Over the past week, he had learned a lot about the woman in his arms, and he didn’t care what anyone thought of his actions. What he cared about was Isabella. If she killed Jake, she would believe herself a monster, and there would be no coming back from that. Sniffing her neck as he fondled her breast, she moaned and sagged back into him. He kissed her neck softly and eased her away from Jake to stand by his side, holding her.
“I apologize for the interruption. This wasn’t a planned visit, but Isabella needed to see you all. Next time, it will be easier.”
Jake sprung off the table and grabbed his arm, pushing his face into his. “What the fuck is wrong with her?”
Roman shoved the human away, not with any great force, but enough to disentangle himself from the man before he ended his life. He disliked his tone and his statement. “Don’t ever touch me like that again or I’ll end your pathetic existence without another thought. There is nothing wrong with Isabella. Have you forgotten how you pleaded with me to take her as she lay on the ground? Her life draining away? What the fuck did you think I would do?”
The fury and bite of his words made Marcus step closer as he leaned toward Jake, ready to strike him down, but the man didn’t back away.
“I knew what you would do, but I thought you would take her to the hospital first and try to save her. I should have known you would jump at the chance to make her a monster like you.”
Roman stood still as the human shoved him away, unable to retaliate because the man spoke the truth. He was a monster, and not once did he consider taking Isabella to the hospital.
“Jake!” Ella shouted.
The witch tugged his sleeve and he glanced at her over his shoulder. She stood there with her pale haunted features and huge emerald eyes. He shook his head in disbelief, but eventually found the words he wanted to say. “I’m a vampire—not a miracle worker. I made a calculated guess that by the time any hospital nearby had transfused her with enough blood, she would’ve been stone cold dead. Once there, exposed, a million questions buzzing around, I wouldn’t be able to intervene to save her. As an immortal, risking exposing our kind poses too great a threat not just to me, but my people. You asked me to save her, and bring her back. This might have been a little too soon, but Isabella…”
The witch released the hold on him and spun around to stand in front of him.
“Isabella isn’t a mindless idiot—she’s right here,” she said clearly, and slapped his face hard. She seemed to enjoy doing it, and it was starting to piss him off even though he knew he deserved it. Perhaps she was more in control than even he gave her credit for. “That is for letting me make a fool of myself in front of Jake and the others. You knew how I would respond, didn’t you?”
“Maybe—and while I would’ve chosen to keep you all to myself a little longer, our current situation with the Morrigan means we’ve run out of time. I didn’t plan to turn you into a vampire—a week ago. Now, I won’t babysit you any longer, Isabella. You need to embrace who you are and what that means, and stop playing games.”
Roman grabbed her neck and leaned in, smelling her before he slanted his lips over her mouth. He kissed her hard and nudged the seam of her lips with his wet tongue. When he nibbled her lower lip, she opened her mouth for him. Seizing his opportunity, he slipped his tongue inside and explored the moist depths of her, pressing deep inside. Her tongue dueled with his and he reciprocated, possessing her mouth until her hands wove around his neck, raking through his hair. He lingered in the kiss for a moment, savoring the feel of her in his arms before releasing her. Roman kissed her quickly, but stood back and distanced himself from her.
Isabella stood with her mouth open, looking bereft.
“You know where to find me, my love—don’t be too long.” Staring at her wild green eyes that flashed now with a darker ring around the perimeter, he debated over stealing her away, but instead he turned and faced the others. “Isabella truly is made for this—”
At his words, Jake threw a punch right at him, but Roman caught hold of the man’s fist and twisted it around until his back pressed tight in his chest.
“Don’t push me, Jake. This hasn’t exactly been the week of my fucking dreams. Isabella’s here, so don’t screw it up—Drayton, a moment of your time, if you will?”
“Of course. Isabella, will you be all right?”
The witch hadn’t moved and studied her friends with her eyes wide, but she pressed her lips tight and nodded. “I will be fine.”
“Ella, stay here. I won’t be long.”
Roman released Jake and strolled away. At that moment, a peculiar pull at his chest almost stopped him mid-stride. Leaving her physically hurt, and it was the hardest thing he had done in, well, he couldn’t remember. But if his heart still beat, he knew it would squeeze with pain at the thought of losing her. Although their laws wouldn’t allow any long-term relationship with humans, if Isabella gave herself to Jake, he couldn’t or wouldn’t stop her. Deep inside, he would find a way to accept it because he had eternity to spend with her, unlike the human. As his steps increased, he knew walking away now would be best. She had to choose what she wanted without interference from him.
