Instead, he fucked it up.
As usual.
Voice saturated with too damn many emotions, he found his breath to say, “All the reasons we couldn’t be together before are gone. We can be whatever we want now.”
Drawing back, her brow scrunched and she cleared her throat. Easing off his lap, she rose to her feet and pulled her clothes back on. And walked away.
Rubbing his fist over the throb in his chest as his heart shattered all over again, he gritted his teeth and stared off into the night. The ocean waves pummeled against the rocky shore. The breeze didn’t even ruffle the weathered branches that had grown to withstand the unyielding force.
Chapter9
Heat welled behind her eyes, the regret threatening to spill out and make it that much worse. Adair returned to their room and dropped to the bed, wishing sleep would come. As the sun rose high enough to extend the house’s shadow long across the field, she felt the heaviness of sleep ease the pain of her achy limbs.
The door creaked. She didn’t open her eyes, but she could feel his fluid movements, his scent rugged and fresh as the ocean breeze as he tugged off his shirt and jeans. Gut rolling with nausea, she wanted to say it, but knew it would only make it worse. Once Calloway was dealt with, they would go their separate ways. Because she had to.
Slipping in behind her, Bennett didn’t say a word, but wrapped his body around hers and held her close. Melting into him, she fell into sleep. All night, she’d dreamed of him. Of what could happen. Of his lips on her body under the starry sky, of him holding her close like he was now. Like he would be content to hold her forever.
Proving exactly why she wouldn’t keep him.
By the time she stirred, he was coming out of the shower. In nothing but a plush towel draped loosely over his hips. The time that had passed struck her like a bullet in the vest. Filled out was an understatement; he’d been toned and undeniably strong as all demon hunters were, but now he was solid. His shoulders showed the bulk of someone who trained with sword and shield for days on end. Those abs… well, they were… epic. She hoped he didn’t see her sigh.
Nope, he did. She didn’t bother masking the blush as he caught her ogle. Hand in the cookie jar. Or, well, shewishedher hand was on the goods.
He grinned. “Not looking for a show, are you? I mean, I could tell you some hot story, like last September, when the heater in the prop plane got stuck on full blast, and Vann, Bodie, Ryan, and I stripped down to the skin to cool down…”
Letting his dopey humor wash away the awkwardness of last night, she laughed and chucked a pillow at him. “No. I’m sleepy, I’m hungry, and I need a shower.” And him.
“Suit yourself.” He shrugged, then flicked off the towel to torment her before pulling on his jeans. Her breath whooshed from her lungs as she appreciated how he’d… developed.
How was he in such a good mood? Contagious, his humor rubbed off on her and she laughed and burrowed back into the pillow, a smile on her face as she inhaled one last breath of him before getting out of bed.
Upstairs, she found a similar scene to the previous morning, but this time Lana was in the kitchen and had just finished cleaning up breakfast dishes, and was scooping her out a bowl of cowboy oatmeal the moment Adair hit the top step.
“I was about to give up on you,” Lana said as Adair poured a cup of tepid coffee and splashed a skosh of blood in the mug.
“Couldn’t sleep last night.”
“Sexy vampire keep you up all night?” Lana winked and helped herself to oatmeal-seconds, leaning back against the counter.
“Sort of,” she pouted.
“It’s okay, he’s outside with Ryan.” Lana motioned to the front door, keeping her voice low. “What’s up? The sparks between you guys have been threatening to start something explosive.”
“That’s a very real, very dangerous possibility. It’s just… Bennett’s larger than life. He’s kind and thoughtful… and sexy and built… and affectionate, and understanding and…”
Lana grinned. “And the problem is?”
The microwave beeped as her mug was done heating. “You’re his teammate. I can’t talk about it with you, that would be weird.”
Lana set down the oatmeal and parked her hands on her hips. “I know we only got to hang out for those few days while we took out Sonra and her goons, so I know you don’t know me well enough yet. But I like you. And, call it ego, but I know you like me, too. And I love Bennett too much to tell him something that would hurt him, so I can keep a secret. And you need a friend. Dish. What’s up?”
“It’s complicated.” She crossed one arm over her chest while sipping the blood-laced coffee with the other.
“Your brother was cured.”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll lose him one day.”
