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“Is that how you see yourself?” Her brows furrowed, and Flora closed her eyes, not wanting to see her reaction when she asked, “ Is that how you’d see me? ”
A low growl filled the tiny shower, and Draven cupped her cheek, forcing her to look up at him. He took a step forward so every time he took a breath, his chest grazed her hardened nipples.
When she opened her eyes, his emerald gaze held nothing but kindness, but his mouth was pressed into a thin line, leaving her uncertain. “I could never see you as anything but the girl who loves the bubbles in her champagne. But even now you have the shadows of someone who has known pain, and despite how much we want to believe it doesn’t own us, the darkness will always be lurking. I believe you are capable of accomplishing so much, Flora. You’re strong. You will give those vampires a run for their money. My only hope is that when the darkness comes for you again, because it will, you won’t succumb to its depths.”
With every word he spoke, his head dipped closer to hers, until his lips were only a hair's breadth away.
Flora’s lips parted, quivering, though she was unsure if it was due to nerves or need. More often than not, moments with Draven left her teetering between the two. “And if I do?”
“I wish I could tell you I’d pull you out, but if you are within the grasp of darkness, I fear I’d already be lost within it.”
Flora wasn’t sure what he meant by that statement, but if she was going to succumb to the darkness, there wasn’t anyone she’d rather have at her side. If she asked, she knew he’d protect her from any monsters that hid in the shadows. He’d even protect her from herself. That’s just who Draven was.
“Flora—” he started, but she spoke at the same time, her question burning as it flew off her tongue, ruining whatever he was going to say.
“Even with that risk, will you still change me when all this is over?”
Draven swallowed hard, and she wished she could suck the words back in. He pulled back from her, and she missed his heat the moment it was gone. “If I can’t convince you your humanity is worth it then—if that’s what you want, Flora.”
He turned and pulled the curtain of the shower back. “I’ll let you wash.”
A rash moment of bravery, or maybe it was stupidity, washed over her and she grabbed his hand. “Stay.”
Her question erected a barrier between them. She didn’t even know if she wanted to be turned, but she needed to know it was still an option—that she still had the choice to be the one to protect herself. As much as she hated to admit that she loved having him as her savior, he wouldn’t be there forever, and she promised herself she’d never be the damsel again.
Indecision flashed over Draven’s features. “It’s late, and we’ve been through a lot tonight. I'll be just outside the door.”
“Draven, stay.” Her voice exuded a false confidence that was for his benefit more than her own. “You told me to live. Isn’t taking a shower with a man considered living?”
“You would use my words against me?” He shook his head and the start of a grin tugged at his lips. “But no, not when you just put a bullet between your father’s eyes.”
Flora threaded her fingers between his. “That’s also part of life. I want to live. I want to experience everything my humanity has to offer. But most of all, at this moment, I need to feel a connection with something, anything. Something to remind me that there is beauty in this world and that there is an emotion beyond the darkness.”
He lowered his gaze to their hands, then raked it up her body. By the time his eyes met hers, there was no mistaking the hunger in their depths. “You better be sure this is what you want, Flora, because every shower I have ever taken with a woman has led to more, and my ability to resist you is wearing thin.”
Her head spun, slapped by jealousy for every other woman he’d showered with followed by the drunk bees taking flight in the hopes his resistance was as thin as he claimed.
Boldly, she reached up and, praying it was sexier than she felt, Flora slowly unhooked the snaps of her bra and pushed the straps from her shoulders. First the right, then the left, before allowing the thin material to fall to the floor of the tub.
“Then stop resisting.”
