The Wanting (D'Shar Men 1)

“No,” he said.

His amber eyes trained on her face as he shook his head.

“You’re running, but you’ll find what’s between us can’t be swept under the rug.”

When he removed his arms and took a step back, she missed the warmth he provided immediately. His sudden change of tactics made her uneasy. This smelled like a trap, but she didn’t have time to sort through bullshit.

“We’ll see, Phelan,” she said. Her sweaty hand slipped over the knob, and she opened the door and strode away.

****

It took all he had to contain the fury that rose when she tucked tail and ran. He knew Zasha enough to know she wasn’t one to be intimidated. But her hazel eyes had been filled with anxiety and panic. She was spooked, and until he figured out why, they were at an impasse. His teeth gnashed together as his lips thinned out and his breaths grew short. How could she just leave him?

Those outrageously long legs had carried her out of the room, and she left his life. Without so much as a look back over her shoulder. A painful knot twisted in his stomach as his hands balled. Fists slammed into the heavy oak door that groaned its protest. The bellow that ripped from his belly was haunting as the world receded to the background, and all he saw was red. Glass shattered and wood splintered as he poured his energy in to the destruction of inanimate objects.

“Phelan!”

Teeth barred he turned, crouched low and prepared to attack.

“Calm down it’s just us man, Kade and Bastian.”

He knew that voice. His heartbeat steadied, and his breath slowed as awareness woke in his mind.

“You back with us?” Kade asked.

“Yeah,” he said, as he gave a short nod.

“Shit, bro, you almost attacked our asses! What the hell happened? We saw Zasha rush out of here like the devil was after her,” Bastian said.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Phelan said.

His heavy sigh was tinged with sadness as he looked at the debris that littered the room. Broken pieces of chairs were scattered across the floor along with pieces of glass from what was once a full length mirror. Mindful of the shards and splinters, he made his way to his dresser and grabbed a pair of boxers.

“Last night everything was fine, and today I wake up to her about to sneak out of the room without so much as a goodbye.”

“Did you explain the Wanting to her?” Bastian asked.

“I thought I did. But apparently we were on two different wavelengths.”

God, it felt like he’d aged years in a matter of minutes. The adrenaline that had danced along his nerve ending has faded abruptly.

“What are you going to do? It won’t be long until both of you begin to feel the effects of being apart,” Kade said.

“Good,” he said.

His voice even as he knelt to grab the garbage can nearby and collects the refuse.

“Good? How is that good? All she did was leave and you destroyed your room and damn near attacked us!” Bastian said. Each word a little louder as his frustration level rose.

“The Wanting is an everyday part of life to us, we know how powerful it is, and why resistance is futile. It’s a lesson Zasha has to learn on her own.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Kade whispered.

Me too, Phelan thought.

****

The minute Zasha entered her condo, stiff fingers grabbed the hem of her dress and ripped the offending article from her body. Her semi-nude frame bent at the waist as she unzipped her boots, and her stomach took a dive to the soles of her feet. The scent of sandalwood and musk accosted her. Even the sanctity of her home wasn’t safe from the alien King. Disgusted, she fought down the urge to burn the dress and made a beeline for the bathroom. Smoke inhalation would do nothing to quell the mixed bag of emotions inside her.