"I know.” He stepped toward her and gently held her toned biceps in his large hands. “I know.” He hoped his tone was soothing enough to ease some of her tension. “And the truth is not going to be what you want to hear. It's going to be very confusing. But you have to listen to everything I have to say. Can you do that?"
Several moments slid by, but eventually, she gave a sharp nod.
Garrett drew in another full breath. He relaxed his grip on her and said, “What happened between us tonight was just as powerful, just as meaningful to me as it was to you. Hell, maybe even more so.” He looked her deep in the eye and added, “You felt it, right?"
"I felt ... something,” she admitted. “I don't know what."
"Yes, you do.” He let go of her and took a step back. “My wound healed."
Serena's gaze dropped to his right hip. She gasped audibly as she stared in shock. Clearly, she'd forgotten all about the injury and the blood. Her eyes lifted to his and she asked, “But how?"
"I have the ability to heal myself. It's part of who I am, Serena."
Her eyes closed. “I don't think I want to hear anymore."
"You know, in your heart, what I'm trying to tell you."
"No.” She shook her head vehemently. “It doesn't make any sense, and I can't even begin to fathom—"
"Serena.” He gripped her arms again, stared deep into her eyes when they opened. “The wolf was me. I jumped out in front of your truck. I needed to keep you from entering the heart of the storm. It was the only thing I could do to keep you safe. And then..."
"Stop,” she said on a sharp sob. Her eyes squeezed shut and she shook her head, sending long tendrils flying in all directions. “Please stop. Please. I can't hear this. I don't want to hear this. Just ... stop!"
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High Voltage: Chapter 7
Why the hell was he doing this to her?
She wrenched her arms from his grip and, thankfully, he let her go. Reaching for the glass of wine she'd left on the coffee table, she wrapped her fingers tightly around the stem and drew in a long sip. She was in desperate need of a little fortification. Lord, was she in need! What he was saying to her—what he was trying to say to her, which she couldn't even begin to comprehend—was that he was some sort of creature of the night.
Straight out of a horror film.
And yet...
There was nothing horrific about Garrett Slater. In fact, Serena felt sufficiently swept off her feet by him. She felt satiated and fulfilled in a way she'd never known possible. Her insides seemed to be electrically charged. Her skin tingled. Thoughts of the past hour left her drowning in erotic sensations she'd never experienced before.
But his words were wreaking havoc on her psyche. What the hell was she supposed to do with the things he was saying to her?
Believe him?
Oh, hell no.
She nearly spit out the last sip of wine she'd taken.
Returning the glass to the table, she pushed a shaky hand through her hair and then turned back to face Garrett.
"Is this your ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ routine?” She honestly couldn't think of another viable explanation.
Except that he was telling the truth.
But that was impossible. Despite all signs to the affirmative, she simply couldn't go there.
"You turn up naked in the back of an unsuspecting woman's truck, seduce her, then tell her some far-fetched, completely absurd tale so that she'll kick you out. And what?” She placed her hands on her hips, cognizant that she was completely naked, but hoping to make her point and stand her ground, regardless. “You don't end up the bad guy this way? You don't have to ditch her because, of course, she's going to tell you to go to hell."
His jaw tightened. Crossing his arms over his massive chest made him all the more intimidating. The beautiful green irises she'd swear she could gaze into for the rest of her life turned dark and stormy. They were almost black.
Garrett radiated a primal heat that aroused her all over again.