He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Sweet Olivia... your heart tells me through our bond what you refuse to voice... it speaks of your emotions... your desire when I kissed you earlier... your jealousy when you thought I looked upon those females with lustful eyes... your concern when I was drunk and injured... your relief as I say these words and you realise that I desire no one but you. I know your feelings even if you do not.”
She covered his mouth with her free hand. He caught her wrist, removed her hand from his lips and pressed a kiss to it.
“You need not fear. They are not my feelings to voice. I will wait as patiently as I can for you to say what is in your heart, Olivia. I will not rush you, even when I desire to hear you tell me that I am your mate. I am not a fool.” He pressed another kiss to her hand and then held it to his face, leaning into it and closing his eyes. “I want us to be together, but there are things in your heart you must come to terms with before that can happen. I understand, and all I can do is hope that somehow you will come to see that I am not like that man who hurt you and I would never betray you.”
Olivia hoped for that too.
She wasn’t sure yet whether she wanted to complete the bond with Loren, but she did want to be with him. She wished things could be normal between them, a human relationship, without a deadline looming over it. She wanted things to progress at a natural speed, not sweep her along like a flash flood. It made her panic whenever she thought about it.
The incomplete bond weakened Loren and there was no knowing when Vail would attack him, or her, and no telling whether Loren would survive such an attack. Vail was stronger, his bond to his female complete, and that female was a dark witch. What if they both attacked Loren?
Icy claws squeezed her heart, threatening to pierce it.
Loren wouldn’t stand a chance. He might die because she had hesitated, too afraid of the past repeating to embrace a future with him. She panicked now as she stood looking down into Loren’s beautiful eyes and knew he had sensed it in her when he rose to his feet.
She expected him to draw her into his embrace and hold her, but he pressed a kiss to her brow and released her instead.
“Let us speak with Kyter.” He walked away from her and she ached, her legs weak again, fear and hurt combining to press down on her as she watched the distance growing between her and Loren.
He could only discern her feelings. He couldn’t decipher them. He thought she was going to reject him again and was distancing himself before it could happen, not giving her a chance to voice things he believed would be hurtful.
“You look like someone just sucker-punched you.” Sable came up behind her and nudged her left shoulder, and then looked beyond her to Loren. “Ah... what did he do now?”
“Nothing.” Olivia dragged her gaze away from Loren as he talked with Kyter.
“So why the long face?” Sable cocked her head to one side and frowned at her. “Don’t tell me you’re still going in circles because of what happened before?”
Olivia jerked her chin up. “It’s not that... it’s... it’s... that.”
Her shoulders sagged and she flagged the bartender. If she was going to have a dumb heart to heart with Sable, she at least wanted another cocktail to dull the pain.
The female who had been tending to the demon came over to her. “Nice catch you have there. What’ll it be?”
Olivia’s lips compressed into a hard line and she slammed her palms down on the bar top, making the brunette jump. “I want one of those drinks the nice jaguar made me and your eyes off my male.”
She couldn’t believe she had just said that. She had never threatened a woman over a man in her past and she had done it several times tonight. She felt possessive, territorial. The bartender was right. Loren was a good catch. The best. He was gorgeous, powerful, protective, and he really cared about her. He had nursed her injuries, taking the pain into himself so she didn’t have to suffer it.
Sable was grinning when she dared to look at her.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Olivia slumped onto the barstool Loren had occupied and rested her arms on the bar top, and her chin on her arms.
The bartender said nothing but Olivia could feel that she wanted to, just as Sable did.
Once they had paid for the cocktails and the brunette had gone away, Olivia sighed and twirled the silver umbrella in her drink, staring at the rich purple liquid. The colour of Loren’s eyes and just as intoxicating.
Sable sipped her drink and then set it down. “Listen, Liv... I’ve known you a long time and I know what you’ve been through... but I also know Loren. He isn’t here because he wants to hurt you. He’s here because he wants to protect you. He isn’t here because he wants to bring down Archangel... he’s here because he wants to protect his people from a maniac. He is nothing like the demon who screwed you over.”