Page 116 of Taming Seraphine

Her eyes darken, and she draws so close that our lips almost touch. The hand around her neck loosens, and I brush the pad of my thumb over her delicate jaw.

“I want to save you, Seraphine. I want to tame those deadly instincts so you can lead the life you deserve.”

My hand moves of its own accord down the curve of her neck, the slope of her shoulders, and the swell of her hip. I realize what the fuck I’m doing and snatch it away.

“If you hurt Miko, I will end you. Is that understood?”

She nods, her lips quivering.

“Good.” I step away, wishing I’d made her get dressed before this confrontation. “Now, sit on the mat and let’s start some breathing exercises.”

Seraphine studies me for several moments before turning away without a word. I stare after her and ignore the pang of regret. It would be selfish and dangerous to give into desires she isn’t equipped enough to handle.

I didn’t rescue her from one monster to deliver her to another. She must never find out what lies beneath my tight facade of control.

FORTY-FOUR

SERAPHINE

Leroi makes me meditate on the rooftop terrace for hours. It’s my unspoken punishment for getting close to his precious little Miko.

When I complain about being hungry, he brings me breakfast bars and juice. When I say I can’t concentrate, he grabs the sides of my head and makes me recite mantras that block out all thoughts of killing him.

He’s infuriating.

I wasn’t even trying to flirt with Miko. Well, not much anyway. Just enough to let Leroi know I had options and wouldn’t wait for him to grow a set of balls. Half the time, he treats me like I’m a fragile little virgin. Other times, he’s giving me part of what I want and making me feel bad about it.

He’s handsome, dangerous, protective—everything a girl could ever need, yet he refuses to act on his attraction. He’s a tease.

I see the way his gaze lingers on my lips and wanders down my body and in the thick erection he gets whenever I come too close. Then the moment I turn my sights to another man, he turns into an asshole. He wants me. No matter what he says.

If I can’t use Miko to make Leroi jealous, I’ll just find someone else.

“Seraphine.”

His sharp voice pulls me out of my musings and I open my eyes. Leroi sits opposite me on the mat with his hands resting on his crossed legs. His expression is unreadable, but my skin burns under the heat of his glower.

Swallowing, I sit straighter. “Yes?”

“You weren’t following the breathing exercises,” he says.

I raise both shoulders. “I was thinking.”

“About?”

“An apology,” I say before I can stop myself.

He tilts his head, motioning for me to elaborate.

“I should have gotten dressed the moment I let Miko in. It was wrong of me to make him think I was interested.”

He studies me for several moments before asking, “And?”

“And I’m sorry.”

“I accept.” Leroi rises from his sitting position and offers me a hand. “But you need to learn to control your impulses. Part of that includes thinking before you act.”

With a nod, I take his hand and let him pull me up. I’m not sorry for trying to make Leroi jealous, but it was shitty of me to use Miko. He deactivated my collar, and without all his research, we wouldn’t have made half as much progress in my quest.

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