Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood #8) - J.R. Ward Page 0,96

you weren't.

Over at the closet, Blay pulled out a button-down and some black combats. Just as he turned around to head for the bathroom, Qhuinn lifted his mouth from Layla's vein.

The male let out a satiated groan and extended his tongue toward the wounds he'd made with his fangs. As a flash of silver glinted, Blay's brows popped. The ball piercing was a new one and he wondered who'd done it. Probably Vishous. The pair were spending a lot of time together and that was how they'd gotten the ink for John's tat--Qhuinn had lifted the bottle.

Qhuinn's tongue lapped at the Chosen's skin, that metal winking with each pass. "Thanks, Layla. You're good to us." He gave her a quick smile and then shifted his legs off the bed, clearly on his way out. Layla, on the other hand, didn't move. Instead of following suit and taking her leave, her head went down and her eyes locked on her lap-No, on her wrists, which were flashing from under the yawning cuffs of her robe. As she swayed, Blay frowned.

"Layla?" he said, going over to her. "Are you all right?" Qhuinn came right around the bed. "Layla? What's doing?" Now they were the ones kneeling before her.

Blay spoke clearly. "Did we take too much?" Qhuinn went front and center with his own wrist, offering it to her.

"Use me."

Shit, she'd fed John the night before. Maybe this had been too soon?

The Chosen's pale green eyes lifted to Qhuinn's face, and there was no spacy disorientation to her stare. Just a sad, ancient longing. Qhuinn recoiled. "What did I do?"

"Nothing," she said in a voice that was too deep. "If you will pardon me, I shall take myself unto the sanctuary once again." Layla went to get up, but Qhuinn captured her hand and tugged her down. "Layla, what's doing."

God, that voice of his. So smooth, so kind. And so was his hand as he reached up and hooked her chin, lifting her eyes to his.

"I cannot speak of it."

"Yeah, you can." Qhuinn nodded in Blay's direction. "He and I will 210

keep your confidence."

The Chosen took a deep breath and her exhale was one of defeat, like she was out of gas, out of options, out of strength. "For truth? You shall remain silent?"

"Yup. Blay?"

"Yes, absolutely." He put his hand on his heart. "I swear. We'll do anything to help you. Anything."

She focused on Qhuinn, her stare locking on his. "Am I unpleasant to your eye, sire?" As he frowned, she prodded her cheekbones, her forehead.

"Do I deviate from the ideal in a fashion which renders me--"

"God, no. What are you talking about? You're beautiful."

"Then . . . whyfore do I remain un-called-upon."

"I don't understand--we do call on you. Regularly. Myself and Blay and John. Rhage and V. You are the one we all ask for because you--"

"None of you use me for aught save blood." Blay rose from his kneel and backed up until his legs hit the chaise and he found himself sitting down. As his ass bounced on the cushion, the expression on Qhuinn's face almost made him laugh. The guy was never caught off guard. Part of that was because he'd been exposed to so much over his relatively short life, both by choice and by curse. And part was his personality. He handled himself in all situations. Period. Except this one, evidently. Qhuinn looked like he'd been smacked in the back of the head with a pool cue.

"I . . ." Qhuinn cleared his throat. "I . . . I . . ." Ah, yes, another first. Stuttering.

Layla filled the silence. "I serve the males and Brothers within this place with pride. I give without receiving anything in return because it is my training and pleasure to do so. But I tell you this because you have asked and... I find I must. Every time I return to the sanctuary or to the Primale's home, I find myself increasingly empty. To the point that I think I may step aside. Verily . . ." She shook her head. "I cannot keep doing this even though it is all I ever saw my endeavors entailing. It's just . . . my heart cannot go on."

Qhuinn dropped his hands and rubbed his thighs. "Do you want . . . Would you want to keep going if you could?"

"Of course." Her voice was strong and sure. "I am proud to be of service."

Now Qhuinn was dragging a hand through his thick