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NINE
Lying there on Duncan’s chest, listening to the rhythmic sound of his heart beating against her ear, Harlee was content. Duncan’s wound had completely disappeared and based upon his earlier performance, it was quite obvious he’d made a full recovery.
He’d been amazing, taking her to new heights of pleasure. She should be ecstatic, exhausted and ready to pass out. Instead, she felt this weird angst, a vague sense of urgency. Something compelled her to get back to Adrian.
Why she thought about Adrian right now made no sense at all. Sex with Duncan had been amazing. He was a tender lover, not at all what she’d expected based on what she’d witnessed between him and Annmarie. She’d expected an animal, and what she’d gotten was much different. In fact, she’d half expected to feel some kind of physiological changes within her, almost believing that she was part lycan.
Would that have made her life easier, or more difficult? She didn’t know, and felt a little ridiculous that she’d expected some kind of monumental transformation. She was, after all, completely human. But Duncan hadn’t exhibited any surprise at her lack of alteration, so she kept quiet about it.
She wasn’t all that certain how she felt about the whole sex thing with Duncan. It was thrilling, of course, but she wasn’t sure if she felt good about it or just plain guilty.
Then again, why in hell should she feel guilty? She was a grown woman able to make her own choices about sex, about whom she slept with. She had no ties and no attachments, so who had she betrayed by sleeping with Duncan?
Adrian?
Preposterous. He was nothing to her. They’d played a little at the club and that had been it. Though he’d made dark, exciting promises to her, telling her exactly what he’d planned to do to her, she had no more relationship with Adrian than with Duncan. She was a free spirit, a woman who could choose any lover, or lovers, that she wanted to.
Smiling, she realized she liked having that kind of power. So the guilt trying to hammer her insides could just go the hell away. She wasn’t interested in feeling bad for what she’d just done, and that little voice clearly needed a nap.
“I suppose I should get you back to Dark Moon now,” Duncan whispered, kissing the top of her head and running his palm down her bare back.
She snuggled against him and lifted her head to look at him. “I kind of like it here.”
He smiled. “Lass, you’re welcome to stay with us. With me. That’s entirely your choice. I just assumed you’d want to get back there. After all that happened today, I’m sure Robert is worried and I know Adrian is probably going crazy wondering about you. I’m surprised he didn’t show up here.”
Her eyes widened at the thought of Adrian bursting into the bedroom to find her riding Duncan’s cock. Would he have been shocked? Disgusted? Or would he even have cared? Maybe he’d have been turned on.
Maybe she’d have been turned on knowing he watched. Her nipples beaded into tight knots, her sex awakening with a tiny tremor of renewed arousal.
“I think you’re right. It’s time to go back.”
It was time to stop thinking about things she shouldn’t be thinking about. Things she didn’t want to think about. Her life was screwed up enough at the moment without wondering what the hell her heart was thinking.
Duncan sent her back to the vampire mansion with a driver and several lycan bodyguards, informing her he was going to remain behind overnight in order to talk to Lester and William about the attack. He promised to join her tomorrow and kissed her passionately before releasing her at the front door. The taste of him still lingered on her lips, the scent of him on her body. When she arrived back at the mansion it was late and no one was around downstairs to talk to her. Good. She wasn’t in the mood for conversation. She headed up to her room, intending to take a quick shower and slip into bed, hoping for one night of complete oblivion.
Adrian stood just outside her door, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and an irritated glare on his face. He dismissed the lycan bodyguards who had accompanied her, the tension emanating from him so thick she could slice through it.
Okay, he was pissed. About what? “Hey,” she said.
He didn’t answer, just stepped into her room behind her and closed the door.
“Duncan’s going to be fine,” she said, confused by her own feelings of awkwardness.
“I know. He called me after he sent you back here.”
She wondered what else Duncan said but wasn’t about to ask. Instead, she walked into the bathroom and grabbed a towel from the closet, then turned to find Adrian standing in the doorway.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Guarding you.”
“I hardly think anyone will slip into my bedroom and slit my throat while I’m sleeping. I’ll be fine. I need to take a shower and get some sleep.”
“Exhausting night?” he said, challenge in his voice.
Too damn tired to deal with whatever kind of mood he was in, she said, “Yes. It’s been a hard day. I was shot at, Duncan nearly got killed. Hell, we all nearly got killed. Pardon me if I find that rather exhausting, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to shower and go to bed and I don’t need a damn bodyguard standing over me.”
“Really,” he said, arching a brow and sitting on the edge of the bathtub. “And when did you become an expert on assassination?”
