what?” he asked softly.

She lifted her gaze to his. “I’m free.”

He inhaled sharply, his bright-blue eyes so intense on hers. He pushed up on the couch and leaned over her, his arm locked near her face. He hovered there, looking down at her with such softness in his eyes, and she knew this was bad. It was too deep. It would be something she couldn’t take back.

But as she looked up at him, it was hard to care about the consequences of tomorrow.

He leaned down, hesitating just a few inches above her—his eyes on hers, his lips so close.

He looked…scared. He looked as scared as she felt.

Demi did something she would’ve never done if they hadn’t just shared that vulnerable moment. She leaned up and slid her arms around his neck, hugging him as tight as she could. He relaxed down on top of her and embraced her back. Just…held her.

His hands massaged her back, and he buried his face against her neck. His breath shook as he exhaled.

Muscle by muscle, that big man relaxed on top of her, engulfing her in a sense of utter safety and security.

Demi moved her hand to the back of his head and ran her fingernails gently against it. He groaned, and rested his face right against her neck.

This was the most intimate moment she’d ever been a part of, and it was with Tyler. It was withTyler.This made no sense. She’d spent so much time being hurt and resenting him, and now she was in his arms? Not kissing. Not fucking. Just…holding. Hugging. Embracing.

“Thank you for sticking up for me,” she whispered.

Tyler propped up on his locked arms and looked down at her. His expression was unreadable as he searched her eyes. “I should go.”

The pain was familiar. She’d felt it in the rejection all those years ago, after months of liking him, and being kissed by him, and then him leaving in such a brutal way.

She understood, though. He hadn’t asked her for anything. He didn’t want anything. He had come here as a gentleman and hadn’t pushed her.

Tyler was right.

He should leave.

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