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Chapter Eleven
The sound of the doorlocking behind her was quiet but to Niko, it thundered, louder than a thunderclap. Dropping his bag on the floor, he leaned back against the counter and gripped the cool marble, tightening his fingers around it as he fought the urge to go after her.
Her scent lingered in the air, touched lightly with salt. He knew he hadn’t been imagining that. Although she’d glared at him with no sign of tears on her face in the elevator, he’d scented a trace of them in the air. She’d battled them back and he wondered how often she’d done that.
Then he wondered how often she’d lost the battle and cried alone.
Thenhe wondered how often she hadn’t cried alone, but on the shoulder of the big Atargarian male who’d made it clear he’d like to draw the heart’s blood of a Prime.
His beasts rose inside, a growl rumbling in his chest and he shoved them back, the man refusing to cede control. He had bridges to mend, apologies to make... a heart to win back.
Zee was his heart.
She always had been.
He’d just been too stupid, too proud, too hurt to see the truth although it had been right in front of him all along.
But pride wouldn’t blind him anymore and he wouldn’t allow that pride to cause her another moment’s pain either.
The agitation soothed by his grim, quiet decision, he pushed off the counter and followed the scent of vanilla and honeysuckle down the hall until he found the room Zee had chosen.
He knocked softly, once, and waited.
She didn’t open the door, but he could feel her waiting on the other side. Waiting, listening.
“I’m sorry, Zee,” he said. He paused a moment, wondered if she’d open the door now, let him do this right way.
But... no.
That’s okay, baby. I can wait.
“You have every right to be angry with me and I don’t expect you to forgive me anytime soon. I was stupid and arrogant, too caught up in my own head to realize what I was saying or doing and I hurt you. I’m sorry and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you.”
Still no response.
Dropping his head on the door, he drew in another breath, let her scent flood his entire being. The musk of aroused female was a velvet stroke against his cock and he savored it even as he damned the vicious wave of lust that nearly put him on his knees.
Later, he told himself. That would have to come later.
“Whatever you need from me, whatever I can do to help fix this... Just tell me. But I’m not letting you go.”
No sound. No movement on the other side of the door.
He heard the low, steady beat of her heart, her ragged breaths. But nothing else.
After five long minutes, he pulled away and got his own belongings, then retreated to his room.
She needed space and he’d give it to her if it damn well killed him.
* * * * *
“YOU’RE CRAZY,” ZEEwhispered, staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Well over an hour had passed since she’d all but fled from him.
She’d tried taking a cold shower and it hadn’t helped.
Then she’d tried a hot one, leaning against the cool marble wall and sliding her hand down her belly so she could slip her fingers through the curls between her thighs. But her own touch had made things worse. It had happened before, but never to this extent, never to the point that her attempts to ease the hunger had only inflamed it more.
