7. Deadly Misunderstandings #2
There was no sense in denying her accusation.
Despite my growing feelings for her, I was using her.
I needed to see where her research would lead.
And I wanted to make sure the plasma treatment didn’t fall into the wrong hands.
“Marrying you was the only way I could properly protect you, and that remains the truth.”
She pushed me away. “I don’t feel protected. The only people who saw me this morning were your family .”
“No one in the family would hurt you,” I seethed.
She jumped off the counter, wincing as she landed on her ankle, but she shook off the pain. “You’ll have to exclude yourself from that statement now, won’t you?”
Hell, she knew how to land the emotional punches. I let out a heavy breath, full of regret. “I’m sorry that I hurt you.”
“I wish I could believe you. But though I’m not a supermodel like your mistress—”
“For heaven’s sake—she’s not my mistress,” I spat.
“Whatever you say, Julian. I’m not stupid enough to believe anymore that you care about me or my feelings. You’ve humiliated me enough that I understand exactly where I stand with you. I’ll figure out a way to deal with this new vampire myself.”
I had to hand it to her—she was braver than I had ever given her credit for.
For her to march into my office, convinced I was the one who had sent the flowers and the note, and still face me spoke volumes about her courage.
But the fact remained: She was no match for whoever had sent it.
She had no notion of what lurked in the shadows, nor of the darkness that governed our kind.
Vampires lived by a different set of rules—oftentimes no rules at all.
There was a longstanding pact among all the families to leave innocents alone, but there were always the outliers. And some would justify that Nicolette was a threat to their way of life so she no longer fell under the protection of the pact.
“Nicolette, let me handle this. You have no idea what you’re up against.”
She let out a sarcastic laugh. “I wonder if you do. Just remember I like white roses. You can throw them on my casket.”
The thought of Nicolette’s cold, lifeless body lying in a casket pierced me in a way I had not felt since I was human. It unsettled me enough to steal the breath from my lungs.
I took her arm gently. “Nicolette, do not jest about such things. That is the last fate I would wish for you. Do you truly imagine I married you for amusement?”
Her face fell, and too late I realized my mistake. I cursed myself for wounding her yet again.
“Believe me, I know. I’m not the woman men want to have fun with.” She tried to pull away, but I refused to release her.
“Damn it, you’re twisting my words.”
“Julian.” Her voice trembled, vulnerability slipping through despite her defiance. “I know who I am and how people see me. I don’t need reminders from you.”
I drew her closer—dangerously close. Her earthy scent rose between us, intoxicating, impossible to ignore. I ran a finger down her flushed cheek.
“Nicolette,” I groaned, summoning every ounce of restraint I possessed. “If I could, I would give you a reminder you would never forget. I would show you precisely how I see you. And you would never again question how much I desire you.”
She stopped breathing. Her eyes still burned with loathing, yet beneath that glimmered something else—something that begged to know whether I spoke the truth. Whether I wanted her. And so help me, I did. The only thing I wanted more than her was to be human again.
My lips brushed her brow and lingered. They ached to travel lower, to claim her mouth. I missed the way she always tasted of strawberries and mint.
I breathed her in, my hands trailing down her arms, reveling in the way her skin rose beneath my touch.
“Julian,” she whispered, her warm breath dancing across my throat.
The longing in her tone nearly undid me—nearly made me cross a boundary I had sworn I never would.
Then I remembered: She didn’t truly want me.
And she would despise me even more if I allowed her to fall prey to what I was—a seductive predator.
With painful reluctance, I pulled away.
She blinked several times, coming back to herself, the rage in her eyes sharper than ever. Yet she didn’t berate me. I had a feeling she was angrier with herself than with me—angry that she’d let her guard slip, even for a fraction of a minute.
“I need to go,” she stuttered. “I don’t need you to desire me. And . . . I don’t want you. Just remember that. And while we’re at it, know that I won’t go down without a fight. I will take on you or any other vampire wishing to do me harm. Got it?”
“Yes.” I could scarcely contain my grin.
It was rather endearing that she believed she could take on my kind.
Dangerous, of course—but adorable all the same.
“And while we’re at it, as you say”—I lifted a finger—“you need to remember I’m not your enemy.
But I will find out who is, and I will destroy them. ”
She bit her lip, thinking, before smoothing her dress with a shaky hand.
“Not if I get to them first.” She turned and hobbled toward the door, leaving me wondering what on earth she imagined she could do against a vampire.
I’d already warned her that the storybooks had it entirely wrong about us.
A stake through the heart was utter rubbish.
Not that I could see Nicolette stabbing anyone. Still . . . I admired her spirit.
Nicolette turned when she reached the door and surprised me yet again. She flashed me a brilliant, mocking smile. “Bye, honey, I hope that was as good for you as it was for me.” She projected it loudly enough to ensure Simone heard every syllable.
I barked out a laugh. It certainly had been good for me.
Unfortunately, it seemed neither of us would be good for the other.
If anything, we were far more likely to be each other’s undoing.