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Tempting bastard.
“And wouldn’t you like that? Wouldn’t you like a chance to put down some roots? To stop looking over your shoulder and just settle down?”
The hospital door flew open. Zane filled the doorway. His face was stained with soot, and his chest heaved.
Zane.
“I thought so,” Pak murmured and eased toward the door. “We’ll talk again soon, my dear. Very, very soon. Your talents would be such an asset to our organization.”
“Beat it, Pak.” Zane stalked toward her.
Pak smiled that gator grin and exited the room, closing the door softly behind himself.
“You ran from me.” Zane seemed to bite off the words.
She nodded. Scared. She was still scared. Nothing—no one—had ever mattered to her as much as he did. I love you.
He couldn’t love her. Not really. “You shouldn’t,” she whispered, the words slipping out.
Zane frowned at her. “Shouldn’t what?” Then his eyes fell to her throat. “Oh, fuck, baby.” His fingers reached for her.
She stepped back and rammed into the bed. “When you touch me,” she told him starkly, truthfully, “I can’t think of anything but you.”
His face softened. “That’s okay. No, that’s real good.”
But it wasn’t. “I’m not—” She cleared her throat and tried again. Talking was so hard when his lips were close and she could all but taste him. “I’m not the kind of woman you should love.”
He touched her. His fingers slid down her cheek. Feathered over the bandages on her throat. “You’re the only woman I should love.”
He didn’t understand. “Zane, I like the fire.” That should be wrong. Liking the flames. The fury. The power. She’d used that fire, so many times. Would use it again. “I’m not some sweet, confused girl. I’ve attacked people. I’ve hurt them.”
“You ever hurt an innocent man or woman?”
Jana shook her head.
“I think you’re too hard on yourself, baby.”
He wasn’t seeing who she was. “And I think you’re too easy on me. Inside, you’re good, so you think that everyone else is like that, too.”
He laughed at her, then he leaned in, and let his lips press lightly over hers. “How many times,” he whispered against her mouth, “do I have to tell you I’m not good?”
Her heart slammed into her chest. “You saw what I did to Davey.”
“No, I saw what we did.” His eyes were on hers, slowly fading to black. “Together, we’re unstoppable.”
Together. That word sounded so perfect.
His hand curled around her chin. He held her so softly, and she knew he’d noted the bruises on her. “I don’t like seeing you hurt.”
A fast laugh escaped her. “I don’t exactly like being hurt.”
“You’re so beautiful.”
That dried up the laughter.
“When you smile, your whole face just lights up.” His lips pressed against hers again, and she wanted to sigh into his mouth. Wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold on tight.
But I’ve got blood and death on my hands. I’ve spent my life running. What will I do when he looks at me and sees what I really am?
