Chapter 24 Knox
Knox
I put Danni straight into the large tub of my personal bathroom. She’s still wearing the dress I tore to shreds, and I can’t help but stare at her stiff nipples that peek through the sheer fabric when the water hits her skin.
Danni lets out a cute little yelp in surprise and narrows her eyes.
“What the fuck are you doing?!” she yells, but she doesn’t move.
I know how achy her body must be feeling after the little show she put on for the thirsty creatures that lurk outside.
It’s hard work having your energy siphoned over and over again to please the humans well enough for feeding.
No matter how good I can make her feel, it won’t stop the exhaustion that follows.
“Aftercare is important.” I fold my arms across my chest as I take her in.
Disheveled, wet, and dare I say it, content.
“Why the hell would you put me in here with all of my clothes on?” She stands up in the tub and fumbles behind her for the zipper she can’t quite reach.
“I thought I’d save your modesty.” I turn my back to her and put my balled fist in my mouth as my cock strains for her.
If I see her fully naked, I don’t think I can stop the bond this time.
It was bad enough out there on the stage, seeing the desire swirl in her emerald eyes, watching her pant with need for me.
“Knox, turn the fuck around,” she huffs.
The bond inside of me loves it when she tells me what to do. But I have to keep control and remind myself that this is all temporary. A mate bond isn’t going to help me once she finally escapes.
“No.” That one word cracks when I speak it.
“Knox? What’s wrong?” Her voice is soft.
Just like the skin on the inside of her thighs…
“I can’t see you naked.”
Because if I do, I’ll fuck you into oblivion and blow this entire thing out of the water.
“Don’t be stupid, you just—we just—I can’t get the zipper down.” She sounds disappointed and it makes me want to beat my hands bloody against the wall.
Yes, we shared something intimate out there, but does that mean her mind has changed about me? No, it can’t be. She can’t fucking fall for me. She needs to get out of here.
“Don’t you have super spider senses or something? If seeing me naked disgusts you so much then just close your eyes and—”
“Disgusts me?” I whirl on the spot.
Damn it all. I close the space between us in two short strides and grab the front of her dress and rip it in two. I chuck the fabric either side of the tub and try not to look down.
“What the hell? Why would you do that?” Her arms come up to cover herself and I find myself grabbing her wrists and pinning them to her sides. She winces from the pain so I ease my grip a little.
Danni’s eyes swirl with an emotion I’ve never seen before.
Well, I’ve seen it before, just not on her.
She almost always looks like she’s going to murder me in my sleep; I like it, it keeps me on my toes.
After centuries of monotony, she’s a welcomed breath of fresh air. But this look, this look right here…
Fuck. She cares for me. No, no, no! This can’t happen. She has to hate me.
“I do a lot of things just because I can, so get used to it.” I pour as much venom into my voice as I can, but I don’t think she’s buying it. Instead, she looks at me like I’m a puzzle to solve.
“I don’t think that’s true at all. You’re cold and calculated. Impulsivity isn’t your thing.”
What is this woman, a psychic?
“What’s really going on with you?” she asks, softer.
I want to tear my skin from my bones. Even though she is the one standing naked in the cold bathroom, I’m more vulnerable than I’ve ever felt before.
I want to tell her the truth, to confide in someone who is going through the exact same thing as I am and seek solace and comfort in her.
But I can’t. Women like vulnerability. And this particular woman isn’t allowed to like me. Not if she wants to survive.
“I was bored and wanted to.” I build a wall in my head, one so strong that I know all of the emotions I feel for her will never manage to escape. I need to bury this.
“I don’t believe that. I think you’re feeling the effects of the bond the same as me right now. I think that you’re scared to look down at me in case you lose control.”
Okay, she’s definitely a psychic.
“I’m struggling, too. If you’ll let go of my wrists, I’ll sit down in the tub and we can… talk? You don’t have to look at me, but I—I would like to talk with you, Knox.”
I don’t realize how close my face has moved to hers until I feel her breath on my skin.
She’s seeking from me exactly what I want from her but I’m too afraid to ask for it.
I’m a coward.
But this coward will stop at nothing to protect her from the horrors that lie below our feet. Even if it hurts me to hurt her.
I release my grip as if the feel of her flesh disgusts me. “I don’t want anything to do with you. I don’t want to talk to you, and I don’t want to be your friend.”
I watch as my words slice her in two, pain and rejection making her recoil. The bond screams at me to take it all back and kiss her until everything is right again.
“Clean yourself up. Despite what Damon said, it’s not just a dinner.
It’s a ball tonight in your honor. They’re going to try and get to the bottom of whatever the fuck is really going on with your heritage, so if I were you, I’d make sure you’re in top form.
” I swallow and back up a few steps, still not allowing myself to look lower than her lips.
“Fine. Will you at least do me the decency of escorting me to the damn thing?” She spits the words, murder raging within her green eyes.
Good.
“No. Celeste will bring you down. I have business to attend to.” I turn to leave the bathroom but stop myself. She needs to be taken care of. And I’ll be damned if I let someone else do it.
“Sit down in the tub. I’ll get you some food and water,” I say over my shoulder and stalk into the bedroom, closing the bathroom door behind me.
Fuck.
I snap my fingers to summon food and a platter of chocolate-covered strawberries appears.
“Seriously? That’s what you came up with? Can’t you make it less romantic?” I shout into the air, as if the magic will bend its will for me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was doing this on purpose.
I grab the strawberries and the pitcher of water and head back into the bathroom.
As soon as I enter, I’m hit with her natural scent mixed with my own personal care items. Our signature fragrances become one, just as I desperately want to do with her.
Danni sits deep in thought in the steaming water, her arms cradling herself as she stares off into space.
My eyes linger on the bruises beginning to form on her wrists.
Damn, I should’ve done this first and then been a cold dickhead.
I clear my throat, but she doesn’t look my way.
She keeps her eyes fixed on the tiles in front of her.
The bond tugs inside of me; I’ve upset her, and it doesn’t like that.
I swallow and sit down on the fluffy bath rug.
I pour out a cold glass of water for her and hold it to her lips to drink.
Finally, she looks at me, but the betrayal etched across her perfect creamy skin makes me want to vomit.
I’m a total piece of shit, but I promise this is for your own good. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Love me, tell me you love me back.
Danni parts those pillow-soft lips and I pour the water down her throat. Her eyes close and for a moment, she looks peaceful. Until she opens them again, takes the drink out of my hand, and chucks it straight in my face.
“I hate you,” she grits through her teeth.
“No, you don’t.” The words fall from my mouth before I can stop them.
Danni doesn’t take her eyes from me as I replace the cup of water with a plump strawberry.
I wanted to see her suckle softly on it, the same way a woman might do so after she received the best orgasm a guy could give her.
But instead, she rips the damn thing out of my hand, stalk and all, and chews it viciously before spitting the green stalk right back in my face. My cock twitches.
Looks like I have a new kink.
I snatch her wrist quicker than her human eyes can track. She winces, then moans as electricity ignites upon our skin touching. The bond jerks, urging me to take her right here in the bathtub.
“Is that how you treat people who are trying to help you? You know that’s all I’ve done since you got here, right? Quit being a brat and let me take care of you.”
She snaps her jaw shut but her eyes never soften.
Animosity radiates from her as I slowly massage her wrists to help with the circulation.
After a few moments of tense silence, Danni finally relaxes back against the porcelain and closes her eyes.
She looks so still, so angelic, perfect.
If only she didn’t hate me. Maybe in another life, where things weren’t so complicated and we were just two people in love, we would have made a formidable pair.