Page 41 of Rescued

You’re frightening her, whispered a little voice in his head. Remember your size difference—you’re like a giant to her. Sit down and speak calmly—getting upset will only scare her more.

Davrik knew it was true. So though he wanted badly to scoop her into his arms and hold her in his lap again, he went back to the bed. She would have to be coaxed to come back to him—he couldn’t force it or he would only make her fear him even more—possibly even hate him.

“Look, I’m not going to bite you,” he told her. Slowly, he went back and sat on the bed again. He spread his hands in a gesture of peace and goodwill. “I would never hurt you, baby girl.”

“I’m not your baby girl,” she said, her voice trembling. “And if you don’t want to bite me, why did you show me your fangs?”

Davrik sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“I showed you to explain about my Essence—which is a pale blue liquid that my fangs secrete. It can help me heal that burn on your arm, if you’ll let me,” he said.

At that moment, the bracelet on her arm beeped again.

“Non-proximity and non-contact detected,” it said in that high, mechanical voice. “Immediate contact with VIP client is necessary to avoid negative consequences.”

Sonya gave a little gasp and looked down at her arm.

Davrik felt as though the muscles in his core were coiled like a spring. He wanted to jump up and grab her to keep the damn bracelet from burning her again! But he knew if he did that, she would get even more upset. She had to come to him.

“Sonya, listen to me,” he said in a low, commanding tone. “I want you to come here right now.”

His own Sonya had responded to that tone at once—she called it his “Dom voice.” And thank the Goddess, the new Sonya seemed to respond as well. Slowly, she took a step towards him.

“You…do you promise not to bite me?” she asked.

“I swear it by the Goddess,” Davrik told her. “Now get back over here before that damn thing burns you again!”

“I…I can feel it heating up,” she admitted.

Davrik clenched his hands into fists at his sides. Goddess damn it, not jumping up and grabbing her was so fucking difficult! He felt like she was standing in the path of an oncoming bus and he was trying not to jump up and snatch her away to safety.

“Come here,” he repeated in that same, commanding voice. “I don’t want to see you get hurt again, Sonya.”

Slowly, she approached him. Davrik could tell by the grimace of pain on her face that the bracelet was already beginning to heat up to painful levels but he didn’t reach out and grab her. Instead, he extended one big hand.

“Just touch me,” he said quietly. “As soon as we make contact it should stop burning you.”

Hesitantly, she put out a hand and laid it delicately in his palm. Davrik had to fight the urge to grab her and yank her towards him. He forced himself to hold still and keep his hand open, letting her barely touch him and not trying to bring her any closer until she was ready.

The look of pain on her lovely face cleared at once and she let out a sigh of relief.

“Better?” Davrik asked her.

Sonya nodded.

“It stopped burning me as soon as I touched you.”

“Good. I never want to see you hurt or in pain, baby girl,” he murmured.

This time she didn’t correct him. Instead, she bit her lip and looked into his eyes.

“Can…can you really heal me? Heal my arm, I mean?” She nodded at the angry burn scar on her delicate wrist.

“I can,” Davrik assured her gravely.

“But…how?” She shook her head. “I mean, if you’re not going to bite me—”

“I’m not,” he said quickly. “But I can spread my Essence on your wrist just by kissing your arm. I’ll be gentle—I promise.”

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