"But wouldn't it have been easier to—"
"Biting is too personal," he finished, "intimate… not something shared with strangers."
"Or humans?" I asked.
"Or that."
"But Mason bit me."
"Mason has a different way of doing things, and, not that it matters, but his bite wasn't one of mating. It was done to try to cover up Cassius's mark, nothing more."
"So…" I pulled myself away from him; I was starting to get too hot again. "You've saved me… to what end?"
Ethan's eyes turned very serious as he whispered, "Hopefully, one day… you'll be able to return the favor. And save us."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ethan
HER EYEBROWS DREW TOGETHER IN WHAT I could only assume was frustration. Her heart started to race, and then her eyes dilated as she glanced at my mouth again. If she did that one more time, I was going to lose my mind. I was already trying desperately to keep her from touching me too much. Because it affected me, as much as I wanted to deny it, to deny her.
Her physical contact was everything I'd been craving.
Giving in would be easy.
Staying away would be hard.
But traveling down that road again — knowing how it was likely to end — well, I wasn't so sure I would survive it. I was immortal, but my heart was still fragile.
And when it broke…
As an immortal, I suffered with unimaginable pain. Pain I never wanted to experience again, thus the reason for keeping myself firmly tucked away from the weak little human with the pretty smile.
I liked her hair.
It was gold, not really brown, not blond — just gold. The firelight made certain pieces glow. It was tempting to grab it, to sniff it, to wrap it around my fingers and imagine what she'd be like in the throes of passion.
"Ethan…" My name on her lips was ecstasy. I shook the thought away and tried to appear indifferent.
"Yes?"
"I can't save anyone… I can't even save myself."
"You're stronger than you think," I encouraged. "Trust me."
"That's just it." She tugged her lower lip into her mouth and chewed, her dark blue eyes sad. "You've given me no reason to."
"You're alive," I pointed out. "That's reason enough."
"He's not the best at comforting humans," came Alex's voice from the door. I could hear the amusement in his tone.
I rolled my eyes and turned, ready to bark at him to leave.
"Cassius called," Alex said in a bored tone. "Wanted to know if I know where the human is."
"And?"
"I lied." Alex rolled his eyes. "Of course."