Page 126 of Bleed

“Not until you hear me out,” he says calmly.

“Oh, fuck you.”

I shove at him again, but of course he doesn’t budge an inch. Fucking vampire.

After a few more useless attempts to extricate myself from his grip, I finally give up, panting in frustration as my fingers twist in the fabric of his hoodie. My upper lip curls back from my teeth as I glare up at him.

“Then talk,” I snarl.

His dark eyes search mine through the lenses of his glasses, his mouth tightening.

“I never intended for this to happen,” he murmurs.

Another incredulous laugh tears out of me. “For what to happen?” I demand. “For you to creep on me, or for me to catch you doing it? Or maybe the part where you tried to rip my fucking throat out?”

He flinches, and suddenly another possibility occurs to me, my breath stalling.

“Wait… did you know?”

His brow furrows.

“About the bond,” I clarify, my fingers tightening in his hoodie as a desperate sense of betrayal cuts through the anger. “Did you know all along?”

“No,” he answers sharply, shaking his head. “I didn’t know.”

“Then why the hell have you been watching me from the shadows?”

His jaw flexes. “I’m just… drawn to you.”

I blink. “What?”

“From the first time we met, there was…” His jaw flexes as he trails off, visibly searching for the right words. “An abnormal degree of interest.”

“An abnormal degree of– Jesus Christ, Eli. You were stalking me.”

“I was observing you.”

“That’s literally the stalker version of saying you’re not stalking someone,” I huff, slapping my palms against his chest.

He frowns, not even flinching. “I found you fascinating,” he murmurs. “I couldn’t explain why. My attention returned to you regardless of how often I attempted to redirect it, and eventually, I stopped attempting to.”

I squint up at him. “So you just… watched me?”

“Yes.”

“What the fuck?” I shove against him again, and this time his arm loosens enough to give me a few inches of space. “You do realize the entire reason I ended up as your source was because I thought I had a stalker, right?” I ask, my voice shrill. “Was that your plan? Get me scared enough that I’d move in so you could keep tabs on me twenty-four seven?”

“No,” he barks sharply, as if he finds the suggestion offensive. “I had nothing to do with what transpired between you and Vincent the evening he questioned you. I did, however, notice that your demeanor was off when you left the engagement with him.”

“Wait, what?” I gasp, my eyes widening. “You were stalking me then, too?”

“I began watching you shortly after we met at the donor gala,” he admits. “The fact that it took you weeks to notice demonstrates you had very little regard for your own safety.”

I shake my head slowly. “This is so fucked.”

His hold around my waist has softened– not restraining me anymore, just… there. And for some reason, I’m not pushing him away anymore.

“I never meant any harm,” Elliott mutters. “I was just… curious. Then James mentioned you required protection, so I offered to provide it.”