Page 86 of Connected

“Okay, sure.”

Darius gets up and collects the crucifix key from the dresser, and Kat kneels up on the bed in front of him. Just before he unlocks the clasp, she places her hands to his cheeks and kisses him. The pair stare focused on each other and she sees the look of concern in his frown. “What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t say that. There’s something, I can see it in your eyes.”

“Kat, do you trust me? I mean really trust me.”

“Yeah, you know I do. I told you I do. I wouldn’t have let you do this to me if I didn’t.”

“Well then there’s something I want to ask you, and I want you to tell me the truth. However bad you think it might be… I want the truth.”

“Okay… Sure. Go ahead, ask me whatever you want.”

“I need to know… I need to know if you did something.”

“If I did something?” she takes a breath and swallows as a flutter of nervous tension somersaults in her stomach. “Darius, I don’t understand. Did I do what?”

“Did you kill Munroe?”

“What?!” she gasps. “Wait, are you seriously asking me that?” she laughs with a nervous apprehension to her tone. “Why the hell would you ask me that? What, you think I killed him? Oh my God, I cannot believe you would think that. You know what, I should go. Digby will be home soon and I need to get back.” She stands up and trying to ignore the question she picks up her shirt from the floor. Nervously she fumbles with her clothes—her hands shake, and she struggles to get her arms inside the sleeves.

“Kat…” he grabs at her hand which she quickly snatches away.

“Darius, I told you to take this off me. Please, just take it off.”

“Hey… hey calm down, I’ll take it off. I have the key right here.”

He stands behind her and as she holds her hair on top of her head, and he unlocks the collar. Gently sliding it forward he removes it from around her neck—throwing the silver band onto the bed.

“Ahh…” she yelps.

Taking a breath as the pain shoots up through her body. He strokes his hand gently down her back, as he licks with his tongue, kissing slowly around the red and raw skin. Brushing his fingers across her shoulders, he turns her around and lifts her chin to kiss her lips. A smile fills her face enjoying his touch. Watching in the mirror as the burn heals in front of her eyes, it’s not long before she’s barely aware of the pain at all. He carries on kissing her and she becomes lost in the pleasure of him healing her neck.

Facing the mirror, her green eyes blaze with color as their nakedness is reflected at them. Darius wraps around her from behind and his strong muscular arms hold her close. Brushing his cheek against hers, he whispers in her ear “Kat… just tell me. Did you do it—kill him?”

She hesitates in her reply and he can feel her obvious evasive silence. Dropping her gaze to the floor she swallows, then nervously, lifts her eyes to stare at him in the mirror. With a deep breath, slowly she nods her head, “I think so.”

“You think so? What, you don’t know? Kat, you must know if you killed someone.”

“Darius you have to understand it was…” Her eyes well with a tear and her lip trembles as he stares over her shoulder and looks at her. “… it wasn’t me. I think it was her—Luna—I think she did it, but I don’t remember. Sometimes she does things; she shuts me out and I don’t remember what happened. All I know is he came after me to the park—he wanted money and his phone, and he knocked me to the ground. We argued, and he left. After that… we went after him. I remember that—I remember going after him. But then there’s nothing. It’s a blank—after I shifted, I don’t remember.”

“You shifted? You remember doing that?”

“Yeah. Yeah, because I left my vest and shorts in a place where I could find them—where no one would see. But that is the last thing I remember. Until… until I looked into his eyes. He was dead on the ground, his throat slashed with claw-like marks. I just don’t remember doing it. Darius please you can’t say anything—I can’t go to jail for this. You can’t tell anyone.” She turns around and wraps her arms around his neck pulling his face towards hers. “Please…. Keep this secret—for me. This has to be our special secret.”

“Kat, shh. Shush, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care. And I’m not going to tell anyone. I just needed to know—I needed to hear the truth, from you.” He takes a breath and kisses her. “I will protect you—at any cost. I don’t give a fuck about Munroe. He deserved exactly what he got. Hell, I was going to kill him, anyway.”

“You were?” Looking up, she frowns. “Why? Because he messed with your team?”

“No. Though there is that. But no—no I was going to kill him because he touched you. As soon as I knew he did that—I planned to kill him.” He smiles, stroking his hand on her cheek then kisses her again. “You know the moment I laid eyes on you in that office—that first day. Something inside me connected with you and I wanted you so much. Why the hell do you think I didn’t want you to stay at Digby’s that night? Because I knew right then I would lose you to him. Now I see this is your pack. This pack will protect you; I will protect you—always. No one is going to know anything. Hell, no one even suspects. Munroe got what he deserved but you are right, it’s best if we keep this between us. Does anyone else know?”

“No. No, I haven’t told anyone—only you.”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about. I’m here for you. I wish I could be everything you want, and I can’t change that I’m not but… Kat, I’m in love with you.”

“You are?” she gasps his declaration takes her by surprise.

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