He steps in my direction, but I shake my head in disbelief over what I just saw. I know that two of her friends were just killed but there are plenty of single brothers to provide consolation; she did not have to go after mine. Plus, these bitches know how to play the game, and sometimes they fucking win.
He knows better.
Looking to my left, I see Shift is the closest brother and a stupid fucked-up idea pops into my head, but I can’t seem to give a shit right now.
“Shift, can you help me bring the food out here please?” He nods.
Going up on my tiptoes, I press my lips to his cheek. “Thank you.”
His eyes flash with suspicion, but then he grins, looking behind him at Thorin, who is glaring at the both of us.
“You are fucking trouble, girly.” He winks.
I shrug, spinning on my heels, and we walk into the kitchen. I load Shift up with two large serving trays and he leaves the room. Picking up the bowls of garlic bread, I turn to find Thorin leaning against the door jamb.
“What? Are you going to help or just glare at me?” I hold the bowl close to my body, as if the garlic will deter him.
I giggle inwardly, but now this is not the time.
“You kissed my brother?” His voice is low, hard.
“On the cheek.” I roll my eyes. “Just like you let that skank kiss you on the cheek.” I know I am being childish, but my hurt is still simmering.
“She was upset over the two dead whores.”
“Okay,” is all I say, but my tone carries an indifference, and he grunts.
“You do not put your mouth on anyone other than me.” He steps closer, taking the bowl from me, setting it to the side. “This mouth”—he cups my jaw, his grip harder than he has used before, and his thumb sweeps over my bottom lip— “belongs to me.”
Scoffing, I lean in so we are almost nose to nose. “Glad to know that only my lips belong to you, Thorin, but the rest of me is free game. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to take these out to the men.”
He presses forward, but I do not back down.
“Every inch of you belongs to me. Inside and out. Do not push me on this, babe.”
“You will have all of me the day that you claim me and bond with me. Until then, it is just sex. The big alpha vampire fucking the weak human. Give me a break. If you wanted this, you would have done what needed to be done, but you did not. I am not a toy for you to play with. Claim me or let me go.”
“Delaney.” My name on his lips makes me shiver.
Looking at him, I take a breath.
“You feel safe to me, Thorin, but you are also so dangerous, too.”
I do not wait for his response; I flee the room, my heart raging against my chest, fighting to break free and run away to hide under my blanket.
I do not stay to watch the men eat; instead, I go to Thorin’s room. Once there, I snuggle under the bedding, the softness of the blanket soothing me. I need to shut my brain off, so Iplay some soothing rainforest sounds on my phone that finally soothe me to sleep. I dream of a woman snarling at me before I feel pain against my forearm, telling me that Thorin is a killer and that he will be the death of me.
24
Thorin
We are in church, and Winger is going over the jobs that he has taken on for the club this week. It has been two days since the attack and I told Delaney everything.
She has kept her distance, been cold even. I fucking hate it.
Sure, we have slept in the same bed, but she keeps to her side and will not even let me kiss her. I feel like I opened my dead heart to her, and she fucking stomped on it. Yet I gave her what she wanted.
I’ll never understand women.
