Chapter 34 Abuse of power
LYS
My chest was light, my body floating.
He let me in. He shared information that hurt him so much to even retell, asked my opinion, and then he kissed me.
That kiss.
My hand flew to my lips, as if to confirm it had really happened even though I couldn't possibly need any more confirmation besides my still hammering heart, and this yearning buzz covering every inch of my skin, tingling and ticklish.
This mostly familiar need to part my legs and have him between them.
The elevator slid open, and I ran all the way to our bedroom, forcing my mind to think of something else.
Our bedroom was the way it was the last time I saw it.
Our bedroom.
I smiled at the oddity of it. I had never shared a bedroom with anyone, not with a mansion as large as Mom and Dad's. But now I slept between two men.
I stepped out of the bathroom sometime later to find a box sitting on the bed. A sticky note flapping on top.
You need a phone. Clothes are in the closet, hopefully the range is not startling; Daine and I have specific tastes that are as different as a wolf and a dragon. HALE
Pulling back the cover of the box, I stared at the screen of the smartphone. I plucked it out carefully and found it had been set up.
That’s for communication with your friends. We can talk to you like this. A voice said right in my head.
I jumped.
The phone fell and thankfully bounced on the bed. My eyes scanned the room. That had been the Dragon… Draki's voice.
But I was alone in the bedroom, vast, airy but dark.
“Can you see me?” I said, feeling stupid. I was alone.
I can feel you.
“Oh,” I jumped again, my hand flying to cover my mouth.
Was this my reminder that he was nothing human?
I had heard about this neural link with Dragons. They could get into anyone’s head where werewolves could only communicate with their wolves, or people they shared bonds with.
But if he could not see me… I looked around again.
“You really can see me?” I asked.
The bedroom door burst open then, and there he stood, tall, long dark hair flowing down his back now, free from the pin that held them up the whole morning.
“Abuse of power.” He closed the door with a gentle click. I swallowed. “That’s what Hale calls it. I do not tail my lovers, read their minds, or look into their future unless they are in danger or beg me to.”
He remained by the door.
“If communicating like this bothers you…”
I shook my head immediately. “No, I don’t mind. It doesn’t.”
He smiled. ”That’s new,” and he was gone.
What? What did he mean?
…
In the closet, I stared at the clothes lining one wall. Just like Hale’s note said, the clothes ranged from modest sundresses, flowing and floral, to lingerie made out of the thinnest laces, and backless dinner dresses.
Standing in the middle, I looked from right to left, wondering which man I wanted to see his eyes light up, which man I wanted to please.
I settled for something neutral. It was still too early for any of that.
Despite the dreams, my vows and promises, to those shadow gods, to Grandma, to myself, my feet led me to the kitchen.
I was standing a few feet away from him before my awareness returned.
“Finn,” I inhaled. The air was heavy with the bitterness of chocolate and smoke.
He had not noticed me yet. So engrossed in his work.
Vampires had a more heightened sense than werewolves, but I guess none of that mattered when you were a passionate chef.
He was beautiful.
I could see him a thousand times and still think so. Unlike the Dragon’s dark, dangerous beauty, or Hale’s refined aristocratic, sharp-jawed handsomeness, Finn’s was pure.
Despite being an inch taller than the other men, his youth was unmistakable.
It was evident in his body, the sharpness of his shoulder gently blunted by the curve of muscles, a swimmer's build.
And his face…despite that perpetual pouty frown, his face lacked the darkness the Dragon possessed.
He was merely dissatisfied with the world, his world.
He looked up then, and my breath stopped at the color of his eyes. But unlike the past two days, there was no warmth in them for me.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“What?”
“You shouldn’t be here. If you need something, ring for it.”
“You’re not my maid.” I gasped, surprised. “You don’t like strangers in your kitchen?”
“You’re not a stranger.” His gaze returned to the dough he was folding in a glass bowl. He was gripping the spatula so tightly, I feared he would break it.
My cheeks burned. I felt more like a stranger than I felt two nights ago.
“Did I do something?” I swallowed past the lump in my throat, hot, choking.
He looked nothing now like the man who had stared in my eyes last night.
Is it possible to fall in love in one night?
He kissed me. He said all the finest words before and after he kissed me.
His eyes were pinned on the table, muscles tense, veins standing out as he continued to fold the dough.
“Finn, please talk to me.” I took a hesitant step into the kitchen.
I should not care. We only just met, and I belonged to someone else.
But… I had only seen this side of me when he told me about his father that first night.
“Just go!”
I jumped, blinking at those aqua-colored eyes that snapped in my direction. Furious. So furious.
Did he blame me for what happened last night?
I bit my lip and turned for the door.
Three steps in, and large arms wrapped around me from behind. He was drawing in ragged breaths against my neck.
I tried to loosen his hands around me, but he held on tightly. “Lys, please.”
I pressed my lips tightly, hating how much I cried, how easily tears rolled down my cheeks. Slowly, I turned around to look at him, and he stared down at me, his jaw tight.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
I shook my head, already forgiving him.
His vulnerability that first night, having that long conversation well into midnight, had set a solid foundation for us that we may never have any big fights.
I could pretty much guess the motives behind his actions.
He was wiping my cheeks with his wide palms that smelled of citrus.
I relaxed into him, head against his chest as my eyes fluttered close. His heart was beating a second too fast.
“Lys.” He kissed the top of my head, as I wrapped my hands around his waist.
“Mm.”
“Let’s run away.”
I pushed away immediately. “What?”