Bella sat up on the bed, gathering the lapels of the silk robe close to her neck. She seemed totally confused.
And too beautiful for words.
Phury looked back and forth between her and Z. Then he focused on his twin. "What is this?"
Z's black eyes stuck to the floor. "Go to her."
"Excuse me?"
"She needs to feed."
Bella made a choked noise, like she'd swallowed a gasp. "No, wait, Zsadist, I want... you."
"You can't have me."
"But I want-"
"Tough. I'm out of here."
Phury felt himself get shoved into the room and then the door slammed shut. In the silence that followed, he wasn't sure whether he wanted to scream with triumph or... just plain scream.
Page 93
J R Ward: Lover Awakened
He took a deep breath and glanced at the bed. Bella was curled up on herself, her knees to her chest.
Good God, he'd never let a female drink from him before. As a celibate, he hadn't wanted to risk it. With his sexual urges and his warrior blood, he'd always been afraid that if he let a female take his vein, he'd become overwhelmed and try to get inside her. And if it was Bella, he'd find it even harder to stay in neutral.
But she needed to drink. Besides, what good was a vow if it was easy to uphold? This could be his crucible, his chance to prove his discipline under the most extreme circumstances.
He cleared his throat. "I would offer myself to you."
As Bella's eyes lifted to his, his skin got too small for his skeleton. Which was what rejection did to a male.
Just shriveled you right up.
He looked away and thought of Zsadist, who he could sense was right outside the room. "He may not be able to do this. You are aware of his... background, aren't you?"
"Is it too cruel of me to ask?" Her voice was full of strain, deepened by her conflict. "Is it?"
Probably, he thought.
"It would be better if you used someone else." God, why can't you take me? Why can't you need me instead?
"I don't think it would be appropriate to ask Wrath or Rhage, as they are mated. Maybe I could get V-"
"No... I need Zsadist." Her hand shook as she brought it to her mouth. "I'm so sorry."
So was he. "Wait here."
When he stepped out into the hall, he found Z just beyond the door. The male's head was in his hands, his shoulders caved in.
"Is it over with so fast?" he asked, dropping his arms.
"No. It didn't happen."
Z frowned and looked over. "Why not? You gotta do it, man. You heard Havers-"
"She wants you."
"-so will you go in there and open a vein-"
"She'll only have you."
"She needs it, so just-"
Phury raised his voice. "I won't feed her!"
Z's mouth clamped shut and his black eyes narrowed. "Fuck you. You will do this for me."
"No, I won't." Because she won't let me.
Page 94
J R Ward: Lover Awakened
Z surged forward, locking a vise grip on Phury's shoulder. "Then you will do this for her. Because it's the best thing for her and because you're feeling her and because you want to. Do this for her."
Christ. He would kill to. He was dying to go back into Z's bedroom. Rip off his clothes. Fall onto the mattress.
And have Bella crawl up his chest and sink her teeth into his neck and straddle him, taking him inside of herself both between her lips and between her thighs.
Z's nostrils flared. "God... I can smell how badly you want to do this. So go. Be with her, feed her."
Phury's voice cracked. "She won't have me, Z. She wants-"
"She doesn't know what she wants. She's coming out of hell."
"You are the one. For her, you are the one." As Zsadist's eyes slid to the closed door, Phury pushed, even though it killed him. "Listen to what I'm saying, my brother. She wants you. And you can do this for her."
"The hell I can."
"Z, do it."
That skull-trimmed head shook back and forth. "Come on, the shit in my veins is corroded. You know that."
"No, it isn't."
With a snarl, Z leaned back and held out his wrists, flashing the blood-slave bands tattooed at his pulse points.
"You want her biting through these? Can you stand the thought of her mouth on them? Because I sure as hell can't."
"Zsadist?" Bella's voice drifted over. Without their noticing, she'd gotten up and