Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,41

really liked him.

“Come on,” Ariel ordered then turned and pulled out of his grasp, walking away from him.

He didn’t corral the growl that spilled from his throat, but she merely turned her head long enough to growl back and kept marching. God, he wanted her. Just to hold her would be enough. To hold her close while they both slept.

At the vehicle, Jonah was waiting for them, fingers tapping a staccato beat on the steering wheel, eyes hidden behind mirrored shades. Though he was human, he was built like a tank, tall and broad. From what Daniel had learned, Jonah had been tracking and infiltrating groups of hunters for years. He joined them long enough to get intel and for Mitch and the rest of their group to get in place. Then they took out the hunters, saving as many shifters as they could. Daniel wasn’t sure what had led the group into helping shifters, but he was sure every one of them would have a story.

“Hop in,” Jonah said in lieu of a greeting. “I’ll be playing the role of chauffeur and guard, today and today only. Get your shit together or get gone.”

“Fuck you, Jonah,” Ariel snapped as she slammed into the backseat, leaving Daniel to ride shotgun.

“Tsk, tsk,” Jonah reprimanded. “Save the dirty talk for your mate, little girl. I ain’t engaging.”

Daniel growled at Jonah, not bothering to hide his irritation.

“Exactly,” Jonah agreed as if that made sense.

Daniel glanced back at Ariel, and damn, if she didn’t turn him on. Her arms were crossed under her breasts, plumping them up in offering, though he was sure that wasn’t her intention. Still, it was the sour look on her face that had him hard enough to hammer nails. Narrowed eyes, flaring nostrils, and lips pressed flat. Color rose along her cheekbones, emphasizing the delicacy of her features.

His gaze stayed glued to her the entire drive. For her part, Ariel seemed to ignore him while Jonah drove in silence. Her door was opened almost before Jonah came to a stop. Daniel immediately joined her, riding her ass as they walked into the hotel and headed toward their room. Their room. He expected her to slam the door when they entered, but she closed it with a soft snick then flicked the lock before pacing across the room and turning to face him, hands held loosely at her sides.

“I have nightmares.” The words were hard and fast as if she had to get them out quickly. “I can’t control them. So I don’t sleep.”

“You don’t want to have them with me here?”

She blew out a frustrated breath. “I don’t want to have them with any of you here. Especially you.”

“Why especially me?” he demanded, trying not to let her admission piss him off.

“I wake up screaming. Crying. Begging.”

“So,” he thundered. “It’s a nightmare, Ariel. The very word suggests it’s not going to have you waking with smiles and laughter.”

She snapped her teeth together so hard he worried she might injure herself. “It makes me look weak.”

So that was it. She worried he’d think she was weak because of nightmares.

“You could never be weak to me,” he swore, moving to sit on the bed and removing his socks and shoes. He saw her processing his statement as he stood to work on the buttons of his shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“You said we need sleep, and you’re right. I can’t sleep with everything on. I usually sleep in my skin, but I’ve got some gray sweats I can wear. I can’t keep trying to rest with my clothes on. It’s uncomfortable.”

“Is that why you haven’t been sleeping?” she asked, finally easing to sit on the bed and remove her shoes and socks. “You could have changed into your sweats any night, Daniel.”

He grunted as he shrugged off his shirt and reached for his bag. “I haven’t been sleeping because you haven’t.”

She blew out another breath, dropping her head into her hands. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“Do what?” he demanded. “Sleep? I think Tony really will give you something to knock you out if you need it.”

She shook her head. “This.”

“This what?” he asked, needing her to say exactly what she was thinking.

“Don’t be obtuse, Daniel. Us. I told you I wasn’t cut out to be a mate.”

“Bullshit. We haven’t even tried.”

“Haven’t tried?” She was up on her feet, looking thoroughly pissed. “I’ve been sleeping in that bed with you for days.”

“Wrong. Neither of us have been sleeping which is why