Part 17 (1/2)

She heaved an aggravated sigh. ”I hate you.”

He trailed his fingers down the stubborn line of her jaw. ”Sophia, open your eyes.”

”Will you go away if I do?”

”No.”

”What if I get a gun and shoot you?”

He chuckled, his fingers s.h.i.+fting to outline the curve of her lower lip.

”You won't shoot me.”

Her eyes snapped open. How else could she glare into his handsome face?

Unfortunately, she also managed to catch a glimpse of his broad shoulders and the chiseled muscles of his chest that were perfectly outlined by his tight black T-s.h.i.+rt.

Dear G.o.ds, but he was gorgeous.

Edible.

Treacherous, unwelcome heat curled through the pit of her stomach.

”Why won't I?” she asked between clenched teeth.

A smile teased at his lips, but the dark eyes remained watchful. Wary.

”Because you love me.”

She stiffened at the accusation. ”Arrogant a.s.s.”

”Maybe, but I'm your arrogant a.s.s.”

With a curse, Sophia scooted until she was leaning against the pile of pillows at the head of the bed, pleased to discover that her wounds were completely healed.

She could feel Luc's gaze skim down her half-naked body with a tangible hunger, but she resisted the urge to crawl beneath the covers.

She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he could still disturb her.

”Do you really think that I'm going to forgive and forget that you came to me under false pretenses?” she rasped. ”That you climbed into my bed with lies? And that even after we ...”

”We what?” he prompted as her words broke off.

”Supposedly mated.”

His jaw clenched, his power thickening the air. ”There's no 'supposed' about it, Sophia. We are most definitely mated.”

She ignored his interruption, despite the voice in the back of her mind that warned he was right.

Mating wasn't marriage. It couldn't be ended by a couple of lawyers and a restraining order.

At the moment she wasn't in any mood to admit they were still bonded.

”Even then you continued to deceive me.”

Something flared through the dark eyes. ”I know.”

She blinked. ”That's it? That's all you have to say for yourself?” She lowered her voice, mimicking his less-than-impressive explanation. ”'I know.'”

”I was scared,” he clarified.

Her brows snapped together. ”If you're trying to be funny ...”

”I'm not.”

”Mr. Neanderthal was scared?” She allowed her gaze to trail down the hard, toned perfection of his body. ”Of what?”

”I didn't know at the time.” He studied her with blatant regret. ”I only knew that whenever I told myself I had to confess the truth, I found some reason to put off the inevitable.”

Her heart gave a renegade flutter. ”And now?”

”Now I know that I was terrified that when you learned the truth you would never be able to forgive me. If I lost you ...” He abruptly reached to grasp her hand in a near painful grip, a haunting fear briefly flaring through his eyes. ”I wouldn't be able to survive.”

A portion of her fury faded. There was no doubting the sincerity of his words.

She could feel the fierce emotions that pulsed through his body. They echoed in her own heart.

”What exactly is the truth?” she asked, her voice thick.

”I think you know most of it.” His thumb caressed her inner wrist, the light caress sending jolts of pleasure shooting through her. ”I was contacted by Salvatore two weeks ago. He said that his mother-in-law was in danger, but that she was too stubborn to accept his help.” He grimaced. ”To be honest, I wasn't happy about his request. I'm a soldier, not a babysitter.”

Her eyes narrowed. ”And I'm not an aging, feebleminded female who needs her hand held by a big, bad male,” she snapped.

”Aging?” He seemed baffled by her outrage. ”You're an exquisite female who is just reaching her prime.”

A secret part of her preened at his words-she was, after all, about to become a grandmother, she had every right to be sensitive. But she was still angered by the thought she'd been treated as if she was incapable of making her own decisions.

”And feebleminded?” she pressed.

Frustration tightened his expression. ”Of course you aren't feebleminded. h.e.l.l, you're clever enough to ensure my life is going to be a constant battle to keep up with you. But I won't apologize for trying to keep you safe, cara,” he rasped. ”It's what I was born to do.”

Okay.

That was exactly the right thing to say, she wryly acknowledged.

Not that she was ready to concede defeat. There were still a few bones to pick.