Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers) - By Michelle Rowen Page 0,67
feel is hunger, Bishop. It’s all I am now.”
“It’s not all you are.” He drew closer to me.
Too close. I pressed my hands against his firm chest and he froze, looking down at where I touched him. But then I surprised him by shoving him backward. “Honestly. Just stay back, would you? Are you trying to make this more difficult?”
“I don’t know,” he growled, his gaze darkening. “Are you trying to be a bitch?”
That comment made me let out a half gasp, half laugh of shock.
The other three watched us with varying degrees of wariness and interest. I only saw them peripherally. My focus was entirely on the angel who was currently glowering at me.
“What did you see earlier? With me?” he asked, his voice low.
He was cheating by changing the subject on me. “It doesn’t matter.”
“The way you’re looking at me right now makes me think it does matter. A lot.”
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like you despise me.”
“Am I?” I didn’t despise Bishop, just the opposite. My feelings toward him were very confusing, true, but I didn’t hate him. I didn’t think I could ever hate him.
“Oh, please,” Kraven said evenly, with an extra helping of sarcasm. “Share with the class. We’re fascinated by everything you two do together. Good times.”
“What did I see?” I repeated, still focused only on Bishop as if he might disappear the moment I took my attention off him, like Seth had. “Just a glimpse of your past. And let me tell you, it wasn’t exactly a joyride.”
“A glimpse of his past?” Cassandra asked, frowning. “How is that even possible?”
Bishop ignored her, his blue eyes fixed on mine. Something much less than sane slid through his gaze then. “You wanted to learn more about my past, Samantha. I guess you should be careful what you wish for.”
“We’re wasting time here,” Roth said sharply.
“You’re right,” Bishop replied, tearing his gaze from mine. Finally, I could catch my breath. “Like I said before, go home, Samantha. Now. And let me get back to trying to save your damn life.”
I actually flinched at that, his words as sharp as any blade. “Don’t bother. I can look after myself. What happened here—” I thrust my chin back in the direction of the club “—shows you need to focus on your mission, not on me. There are other people at risk in this city. Actually, about a million of them. I don’t want to be the one you blame for failing to save them.”
His gaze returned to mine, now guarded. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
“No, but it’s what I’m saying.” I swallowed hard, ignoring the burning sensation moving swiftly from my throat to my eyes. “I get it, Bishop. I’m an ongoing problem you need to deal with. And part of you hates me for it.”
His expression tightened. “It’s been a long night. You’re tired.”
I let out a sharp laugh. “You’re right, I am tired. Of all of this. I’m tired of caring what you think about me. I’m tired of my hunger and how it draws me to you. It’s a problem for me, too, in case you didn’t realize that. My life was a hell of a lot easier before you came into it.”
Kraven and the others smartly chose not to be a continuing part of this conversation. They’d backed off, letting Bishop and me have this standoff all by ourselves.
“Is this you being honest with me again?” he asked. “While I hold back?”
“Yeah, what a shock.” I crossed my arms tightly over my chest. “But thanks to that memory meld, now I know why you’re so secretive.”
His teeth were clenched together, madness sparking in his gaze. This conversation was working to unhinge the shaky hold he had on his control. “What happened back then is none of your business. Not yours, not anybody’s.”
My ankle still hurt from being twisted earlier; I hadn’t had a chance yet to ask Cassandra to heal it. But that was the last thing I cared about at the moment.
“You win. I’m leaving,” I said softly. “But can you do me one favor, Bishop?”
He didn’t reply for a moment. “Of course.”
“Stay away from me.”
Surprise slid through his eyes. “What?”
My stomach churned, but I knew I had to say this. Too much had happened tonight. That murder victim had been the final straw. Bishop spent too much time worrying about me, and not enough time keeping everyone else in this city safe. That had to end, and it had to end tonight.