Page 64 of Infernal

I dropped my arm and frowned. “Is this about what you said to me yesterday? About not laying a finger on me? Because I’m not doing this for me,” I quickly clarified, though it came out far too speedy and defensive to sound truthful. “I’m just trying to help you.”

“Is that what you’re doing?”

I clenched my jaw shut and glared at him. The corner of his lip twitched as though he were fighting back a smirk.

Apparently, this was amusing to him.

“You know what? Forget it. If you don’t want my blood, then I’m not going to force it on you,” I said and spun on my heel to leave, but he quickly reached out and grabbed a hold of my wrist, pulling me back to him.

Torturous electricity prickled my body as he pressed me all the way up against his chest, our bodies separated only by a hairbreadth. My lips parted to protest, but he quickly pressed his finger against my mouth and silenced me.

“One of these days, you’re going to have to face your truth, angel. And for my sake and yours, I hope that day comes soon.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, my heart steadily hammering a hole through my chest.

“I think you know precisely what that means.” His eyes flicked down to my mouth.

“Are you saying I want this?”

“You tell me.”

Chills fluttered over my skin at the sound of his fangs releasing, and I immediately bristled, knowing he’d done that on purpose. He knew full well that I’d react to it. He was a total prick that way.

“That’s not fair, Dominic. I never asked for any of this,” I said, struggling to keep the tremble out of my voice. It was taking every ounce of strength I had just to stop myself from sinking into him—into the bloodbond.

“No, you didn’t,” he agreed and then captured my jaw, angling my face up. “But you want it now, don’t you, angel?” he asked and then slowly lowered his head to my neck, gently grazing his lips and teeth against my skin.

It took every bit of willpower I had not to climb up his body like a feral animal. After all, that was exactly what he wanted: me losing control over myself…throwing myself at him…begging him.

I’d be damned if I gave him the satisfaction.

He lifted his head when I didn’t answer, his eyes settling on my mouth. “It’s a simple question, love.”

“No, it’s not.” It was loaded and complicated, and the consequences impossible to carry.

My heart galloped furiously in my chest for too many reasons to name, but mostly because he was still staring at my lips as though he wanted to kiss them—to consume them—and I wasn’t entirely sure I had the strength to stop him if he tried. Something was seriously wrong with me, and the sickness was growing stronger by the day.

“Please stop looking at me like that,” I pleaded, my voice almost as weak as knees were.

“Like what, angel?” His gaze lifted for a brief second.

“Like you’re going to kiss me,” I said breathlessly.

“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked and then met my eyes again.

It took me a long moment to choke out an answer. “No.”

Grinning, he leaned in beside my ear and whispered, “Does your body know that?”

I didn’t have to look down at myself to know that my fingernails were digging into his lower back and my traitorous skin was practically glowing from the heat.

Instead, I glared at him. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it’s not going to work.”

We’d already had this conversation back at the Manor. Regardless of what secret signals my stupid body was sending him through the bond, I’d made my position clear.

At least, I thought I had.

He smirked though it melted away just as soon as it appeared. “You can relax, angel. I have no intention of kissing you or doing anything else to you for that matter,” he said and released me from his grip.

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