Page 67 of Thirst
Her eyes lifted. “What?”
“You’re wrong about me and you. I fucked you because I couldn’t stay away. I’m a Maritime lieutenant—I have a duty to my syndicate, to my brothers. Yeah, I was looking for an edge, a way to get to your sire, and you know why. But you and me?” My voice dropped, low and rough. “That was real. You were never a job. Believe that if you believe nothing else.”
18
Nyx
The door clicked shut behind Cain. For a long moment, I just sat there, feeling like he’d kicked a hole in my chest.
Somehow, even after everything that had happened last night, I’d been holding out hope that he wouldn’t send that text. That he’d leave me out of this, find another way to get to my father.
I dropped my face into my hands, digging my fingers into my temples.
Too late.
Because Cain was right. My father would come for me. Not out of concern, but because the idea of his spawn under the protection of another syndicate—especially the Maritime Syndicate—would be a stain on his pride, a shame he couldn’t stomach.
Luna knew what he’d do to me after he “rescued” me—and he would get to me. Cain and Brien might think this island was locked down, but my father had gotten to Brien’s mother, hadn’t he?
I brought my hands down, blinking rapidly.
You’re so screwed.
Even my stupid little seduction had blown up in my face. The plan had been to distract Cain long enough to snatch my phone from him and smash it. To take myself out of this game.
But Cain hadn’t been distracted, I had. He’d stayed in control, and I’d melted like chocolate on a hot stove.
I squeezed my inner thighs together, still wet for him. Still wanting him.
Even when reality slammed back into me—who he was, why I was here—I hadn’t made an attempt for the phone. I’d forgotten everything his mouth on mine, his body hard against mine.
The last thing he’d said reverberated in my brain. Words he’d gritted between clenched teeth, like they were torn from him against his will.
“You’re wrong about me and you. I fucked you because I couldn’t stay away…. That was real. Believe that if you believe nothing else.”
“Damn you,” I rasped
Because I wanted to believe him. Even locked in the dungeon of his syndicate’s castle, I wanted to believe it had been real. That we were real.
But we weren’t. Because that would mean we were mates, and a vampire mate wouldn’t be able to lock his woman in a cell. He couldn’t. The bond would tear him apart if he treated me like that.
I wrapped my arms around myself, uncaring of my wrists, fighting a soul-deep, aching hurt.
Focus, Nyx.
Escaping was all that mattered, getting out of this cell and finding a way off Lilith Island. Not to Quebec City. Brien was right—I could never go home.
But maybe I could still have that life I’d dreamed about?
Then it hit me. Those texts—my father had sent me to meet Cain’s uncle, not Cain himself. So why, when I’d disappeared, had he immediately assumed I was with Cain?
Fresh pain fisted my stomach. This whole thing had been a set-up—there was no other explanation. My father had found out about Cain, had sent me to the meeting to watch me squirm.
If I’d come back saying it was a no-go, he would’ve accused me of double-crossing him.
And if I’d gone through with the deal? He would’ve had the satisfaction of forcing me to arrange the kidnapping of my own lover.
Either way, he won.
