Page 18 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Herkey was sliding into place, ready for each cut groove in the metal to catch theawaiting pins inside to unlock the door when the heavy forearm thumped againstthe door above her head. Her eyes drifted over the fine dark hairs thatwhispered across the taut brown flesh. As if reacting to her gaze, she watchedas the thickly corded muscles moved and flexed under his skin. Sana could feelthe heat of his big body leaning in behind her as he braced himself against thedoor, trapping her to one spot. With little choice, she took a deep breath andturned around within the confines he created for her.
Aslow smile touched his lips, taking her breath away. Sharp white teeth gleamedin the porchlight. "Are you still afraid of me, Sana?"
Sanatried to look past him, but he was too close. The heat from his body wassmothering her senses. She could smell that same beguiling scent of his thatoverpowered her summers and haunted her dreams ever since. Somehowencapsulating the fresh, intoxicating breath of the forest and the rich maleundertone of leather, a scent so uniquely his, so nostalgic, it felt like adozen arrows piercing her heart as she inhaled deeply.
"Yes,"she finally answered breathlessly. "You never gave me a reason not tobe."
Hissmile faded, and a flash of betrayal passed through his gaze. "Do youreally believe I would hurt you, Sana?" He demanded, anger deepening hisvoice to a near growl.
Sanawasn't ready for this conversation yet, not now. She knew deep down that firstday she realized Zach was back in Tarki, and back in her life, thisconversation was inevitable. But she wasn't ready for it now! Turning her head,she stared at the porch floorboards as she tried to think of something to takecontrol of this situation.
"Answerme," he growled, leaning closer into her.
Sanacould feel the heat of his face near her exposed throat and shuddered. Lookingback at him, her stomach jumped at the proximity of his face to her. His lipswere only inches away while his gilded gaze shined with anger in the low lightbetween them.
"No,I know you won't hurt me," she answered truthfully, unable to keep hergaze on his.
"Thenwhat will it take?" Zach whispered darkly.
Onehand lifted to her chin and turned her face back to his. Despite the anger inhis words, his touch was soft, careful even. Sana had to resist the urge tohold his hand against her cheek and nuzzle deeper into the broad warmth of it.
Tiltingher chin up to his, he forced her to look at him. "Should I go back to theold days and push you around and just take what I want?" He threatenedsoftly, forcing her to remember the hard-edged boy he used to be, the boy thatnever took no for an answer. "There isn't anyone here to hide from now, noparents, no grandparents, no little brothers in the next room. Should I, Sana?Do you want me to take you through that door and lay you out on that diningroom table and show you just how much I missed you?! Should I show you just howmuch this game between us has driven me to the edge of my fuckingpatience?" The constant under-growl in his words ended in a vicious snarl,flashing a glimpse of those white fangs of his.
Herheart was beating so fast her body felt jittery and weak. Licking her dry lips,a movement his golden gaze followed with predatory detail, Sana opened hermouth to say something but nothing came out.
Slidinghis hand gently along the line of her jaw until his fingers reached her hair,Sana suppressed a whimper at the warm feeling of his hand spearing through hertresses, knowing from past experience what he intended to do next. Carefullyand deliberately, Zach wrapped her long hair around his fist until he pulledher head back against the door, exposing her throat. Staring down at her inthis new position, he observed his prey with a cold, determined look.
"Iwon’t be like any of the other bastards you probably dated," his lipscurled in disgust at the words. "I won't wait for you to tell me whatthisis going to be. I have waited too long for you, Sana," he rasped, eachword becoming deeper while his pupils constricted to mere dots of laser intent."If you keep ignoring me, I am going to drastically change the dynamic ofthis ongoing reunion between us from waiting patiently –to taking."
Sanatrembled in his grip. "Is that a threat, Zachariah?"
Tiltinghis head, Zach gave her a cruel smile. "Yes, it most certainly is."
Shetried to shake her head, but she forgot he held her firm. Fear, hope, arousal,anger, all of these emotions swirled inside of her at once. Pushing at hischest, she tried to fight back. "You can't-”
Hisgrip in her hair tightened almost painfully. "I can," he snarled.
Tearswelled in her eyes, not from the pain of her scalp but at the helplessness shefound herself in now. He was doing it all over again. Why was she always fooledby the handsome smile he showed in the daylight when she knew for a fact thathis smile came with fangs? "You-" she began, but her argument was cutshort with his tightening grip.
Leaningdown until his chest was pressing directly into hers and his lips hoveredcentimeters above her own, she felt the tickling whisper of his breath againsther. "Do not ignore me anymore, Sana."
Shecouldn't take her eyes from his lips. Every part of her being wanted to feelthat familiar pressure, to engulf herself in the thunderstorm that wasZachariah Waatese. Not trusting herself to say anything, she simply nodded inreply.
Thegrip in her hair suddenly released. Soothingly, Zach ran his fingers on hertender scalp before pulling away. Ignoring his sharpening gaze, she prayed hedidn't see the flash of disappointment on her face at his retreat.
Puttingone hand in his pocket, he stared at her with an unreadable hard expression."Park your car closer to the stairs from now on. Bears like to come out ofthe woods at the smell of food and just sheer curiosity."
Watchinghim walk down the porch steps, Sana took the opportunity to try and control herheart rate when she thought of something. "What about wolves?" Shecalled out. "Are there a lot of them around?"
Standingon the gravel drive now, the fine rocks crunched beneath his feet as he turnedslightly to fix his bright gaze back at her. "Yes," he answered sosoftly she was surprised she could hear it over the chilly gust of wind thatblew through the trees. "But the ones around here are only dangerous ifprovoked."
Chapter 7
Staringup at the ceiling, Sana shifted within the tangle of sheets for what felt likethe hundredth time. She couldn’t get comfortable. Restless and agitated, herbody refused to listen to her exhausted mind and go to sleep. Turning into herpillow, Sana buried a cry of frustration deep into its downy softness. This wasall Zach's fault! She could still feel the lingering warmth of his hand in herhair and the whispered breath of his mouth inches from her lips. Groaning, shestared daggers toward the bedroom window where she knew the top of his housewould peek out through the tree line, reminding her, taunting her, that he wasalways nearby.
Damnhim. It wasn't supposed to be this way, not again.
Afterthat first time she had met him that summer, she was sixteen. The lankyrenegade boy hardly let a day go by where he didn't see her. At first, Sana onlyever saw him if she went into town. Once she sat foot off her grandparent'sproperty, it never took long for him to materialize at her side, coaxing her tofollow him to one secret spot or another around town. Zach had dragged her todozens of secluded spots in Tarki, old wells, abandoned cabins, forgottenstairwells leading to rooftop access, and more, all under the guise of greatphoto opportunities. And each time without fail, despite her protests, Zachwould catch her off guard and pull her into a searing kiss. The branding of hislips against hers would leave her weak, while his searching tongue left hercraving more. It was a sensual torture she would have never imagined forherself. She just wasn't that girl. Boys didn't seek her out like Zach did,their eyes didn't follow her every move like his did, and they certainly nevervisibly hungered for her like Zach. No, everything Zach did to her was a firstfor her. She was being naïve and foolish with him, she knew that. If she foughtharder against him when he pulled her into alleys or tugged her into the woodsand trapped her against his hard body for a kiss, she knew without a doubt thathe would stop, but she didn't. Because on some level, they both knew she wantedit just as much as he did.
