Part 27 (2/2)

She'd taken only two steps from the door when Bleddyn sat up. He'd managed to control his laughter, but he still had a stupid grin on his face.

”Meredythe.”

She froze in midstep.

”I love you.”

Chapter Fourteen.

Meredythe gaped, her thoughts roiling. Here she was, stark naked, trapped in a room with a-she swallowed-a werewolf that had just tried to rape her. She'd bitten him until she drew blood and was seriously considering braining him with a poker, and he said he loved her! If he wasn't crazy, she was.

Meredythe shuddered. No, not crazy-dreaming. She was dreaming. She'd crashed during that snowstorm when she was driving to Winterbourne. She'd been in an accident. Right now she was lying in some hospital bed in a coma, dreaming all this. That was it. She was in a coma.

Bleddyn's grin became a warm smile. ”You're not in a coma and you aren't dreaming.”

She glanced at the fireplace and back to Bleddyn.

Could she get to the poker before he did? ”You can read minds too?”

He shook his head. ”You were talking out loud.”

She glanced back at the poker.

He followed her gaze. ”I can get there faster than you.”

Before she could blink, he was standing in front of the fireplace. ”I won't hurt you, Meredythe.” He held the poker out to her. ”You can have this if it will make you feel safer.”

”Toss it over here.”

The poker clanged to the floor at her feet.

Slowly, her eyes never leaving his face, she stooped and picked it up. He didn't move. Gripping the poker with both hands, she rose and pointed it at Bleddyn. ”Tell Keri to move away from the door.”

Was that despair that briefly flashed across his face?

He shook his head. ”She wouldn't listen to me.”

The poker trembled as a lead weight settled in her stomach. She glanced around the room and then back past Bleddyn, scanning frantically for an escape route. He stood before the fireplace, arms folded across his chest, gloriously naked. Meredythe's breath caught in her throat.

d.a.m.n it, Meredythe! He just tried to rape you! her inner voice snapped. She shuddered at the memory.

”You really are a werewolf, aren't you?”

”Yes.”

Her knees wobbled then unlocked and she was sitting on the floor. The poker gouged a dent in the hardwood floor. In the blink of an eye, Bleddyn was kneeling before her. She stabbed at him with the poker. ”Get away from me.”

He flinched when she poked his chest, but he didn't budge. ”Please. I won't hurt you.”

She jabbed the poker against his chest and braced it there. ”Not hurt me! You just tried to rape me.”

He wiped his face with his hand then finger combed his hair back off his forehead. ”I-I wasn't myself.”

”And just how am I supposed to tell the difference?”

After a deep sigh, he stared into her eyes. ”While you've been here, have I ever hurt you? Did you ever think I wanted to hurt you? Did you ever fear for your safety?”

She licked her dry lips, wiping away the flecks of blood. Grimacing at the coppery taste, she dropped her gaze and shook her head. ”No.”

She kept the poker firm against his chest.

He leaned against its dull point. ”Meredythe, please believe me. I could no sooner hurt you than I could hurt myself. I love you.”

Her head snapped up. ”Bulls.h.i.+t. You didn't even know me a month ago.”

He smiled. ”I've known you for over a thousand years.”

Again she shook her head. He was lying. ”Either you're certifiably crazy or you're the lousiest poet on the face of the earth.”

”No, I'm just a werewolf.”

Blood rushed through her veins and she s.h.i.+vered. He would have to remind her.

He stared into her eyes. ”Meredythe, I do love you. I would never hurt you. You're safe with me.”

She s.h.i.+vered again then lowered the poker. Her arm was getting tired anyway. Chewing her bottom lip, she glared at Bleddyn. There he was, a self-confessed werewolf kneeling naked on the floor in front of her, arms at his sides. And he said that he loved her. How could he do this to her!

Her chin itched. She wiped it with the back of her hand and gazed at the dried blood. Bleddyn's blood. She had really bitten him. Blood still welled sluggishly from her teeth marks on his shoulder. Her gaze wandered from his shoulder to his chest, then down his body. His stiff c.o.c.k stood straight out. He wasn't circ.u.mcised. d.a.m.n, he was hot.

He was hot? Meredythe jerked her eyes back up to Bleddyn's face. His expression was amused.

”See anything you like?”

A full body flush warmed her. Anything she liked! He was a murderer, for G.o.d's sake. He killed people. How could she be attracted to him?

Her eyes widened at the thought. She did find him attractive. This morning she'd done her best to drag him into the nearest bed. She'd trusted him, believed everything he'd told her. And he'd lied to her.

”d.a.m.n you, Bleddyn Glyndwr!” She swung the poker. Eyes widening with shock, he recoiled slightly when she hit the fleshy part of his upper right arm, but he remained kneeling before her.

Shocked, Meredythe gaped at the poker in her hand then at Bleddyn. ”How could you let me do that!”

He shrugged. ”If that's what it takes for you to trust me, hit me again.”

”Hit you again? Hit you again? What do you think I am?”

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