Page 52 of Trapped By Claws
I cut my gaze up at him as I folded my arms. "What about that night?" My heart beat faster now, emotion choking me.
His gaze raked over me. I wasn't nearly so well put together now as I had been then. My hair was frizzy, my clothing mussed, wrinkled, and smelling of the sea. But he looked at me as if he saw beneath all of that and craved every inch of me. My whole body tensed.
"Well?" I demanded, my breaths ragged now.He'd looked at me so many times, heating my blood. But now—now it was as if everything had lit up within him.
No one would ever look at me like he did.
And I was terrified and aroused at once.
Not simply because of him, but because of me.
He crossed toward me, backing me against the wall once more. His hand struck the rocky surface, caging me in and setting my pulse raging. Then he leaned closer, his nose grazing mine.
I swallowed hard, my core tensing and heat pooling in my belly. But I waited—waited to see what he was going to do.
His breath whispered against my lips.
"I don't understand it," he said. "What I feel for you when I look at you…when I hold you—" He let out a low, rumbling growlthat made me gasp. "There are things I want to do to you. Things that aren't supposed to be possible. Things I shouldn't."
I held my breath. "Why not?"
"You're not my mate," he said hoarsely, the words sounding painful to him. "I should never have taken you. I can't make you mine, no matter how much I want you. And I need to get you out of here. I have to get you somewhere safe."
His tongue pressed at his lips as he wet them. He leaned a little closer, the heat from his body reaching me.
I stared up at him, eyes wide. His body had felt so good pressed against mine during the past nights. Now I ached to feel the whole of him against me, crushing me into the wall and exploring every line, every curve.
His thumb grazed my temple as his other hand slipped to my throat. His fingers pressed against my skin, the tips of his claws making my skin pebble as delicious shivers rushed through me.
Kiss me.
Kiss me now.
My lips parted as he stroked a line from my ear to my jaw. He started to pull back.
"Come with me," I whispered.
He tilted his head, his eyebrow flicking up.
"You and Tagger, we'll all run away. We'll get my mother and everyone else on the island, and we'll get away from here. Get you out of the king's power. I won't leave you. You'll leave with me."
His smile pulled crooked, but that sad hunger remained in his eyes. "If only I could."
"Why can't you? We may not be mates, but?—"
He removed his hand from my throat and showed me his wrist. The two claws from the bracelet were still embedded in his skin; the flesh was swollen around them.
Several remained.
"At the king's command, these claws will puncture my wrist, injecting me with venom. He doesn't have to be close to me to do it. It is enough for him to utter the command, and they will inject one at a time, leading to a tortuous death. Or at least paralysis and helplessness while his faithful servants drag me back. There's no escape for me, clever girl. The venom has been made specifically for me to attack my blood and my body."
I shook my head. There had to be another way. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
His clawed finger slipped beneath my chin and tilted my face up to his. "What's this? Are you really crying for me? So soon? After all I've done? You really are a priceless treasure, darling."
"I don't understand why I'm feeling so much so fast, but…the thought of leaving you here in this place—you and Tagger both—I can't." I scrunched my eyelids shut for a breath. This was happening so quickly, and it made no sense. But it burned so true.
"If I could, I'd be there with you in my arms or on my knees asking for you to be mine. Fate and king be damned." He nudged me with his nose. The low rumbling groan that pulled from his lips almost undid me. "The only thing I want right now is to know you have a chance to live. Really live, Mena."
