pursed in mock concern. “I tried to tell you. Would you like me to help you up?”
The puddle of water soaks through my trackpants and my hand stings from the graze. I stare at the blood on my scraped palm. “You dickhead.”
His mouth tips into a sardonic smile. “Bastard? Dickhead? Any other pet names for me, Eloise?”
I narrow my eyes. Plenty, but I won't give him the pleasure of seeing how riled I am.
Pressing my other palm to the ground, I shakily get to my feet, annoyed when I stumble.
“Witch, how many times do I need to tell you? Be nice to me. I can help you navigate Ravenhold’s hazards.”
“Stay. Away,” I snap. “Don’t come near me again.”
His smirk drops as he catches sight of my injured palm. “What did you do?”
“Uh. I walked into a magic barrier and collapsed?” I reply with snark.
“Your hand.” His voice thickens and he snatches my wrist, pulling my arm until I stumble again. I summon strength to get away, but I can't, because I’m trapped in freezing rain with the guy I’m plotting to take down. And if I step away, I’ll end up zapped and on the floor a second time.
Dorian stares down at my hand, his pupils dilating as he moistens his lips again.
Pressure from his fingertips replaces the numbness with a sudden warmth where his skin touches mine. His hands are softer than I imagined and the onyx stone set in the large ring he wears on his middle fingers glitters to match his eyes.
He's staring at my blood.
My hand hurts where he now holds my palm in his hand and the energy from him jolts into my veins as strongly as the magic from the circle. Dorian lifts my hand closer to his face and nausea rises at the thought his mouth will touch me.
I attempt to step back again and he seizes me around the waist, pulling me to him. My body rests against his and I attempt to pull away. He releases my hand, but strengthens his grip around my waist so I can't back away or cross the circle's line.
“Don’t be fucking dumb, Eloise. If you hit that barrier a second time, you’ll be unconscious for the rest of the day.”
I look back into his cold eyes as he holds me to him. “Do you expect me to thank you?”
Dorian’s hood touches my forehead as he moves his head down. “Yes.”
His grip around my waist stays as our damp bodies mould too well and I fight the chain reaction from his touch. Witch and vampire. Guaranteed temptation.
And I can’t move unless he lets me go. "Get your hands off me, Dorian Blackwood. You disgust me."
He drops his arm and his eyes flash with anger. “Don’t be fucking rude to me.” He holds his thumb and forefinger a few centimetres apart, close to my nose. “I am this close to shoving you backwards into the barrier. If you weren’t a girl, I would.”
“Why? Don't you hurt girls? I don't believe that.”
“I don’t hurt girls and I've never killed one. Well, if I did, I can’t remember,” he adds watching for my reaction.
“I don’t want to talk to you anymore,” I snap.
He shrugs and holds his hand up, palm out, to show how my blood streaks his skin. Slowly and deliberately, he turns his palm and slowly runs his tongue from top to bottom, with his eyes on mine the whole time.
“One day,” he whispers as he licks his lips. “You’ll give me more than that, and enjoy every moment.”
I clench my fists and turn away, heart thundering. Focusing on everything around me but Dorian, I take deep breaths to soothe my anger.
We stand in silence until Roger returns and allows us to leave. I stagger after him, my body racked with pain from the magic and the over-exertion. I refuse to cry the frustrated tears pushing at my eyes, in case Dorian thinks he caused my pain.
I shiver as we both stand at attention in front of Roger as he lectures me about conforming to authority.
Dorian ignores him and grabs a bag from the floor.
My sopping hair sticks on my face and my clothes stretch downwards with the weight of the rain. I tremble and my teeth begin to chatter as Roger’s diatribe continues.
A damp towel hits my face and I catch it in surprise.
Dorian tips his chin, slings his bag over his shoulder and marches away. I stare down at the towel as Roger finishes with