Grievous (Wanted Men #5) - Nancy Haviland Page 0,97

went and slipped into the black nightgown. It fell around her ankles and left her back bare all the way to her tailbone. When she came out, he looked up and tucked his phone away, meeting her halfway.

She didn’t react when he cupped her cheek and bent to place his lips at her temple. “You have exhausted yourself.”

He exhausted her. She didn’t say that but nodded again. She felt like a mindless puppet.

“Look at me.”

She looked up and couldn’t read a thing in the dull ocher staring back at her.

“Did you think you could be so easily replaced?”

She nodded.

“How could you be so foolish? And so blind to your own worth.” He led her over and pulled the sheets back. “In.”

Like an automaton, she did as he said, moving over and laying on her belly. She didn’t protest when he stretched out next to her, fully clothed. She didn’t want to be alone anymore. Which was why she kept her head facing his way and was looking at him when he slid down onto his side and leaned on his arm, his head resting on his palm. It was a casual pose that suited him. She denied him a moan at the first pass of his hand down her bared spine and hated herself for needing to feel it.

He said something in Romanian, and then her eyes were sliding shut when, rather than stroke again, he began using his nails, scratching her in the same way she did Loki when he was a good boy.

“I miss my cat,” she whispered, her voice hoarse.

“Do you.”

“Yes.”

“Is he a good pet?” he inquired.

She opened her eyes. “You’ve obviously never had a cat.”

He shook his head. “We have dogs. Guard dogs.”

“Dogs are different. They’ll let you cuddle them. Cats come around when they want to come around. Any interaction you have with them is done on their terms. Even when it comes to affection, they’ll accept your efforts only when it suits them.” She was describing him as much as Loki. Maybe she would call him kitty. Nasty-back-alley-kitty. “You remind me of a cat.”

“Do I.”

“I should call you cat.”

“No. You should not.”

“Why? You refer to me as your pet.”

His lazy half-nod of acknowledgment told her it wasn’t the same thing. She was too done in to care. Unsticking her arms from where they were tucked against her chest, she slipped them under the pillow and felt some of the tension leave her muscles as he continued his back scratching.

Knowing she’d probably be shut down, she posed a question anyway. “What are your dogs names?”

“One of them is Paza. It means guard in my language. I do not know the others. There are eleven of the same breed; Doberman Pinscher. Sorin can tell you if you are very curious.”

“I’m not.” She was quiet for a moment so as not to appear too anxious. Then she pushed. “Do you feel guilty for what you just did to me?”

“No.”

That stung. Why? Because as usual, she was trying to find a way to excuse his inexcusable behavior. “You deliberately attacked a vulnerability you must know all women have. Many men, too, for that matter. Why does it not bother you to hurt me?” Feel regret. Please, let me see even a glimmer of regret in your eyes.

His hand paused and their gazes held, connected.

“You should not give people the power to hurt you, Yasmeen,” was all he said as he looked away and continued his relaxing administrations.

“I didn’t willingly let you have it,” she whispered as she fought the exhaustion trying to suck her under. “It just happened. Kind of like when I met Miranda. I didn’t want to like her. She was this beautiful, happy little blonde who made me feel like a one-dimensional amazon. I still do most times.” Her blink was extended. “Just like you and me, she and I connected right from the beginning, and now I love her like a sister. When she’s hurt or sad, it affects me. They call that compassion. I thought maybe you’d feel a little of that if you knew how well your ruse worked.”

He lightly scratched down her ribs, sending a shiver through her. She relaxed that much more. Until he spoke again.

“I do not love you, Yasmeen. So why would I feel compassion for you?”

As that knife impaled her heart, she nodded and lifted her head. Laying it down facing the other way, she knew she couldn’t take anymore from him right now. She just couldn’t.