“Useful for whom? Not me.” He smirked, and she itched to wipe it off his face. “And I never came to you in the daytime, because Isaac had already wormed his way into your life. If it weren’t for him, none of this would be happening.”
“So you blame Isaac for everything, huh?” she asked curiously. “Interesting. I had the impression things went down the other way.”
“Meaning, of course, I’m a horrible monster, and he’s an angel? Of course, gentle Isaac could never do any wrong.” He rolled his eyes. “Well, you’re wrong. Dead wrong. You placed your trust in the wrong man, my dear.”
“Hmm, I’m not so sure about that.” Hesitantly, she continued. “You and Isaac both cared for Amelia. Right?”
He nodded. “Yes, of course.”
“You fought. He seems to blame you for her death. Did you…kill her?”
Anger, pain, and finally resignation crossed his eyes before he whispered, “Yes.”
She choked on a breath and coughed in an attempt to inhale. She’d been so sure he had to be good, that he couldn’t possibly be the evil monster Isaac seemed to believe him to be. But if he was guilty of murder, she had just invited a murderer in her home.
Oh God, what have I done?
Remembering to breathe, she leaned imperceptibly away from him. He tensed at her action, but she didn’t care. She needed to get out. Smiling, she said, “I’ll be right back. I need some coffee.”
She rose from the couch, making sure she moved in a non-run-for-your-life-manner. Hearing him curse behind her, Sabrina reached for the knife in blind panic. Her hand barely brushed the handle before she got thrown through the air and buried beneath him on the couch. She managed to throw one solid punch to his ear, and he grunted in pain as he pinned her arms above her head.
“Jesus, knock it off! That bloody well hurt,” he exclaimed.
“Let go of me,” she snarled. “Or you’ll hurt even more.” She threatened him, trying to free her knee from between his. He cursed and pinned it down under his leg as he looked at her in something akin to horror. No matter, she had all day to kick his ass.
“No, wait, please don’t be scared. Let me explain. You can’t leave. I can’t let you. I’m sorry.” Though his voice pleaded with her, his face looked like it had been set in granite.
In fact, he felt as heavy as stone as well.
And just as unmovable.
“I’m not scared, you ass. I’m pissed. Let me up, now!” She squirmed beneath him, fighting for freedom, until she froze and her eyes widened in shock. That, she knew, was not stone. It was an erection, pure and simple.
She drew a deep breath, prepared to scream at the top of her lungs. He must have sensed her intentions, because he cursed and swallowed her cries into his mouth. His lips moved over hers, stealing her breath away. Panic overwhelmed her, and she thought with certainty that she would soon die. She would die because, like an idiot, she’d ignored Isaac’s warning.
Anger ripped through Sabrina like a knife, and she lay still, afraid to move. It seemed useless to fight his strength in this way. She’d seen him yank a tree out of the ground; he could handle a mere woman. But she’d be damned if she would respond to his assault, either in fear or desire. Elijah pulled away from her lips and rested his forehead against hers.
He seemed oblivious to her anger as he held her closer to him and kissed her forehead tenderly. It melted her heart…just a little. Not enough for her to stop wanting to kill him, though.
“Are you going to stop and listen to me?” he inquired.
She refused to speak and give him the satisfaction of winning. She didn’t lose well. She settled for a glare that would have frozen him on the spot—if he weren’t already made of stone.
“You don’t understand a damn thing,” he argued.
“I understand you killed your brother’s fiancée,” she returned.
“There were things that happened you would never, ever understand. Not in a million years. And you should thank God for it.”
“Let me go, Elijah. Now.”
He glared and opened his mouth to respond. Whatever he’d planned on saying, she would never know. For instead of replying, he hissed and ran to the door, threw it open, and slammed it shut behind him as he left.
She was left alone, quivering from the fear consuming her.
What had she done?
***