Electric Storm(69)
He stilled complete as if caught, his back toward her. “Rylan?”
“Jackson and I had a few things to settle.”
Flashes back to Jackson’s darkening jaw and ragged clothes came back to her, and she groaned. “At least you didn’t kill each other.”
Rylan turned slowly. “You don’t get it. You don’t even know how close to danger you were when alone with him.”
His accusation left her completely flabbergasted. “What do you mean? He would’ve never hurt me.” At least she didn’t think he would, not without her giving as good as she got. He couldn’t risk being separated from Taggert or sent back to his pack with the threat of a challenge hanging over his head.
Rylan shook his head and gave a bitter chuckle. “You don’t understand, and they’re too much of a coward to tell you. The female is the one who decides to mate, but the male can bind a female as well. He almost bit you. I saw the possessive look in his eyes. He wanted it so badly he barely held himself in check.”
Raven licked her lips, her mouth going dry at the thought of being bound. “They said only a female can bind a male.”
It was one thing to have others attached to her. She could protect them, do what needed to be done to keep them safe, but she refused to be under anyone else’s control.
“A male can’t force a true mating because they don’t have the enzymes found in the woman’s blood that are needed to hold the connection. The bond fades. The man would have to bite her over and over to keep her craving him.” Rylan glided closer, his feet seemingly to hover over the floor. “And there is the matter of your blood. What do you think would’ve happened to him if he’d swallowed your blood? Do you think he could go back to his normal life after you?”
Chapter Twenty-one
PREDAWN
Rylan’s question haunted her all the way to her room. She came to herself when Jenkins trailed downstairs, a sleepy yawn cracking his jaw. He gave her a bleary wave and shuffled past to the kitchen. Another member added to the Addams Family.
Rylan cleared his throat. “You actually do have messages in the study.”
“Of course.” She promptly turned around. Both of them were subdued. She refused to push Rylan out of her life, but she knew he wouldn’t hesitate to leave her if he thought it best. He’d already done it once.
Unwilling to rock the boat further, she settled for a mundane topic. “Have you heard if the others were able to infiltrate the compound?”
Rylan just shrugged. “They returned an hour ago. We didn’t speak.” She couldn’t help notice the careful lack of emotions. Even though he gave no indication, the tick in his jaw gave away his annoyance.
Heartbreaking loneliness clung to him, but she understood his fear. Rylan was a powerful vampire. When he lost control, he did it a big way. She’d witnessed it happen once, and Rylan had never forgiven himself.
She rounded the desk to find the morning paper London had left by the phone. The headlines immediately captured her attention. Police are no closer to cracking the case, tax payers’ money being spent on specialists. Skimming the article, she read the plug for RPL representatives being lobbied and tossed the paper aside with a sigh.
She listened to the messages. One from the team saying the mission was successful, the building cleared of suspicion. The other message was from Jeffrey Durant.
Unable to curb her curiosity about him, or her unease, she played his message. Just the sound of his voice over the phone lingered like a caress against her skin. She hated the helpless shiver that twisted her insides into mush. He was playing with her. And she couldn’t help wonder if claiming him made her more vulnerable to the chemistry between them. She hoped not as she wasn’t sure she would survive if he turned up the charm.
The cryptic message just left her more confused. “Durant called, but he didn’t say what he wanted.”
“There’s one way to find out.” Rylan nodded to the number she jotted down, then at the time. “He does work at a nightclub.”
He smirked at her hesitation. It gave her the courage to dial.
“Talon’s. What’s your pleasure?”
Raven snorted. The greeting suited him. “I’m looking for Durant.”
“I’m sorry, but he’s busy right now. Can I take a message?”
A shot of disappointment pierced her, and that made her more disgruntled. “This is Raven. I’m retur–”
“Of course. One moment please. I’ll get him.” Before she had a chance to protest that she didn’t want him disturbed, his voice filled the line. Despite the distance, the seductive tenor made her feel like a schoolgirl with her first crush.