Zsadist known she'd needed a friend? And God, the fact that he'd gone to Mary and-The bedroom door opened wide without any warning.
Bella sat up in a rush, pulling the covers to her throat. But then Zsadist's shadow was a stunning relief.
"It's just me," he said gruffly. As he came inside, he was carrying a tray, and there was something on his shoulder. A duffel bag. "You mind if I hit the lights?"
"Hi..." I'm so glad you're home safe. "Not at all."
He called to life several candles, and she blinked in the sudden glow.
"I brought you some things from your house." He put the tray of food on the bedside table and opened up the bag. "I got you clothes and a parka. The bottle of shampoo that was in your shower. A brush. Shoes. Socks to keep your feet warm. Your diary, too-don't worry, I haven't read it or anything."
"I'd be surprised if you had. You're more trustworthy than that."
"No, I'm illiterate."
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Her eyes flared.
"Anyway"-his voice was hard as his jawline-"I figured you'd want some of your own stuff."
As he put the duffel next to her on the bed, she just stared up at him until, overwhelmed, she reached out to take his hand. When he flinched back, she flushed and looked at what he'd brought her.
God... she was nervous about seeing her things. Especially the diary.
Except it turned out to be comforting to pull out her favorite red sweater, put the thing to her nose, and catch a whiff of the perfume she'd always worn. And... yes, the brush, her brush, the one she liked with the broad, square head and metal bristles. She grabbed her shampoo, popped the top, and inhaled. Ahhhh... Biolage.
Nothing like the scent of what the lesser had made her use.
"Thank you." Her voice trembled as she took out her journal. "Thank you so much."
She stroked her diary's leather cover. She would not open it. Not now. But soon...
She glanced up at Zsadist. "Will you... will you take me back to my house?"
"Yeah. I can do that."
"I'm frightened to go there, but I probably should."
"You just tell me when."
Gathering her courage, suddenly interested in getting one of the big "firsts" out of the way, she said, "When light falls this evening. I want to go then."
"Okay, we will." He pointed at the tray. "Now eat."
Ignoring the food, she watched him go into the closet and disarm. He was careful with his weapons, checking them thoroughly, and she wondered where he had been... what he had done. Though his hands were clean, there was black blood on his forearms.
He had killed tonight.
She supposed she should feel some kind of triumph that a lesser had been taken down. But as Zsadist walked over to the bathroom with a pair of sweats draped over his arm, she was more interested in his well-being.
And also... his body. He moved like an animal in the best sense of the word, all latent power and sleek strides.
The sex that had stirred in her the very first time she'd seen him rocked her again. She wanted him.
As the bathroom door shut and the shower started to run, she rubbed her eyes and decided she was out of her mind. The male pulled away at the threat of her hand on his arm. Did she actually think he'd want to lay with her?
Disgusted with herself, she looked over at the food. It was some kind of herbed chicken with roasted potatoes and squash. There was a glass of water and a glass of white wine, as well as two bright green Granny Smith apples and a piece of carrot cake. She picked up a fork and pushed the chicken around. She wanted to eat what Page 113
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was on the plate only because he'd been thoughtful enough to bring it to her.
When Zsadist came out of the bathroom with only the nylon sweats on, she froze and couldn't stop staring. His nipple rings caught the candlelight, and so did the hard muscles of his stomach and arms. Along with the star-shaped mark of the Brotherhood, his bare chest had a fresh, livid scratch across it and a bruise.
"Are you injured?"
He came over and measured the plate. "You haven't eaten much."
She didn't reply as her eyes got caught on the curving hip bones that rose above the low waistband of the sweats. God... just a little lower and she would be able to see everything.